Being environmentally conscious doesn’t have to stop at home! Here’s the deal…you can also be eco-friendly at work!
For most of us working moms, we spend more time at work than we do at home. This means that our eco-friendly practices should carry from our personal space to our workspace.
If you’re looking for ways to go green at work to reduce your impact on the Earth, you’re in the right place. This blog is filled with tips to green your office!
In 2016 I worked in the cutest sustainability office in my town. Not kidding. It looked like a treehouse! It was a little brown house that packed a big environmental punch.
In this office, I worked with mostly like-minded women who lived the Earth and knew the power of community engagement in growing a sustainable city. I was fortunate to work in a building that was optimized for sustainability.
If you don’t know, I have worked as an environmental educator since I graduated from college. I’ve worked for several cities, but my job responsibilities have been similar. I love teaching people how to be more eco-friendly in their everyday life by making simple changes to their lifestyles.
Because of this experience, I have so many eco-friendly tips and ideas to help you go green at work.
Why does this matter?
The decisions we make matter! I know it’s easy to get caught up in our everyday lives and forget that we are each connected by the place we call home. When I say home I don’t mean the place we live in, but the place we live ON. Our Earth – our environment.
Every decision we make has an effect on the health and sustainability of our planet.
This post is all about 17 ways to be more eco-friendly at work!
1. Pack your lunch
Packing your lunch is healthier, saves money, and helps the environment by significantly decreasing your food waste.
Every year we waste enough food to feed 3 billion people. Excess food waste in the landfill produces methane, a greenhouse gas. The greenhouse effect naturally warms up the Earth’s surface, but too many greenhouse gases cause the Earth to trap more heat causing global warming.
In addition to helping the planet, packing your own lunch gives you control of what you’re eating. If you are maintaining a flexitarian diet or have food allergies you know exactly what is in your food if you’ve prepared it.
2. Keep reusable bags at work
If you’re anything like me, you carry entirely too many items to work and somehow still end up taking home more than you came into work with.
How does that happen?!
To save myself from grabbing a plastic bag to carry whatever extra items I’ve acquired to my car, I make sure to always keep a few extra shopping bags in my drawer at work.
This is also helpful for those after work trips to the grocery store!
3. Type your meeting notes
In an effort to save paper, try typing your notes instead.
Although I am a fan of the classic paper and pencil notetaking style, I strive to type my meeting notes on my computer instead.
Paper manufacturing requires trees! Trees are responsible for producing oxygen, preventing erosion, cleaning water, decreasing flooding, providing habit and more. The more paper we use, the more trees we have to cut.
Paper is thirsty! It takes approximately 2 gallons of water to make one piece of 8.5 X 11 paper. This is because the bleaching process for paper is extremely water-dependent.
Before your next meeting, consider an alternative to printing meeting agendas and taking notes on paper.
If you can’t get on board with typing your meeting notes, make sure to buy recycled paper and recycle your notes after you’re done with them. When you can, always recycle paper.
4. Bring reusable plates and utensils
Using disposable plates and utensils contributes to our overuse of single-use plastics.
Single-use plastics are flexible and convenient, but they also require a large number of fossil fuels for manufacturing and are only used for a short period of time.
I always keep reusable plates and utensils in my office drawer. This prevents me from using disposable plates and utensils.
5. Reusable beverage cups
Similar to using reusable plates and utensils, avoid disposable beverage cups.
Make sure to pour your coffee and your water into reusable cups. Even if you’re grabbing coffee at a coffee shop, remember to bring your own cup.
Disposable cups are single-use items that require a lot of water, oil, and transportation for manufacturing but are only used for a short period of time. Instead, prioritize quality, durable products you can use over and over again.
Every day I carry my reusable coffee cup and my reusable water bottle. I don’t leave home without them!
6. Use natural light
If you have the option, open the blinds and turn off the light!
I don’t know about you, but natural light is so motivating when I’m working! The fact that it’s also a way to be eco-friendly at work is a bonus!
Natural light not only feels better on my eyes than artificial light, but it also creates a more alert and inspiring work environment.
7. Plan your travel environmentally
Traveling plays a large role in carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere. In one of the earlier tips, I mentioned the harmful impacts of global warming caused by the greenhouse effect.
Carbon emissions released from transportation along with the number of fossil fuels used to power vehicles contribute to the greenhouse effect.
My favorite and most realistic way to travel environmentally to work is to carpool. When we worked in the same city, my husband and I would carpool to work as often as possible!
