Making your office more green is not as difficult or costly as you may think! By swapping out old products for new, eco-friendly efficient ones, your office will be on its way to becoming more green and sustainable before you know it. Here is a list of 4 simple steps you can take in order to make your office environment greener.
1. Go paperless
Living in the digital age has made the process of going paperless easier than ever before! Corrections, updates, and revisions on printed paper contribute to a significant amount of waste in every office space. Reviewing digital documents on-screen rather than printing them out would be a great eco-friendly alternative.
Other ways to go paperless can include printing less in general, asking partners and vendors for electronic billing statements and invoices and taking advantage of digital storage services. From cloud storage services to digital payment methods, the need for paper and printers at work have been decreasing rapidly for the past few years. Decrease the number of printers in your office by donating them to local schools and charity organizations.
2. Unplug electronics
You may not have the budget to buy more eco-friendly and sustainable office technology, but there are some small things you can do that will have a huge overall impact. It is not enough to turn off your computer monitor or other electronic devices before leaving work in the evening. Power is still being consumed if the device is plugged into a power source. Be sure to completely unplug all electronics at the end of the day to prevent wasting electricity and racking up high power bills.
3. Use sustainable or second hand products
Use eco-friendly office products to make your office more green. It is easy to find recycled paper, stationery, and notepads. If something needs to be printed, print in black and white whenever possible, and use refillable ink cartridges.
Instead of buying new office furniture or decor, look for second hand items. This practice will not only eliminate waste, but you will save a ton of money when remodeling.
4. Manage waste
If your office does not have a recycling bin, it’s time to introduce one. Train your colleagues on how to properly separate waste such as plastic, glass, and paper. Go a step further and teach your office staff how to compost their food scraps. This could be a great source of fuel for the outside garden!
When a workplace becomes more eco-friendly, there are many benefits besides the environment. Many companies see an increase in customers and clients when they make the switch to a more sustainable and green office. Make these simple changes and see how your company grows!