Insight / News
It is becoming increasingly apparent that we all have a responsibility to alter our habits to fight the ever-worsening environmental crisis. Businesses are no exception to this since commercial practices contribute significantly to emissions and pollution globally. However, it can be challenging to figure out how to make a difference, especially if your company has limited resources. With that in mind, here are some tips for making your office more environmentally conscious.
Choose Recycled Products
We all know that recycling can reduce humanity’s strain on the planet and reduce waste. Most businesses already incorporate strategies for recycling waste where possible, but this can be taken a step further by choosing recycled products in your company as often as you can.
While it is best to go paperless where possible, some aspects of office working make using paper inevitable. To reduce the impact of this, consider using recycled paper when you need it to minimise your business’s environmental impact. You could also invest in recycled office supplies like the 2nd hand office furniture offered by Recycled Business Furniture.
Encourage Flexible Working
The daily commute employees take to get into work contributes significantly to emissions and air pollution. With the availability of modern technology like high-speed internet and communication and collaboration tools for business, working in the office every day is no longer necessary. Adopting a more flexible approach to working in your company could help reduce the organisation’s environmental impact.
On top of being more sustainable, flexible working also boosts morale, increases productivity, and saves businesses money. Therefore, this is an excellent option for companies with more limited resources, as they can reduce their environmental impact while enhancing their business practices.
Invest in Green Energy
Many businesses are now opting to invest in green energy for their operations. There are plenty of options like solar panels that are becoming more affordable and efficient by the day. Companies that choose to transition to green energy can cut (and sometimes eliminate) their electricity bills while enjoying clean, guilt-free electricity.
Solar panels are a great option since they are low maintenance and work reliably during daylight hours. It is a common misconception that they won’t work on a cloudy day, and in the UK, this is the forecast more often than not. However, modern solar panels work effectively regardless of the weather, so your office can run on reliable, green energy.
With the price of green energy sources like solar panels falling each year, it is becoming increasingly viable for companies to transition to sustainable power. Your business can become more sustainable and reduce operating expenses using this solution.
Summary
In conclusion, businesses have both a moral and financial incentive to act sustainably. Not only will reducing your company’s environmental impact help to protect the globe for generations to come, but it can also translate into significant savings and productivity increases. As such, sustainable policies are no longer optional for businesses due to public expectations and financial incentives.