Suggestions to plan your travel environmentally:
- Walk or bike to work
- Carpool to work and to meetings
- Attend your next conference trip virtually
- Use public transportation
8. Bring plants to the office to clean the air
Add some green to your office! This is probably the easiest and most popular way to be more eco-friendly at work…add some plants!
Plants are not only beautiful, but they also help clean the air. Having the right plants in your office can help to remove harmful pollutants from the air. Plants have also been known to help reduce sickness, reduce stress, and increase productivity!
In fact, science has proven that nature in the workplace makes people healthier and happier.
22 plants for cleaning indoor air:
- English Ivy
- Bamboo Palm
- Chinese Evergreen
- Gerbera Daisy
- Dragon Tree
- Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
- Pot Mum
- Peace Lily
- Spider Plant
- Mass Cane/Corn Plant
- Rubber Tree
- Lemon Button Fern
- Pothos
- Philodendron
- Parlor Palm
- Aloe Vera
- Broad Lady Palm
- Fittonia ‘Frankie’
- Ficus
- Flamingo Lily
9. Buy sustainable office products
When I worked as an intern in college I had an obsession with sustainable purchasing for schools. I know, the most specific thing ever. Who knew that job even existed?!
But yes, it does exist and yes, it is possible to purchase office supplies sustainably.
Purchasing supplies for the office is inevitable, but you can do so sustainably. Look for recycled materials and supplies made from recyclable materials. If possible, buy local!
10. Recycle
Recycling is one of the most common ways to go green at the office.
Over the years recycling has become a mainstream habit of many people who want to do the right thing for our environment.
Even though this is awesome, it also comes with challenges. The biggest challenge is recycling the wrong materials.
To recycle effectively at your office, work with your recycling hauler to make sure you know what is allowed to be recycled. Once you learn what can and cannot be recycled, educate all staff.
Pro Tip: Make it easier for people to recycle by having a recycling bin in every office, next to every trashcan, and by the printer/copier.
Remember, people want to recycle and want to do the right thing, but it still has to be convenient.
11. Compost
Composting at work may be difficult for some.
When I was working for a sustainability office, this was a must for us!
We would take our compost outside every day after lunch and add it to the bin. The compost bin was self-sustaining and helped keep our eco-garden thriving.
If possible, implement a composting program at your office! To make the program successful, it is imperative that you educate your staff on what is appropriate to compost.
The compost can be added to your building landscaping.
12. Include reusable mugs near the coffee machine
It is estimated that 16 billion disposable coffee cups are used every year.
Instead of offering disposable cups near the coffee machine, offer reusable cups!
This is also a great opportunity for additional branding of your business. When drinking from a reusable cup, guests feel more welcomed and at home. Including these coffee mugs next to the coffee machine also makes it easy and convenient for people to grab.
13. Encourage teleworking/virtual work
As we’ve mentioned earlier in this blog post, carbon emissions from cars is a major contribution to greenhouse gases.
Encouraging teleworking and virtual work helps to reduce the amount of vehicles on the road and thus the amount of energy used and emissions emitted.
Here’s some proof:
During the pandemic, many countries mandated shutdowns which caused people to stay at home. Not only were the skies more clear, but there was also a noticeable decline in pollution.
This is evidence that our individual decisions have a direct impact on the environment. Although Scientists say pollution decline won’t last as we begin to “open up”, it can! We can continue to see a difference in pollution by increasing teleworking.
14. Create an “ask before you toss” policy
One (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure!
Instead of tossing old office supplies and furniture, create a policy that encourages employees to notify others before throwing office items away.
What may no longer work for one person, maybe perfect for another person. This helps to reduce the number of new items needed to be purchased by reusing items that may still be in good condition.
15. No paper towels
In general, hand dryers are more environmentally friendly than paper towels.
Paper towels make up 2% of landfills space in the United States. Even when buying paper towels made from recycled materials, they still generate more carbon emissions than a hand dryer. In addition, paper towels require trees and water.
Instead of paper towels, try installing an eco-friendly hand dryer to be more eco-friendly at work!
16. Consider becoming LEED certified
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED buildings are designed to incorporate environmentally friendly practices that promote better building design for a sustainable future.
Find out more about LEED here.
17. Volunteer/Donate
Going green at work can be as simple as volunteering for environmental organizations/events or donating.
Do your research to find volunteer events and eco-organizations that echo the environmental message you would like to associate with your office.
You can also offer incentives or time off for employees who participate in volunteering and show their commitment to sustainability.
I hope you enjoyed these tips about how to be more eco-friendly at work!
Are you currently using any of these tips? Do you have more tips to share? Do you believe in the importance of going green at work? Being more eco-friendly at work means making decisions to reduce your impact on the Earth.
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