Practicing Sustainability in Your Workplace

For modern businesses, workplace sustainability is an increasingly important consideration. In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, going green also has a variety of positive effects on your business. It can help cut utility costs, improve your professional reputation and make it easier to recruit young, socially conscious workers.

Go Dark at Night

One of the easiest ways to increase workplace sustainability is to shut down all of your electric equipment each evening. Computers and other office peripherals use electricity even when they are not in use; by shutting them down, you can cut your power bill and conserve energy with minimal extra effort. Simply ask each person to turn off their devices before they leave for the day to ensure that data is safe from accidental outages. Alternatively, connect all of your computers to smart power strips that are set to turn off at a specific time each day.

Ditch the Paper

In an age where smartphones, tablets and computers are essential for professionals, many businesses still use countless reams of paper. Going paperless boosts your workplace sustainability and streamlines operations, so your employees and clients can enjoy a smoother workflow. Start small by banning printed memos or meeting agendas. Gradually, work up to digital invoicing, paperless payroll and online client approvals. When you have to use paper, make an effort to recycle it.

Encourage Sustainable Employee Behavior

Workplace sustainability extends beyond office practices to the work-related behaviors of your employees. Frequent business trips and long commutes are big contributors to your company's environmental footprint. If you're serious about going green, consider investing in a high-quality video conferencing system — then, hold video meetings with remote clients to cut back on air travel. Set up a ride-sharing program for employees, and provide incentives for people who participate. If your employees live close to the office, offer benefits for workers who choose to ride or bike to work. You might also contribute financially toward the purchase of bikes or electric cars, or allow employees to work from home one or more days per week.

Choose Green Supplies

Every business requires a range of supplies to operate. Start increasing workplace sustainability immediately by choosing green supplies when your current stock runs out. Opt for printer paper, copier paper and envelopes that have a high percentage of recycled materials. Replace your existing lightbulbs with LEDs, and buy recycled ink and toner cartridges. If you operate a manufacturing business, consider purchasing raw materials from local sources or suppliers with strong sustainability practices. Finding green alternatives to existing supplies is an easy way to integrate green products slowly and without disrupting productivity.

Workplace sustainability is more than just replacing lightbulbs; it is a commitment to system-wide green practices. By making small, manageable changes and working gradually, you can transform your business from the inside out.

Image courtesy of Teerapun at FreeDigitalPhotos.net