5 Tips for an Environmentally Friendly Office

We are all becoming more conscious of our impact on the planet, and we realise that there are little things that we can adjust to reduce our carbon footprint and help preserve nature for generations to come. Often, workplaces have a long way to go when it comes to being more environmentally friendly but here are 5 tips to help.

1.Reduce your printing!

Does your office have the never-ending whine of the printer going? In the digital world, many companies are now taking printers out of their office or reducing their use to single teams or individuals to save on wasting paper. The more paper we use, the more trees have to be cut down which leads to deforestation. This causes major problems in places such as, Kenya, Brazil and Indonesia.

2. Become more energy efficient

Start with the small things. Make sure your devices such as computers and screens are switched off overnight. Also, you might want to consider a lighting upgrade if you do not already use LED lighting. Some LED lighting now has daylight harvesting features which is a level of intelligence which enables it to recognise when there is enough daylight to light the room. You could even go as far as installing solar panels on your roof!

3. Recycle, recycle, recycle!

Every office user throws out packaging every day, are you recycling it? Having some clearly marked out recycle bins near your kitchen area will make this easy. Also, if your water machine as a plastic cup holder next to it, you may want to get rid of it! Consider giving your people a branded cup or flask to use instead.

4. Greenery

Everyone loves having plants in the office but they do more than just look pretty! Studies have shown that the presence of planning and greenery in office spaces help us to connect with nature and allow us to do our best work. There are plenty of companies out there that offer planting on a rental basis and will look after them for you.

5. Use sustainably sourced materials

Did you know that there are products out there that are made from recycled materials such as plastic bottles found in the oceans? Also, carpets made from old carpets. If not, you may want to speak to an office fit-out specialist who can advise you on this and make sure you design your office in using as many sustainably sourced materials as possible