But with the environmental topic becoming more of a significant focus to implement in a business it can seem to be a mammoth task. So where do you start?

There are many areas of focus in creating a more eco-aware workplace – from everyday tasks like remembering to turn your appliances and the lights off, to placing recycling bins in the washrooms, kitchens, and breakout areas. However, there are also areas of sustainability that need to be implemented, such as being less wasteful and switching to more sustainable products and eco-friendly solutions.

Check out 5 simple ways to create a more sustainable workplace:

Ditch the plastics, especially bottles!

Many types of plastics are recyclable, but it can still take hundreds of years for plastic to fully decompose.  Despite this, and the war against plastic, only 45% in the UK gets recycled, which means 55% still ends up in landfills or the sea.

Cans are considered to be a better alternative to plastics, this is because it takes 95% less energy to recycle a can than to make a new one. As well as this, cans are 100% recyclable and can be recycled numerous times without loss of quality. Unfortunately, many supplies still come in plastic packaging and containers rather than tin or aluminium as it functions better, not only for ease of use but for safety reasons.

Even though cans are the better alternative to plastics, it is still important to recycle both products. If you don’t have recycling bins in your workplace, then now is the time to implement them. However, if you want to move away from using plastics and cans every day, here are a few suggestions: Use reusable metal water bottles instead of using plastic bottles if you travel a lot, you can then fill them up at a public place or if you are office based you can use a refillable bottle or a cup. Similarly, instead of using plastic bags for lunches, why not use reusable containers, or beeswax food storage? Biodegradable products for refreshments are also the perfect alternative to plastics.

Implementing small changes can have the biggest impact.

Reduce energy

You would likely be surprised by the amount of impact energy and water usage can have on the environment. With everything from thermal pollution to climate change and water pollution to consider, what can we do to reduce our energy and water usage to help the environment?

Lights are a major source of energy usage in a workplace, however, if you are using the wrong types of lighting in your office not only can this cause risks like eye strain and loss of concentration but can be a source of both light and thermal pollution. Luminescent lightbulbs can produce heat and some standard fluorescent tube lights may contain toxic chemicals which can leak out when they are sent to landfills, contaminating the environment. On the other hand, LEDs are non-toxic and use at least 75% less energy than your standard lightbulbs, so it’s worthwhile considering switching to those.

As well as updating the lighting there are many other sources of energy which you may not think about, such as monitors, laptops, printers, other technology or kitchen appliances. Turning off appliances and lighting at the end of the day is a great way to conserve power, and it can also be good to turn off your monitor when you take a lunch break. Investing in appliances with sleep modes, and better energy ratings are encouraged too. Dishwashers use both energy and water, which can be ok when you have a large workforce, but if you only have a few employees then putting the dishwasher on every night isn’t cost-effective.

Switch to greener products & recycling solutions

Choosing and using the correct products is invaluable to your business, as it will help you to meet your company’s sustainability goals and targets. Finding products that offer enhanced sustainable and ethical credentials can mean you are making better choices, benefiting both you and the environment. Green products often have industry-recognised standards demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and ethical trading. Paper is a good example of the recognised standards that are associated with these two certifications. 

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™)
Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®).

So, where do you start when making the switch to green products? It may seem like a daunting challenge, but switching to green products is easy. Apart from the more obvious eco products, like paper, there is now a multitude of office supplies, facilities, office technology and furniture products available. Introducing any of the products mentioned into your workplace can make a difference. Swapping from disposable products like plastic cutlery to bamboo, wood or metal alternatives or changing your cleaning and washroom products to greener alternatives with zero plastics, can really make a difference.

We mentioned earlier about having recycling bins in place. These aren’t just for paper and cardboard products, and plastic, glass & tins. We all recycle these products at home so encourage everyone to do the same at work. Recycling can be made simple by adding bins with clear signage for use. Our free and award-winning ink and toner collection service help you cut your business’s CO2 emissions. However many units you have, we will dispose of these responsibly. We provide free recycling bins which we collect when we deliver your order. We can also recycle all your non-confidential paper waste too. All proceeds go to the local charity SeeSaw.

Switch to a smarter delivery service

Do you really need all your goods the next day? If not then switch to our smarter delivery service. You can choose a preferred delivery day, (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) and we’ll consolidate your orders and deliver everything together.

Encourage a greener commute

Often when someone mentions a greener commute, we think of cycling to work, car sharing or walking. However, with the rise of electric vehicles, there has been more of a focus on greener forms of travel.

Electric cars can be an expensive investment, so what are the alternatives? One of the options is to cycle to work. Cycling is a great form of exercise as well as a cheap alternative to driving. Not only is it more eco-friendly, but cycling can sometimes be quicker in congested traffic. Alternatively, if you live close enough to your place of work, you could also consider walking.

Book a free CSR assessment today
We’d love to show you how we can help make your business more sustainable, more innovative, less wasteful and more charitable.