Ways To Run An Eco-Friendly Office That Employees Love

Many think that having an eco-friendly office might be costly or even difficult to achieve. It is the complete opposite; going green does not equal to higher costs for the office, as it is exceptionally inexpensive and rather easy to implement.

If you are looking for ways to turn your office into an environmentally friendly surrounding for your employees, co-workers, and yourself, then make sure to follow the ‘Five Rs’: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, and Rethink. These steps and methods will help you turn a dull, grey office into a vibrant and exciting space for your employees.

Here are some tips and tricks on how to reduce waste, recycle old supplies and choose appropriate alternatives for the new, eco-friendly workspace.

For The Office:

• Buy in Bulk

If you are looking for smart ways to reduce waste in your office, then you should consider the practice of buying things in bulk. Whether it is toners, markers, or other supplies the office needs, buying things in bulk will reduce waste by using less packaging, as well as lower costs per-unit or per-print.

• Recycling containers

An eco-friendly office needs to have recycling containers or small boxes near the working stations, printers and in the staffroom. By placing the recycling containers in the prominent locations of the office, you will decrease waste, encourage recycling as well as ensure the office stays clean throughout the day. Just make sure to empty the containers and boxes regularly.

• Go-green, literally

For an eco-friendly office, make sure to invest in office plants, and not just one, but plenty of them. If the office is not spacious, however, one plant will do the job, but make sure to place it strategically near the window, or elsewhere with light exposure. Plants are not only green and there to make the office look pretty, but they also filter the air and bring freshness to the office. Moreover, many studies and psychologists have stated that having plants in the office also increases workers’ task performance, productivity, and overall happiness.

• Go Paperless

Unless you are an actual paper company, you should know by now that an office can function exceptionally without the use of papers. In this day and age, when basically everything is digital, the use of paper seems redundant. Instead of using paper, what you can do is turn to the digital archives; digitalization will free office space, make files easily accessible and more secure. The office can also easily rely on online storage services and digital pay stubs, therefore, lowering additional costs for papers, toners, and printers.

Speaking of paper, make sure your co-workers and employees use coffee filters made of recycled paper. Or, if they use paper or plastic cutlery, make sure to encourage them to use the ‘real thing’ rather then disposables.

For The Office Supplies And Equipment

• Stock reusable pens

Millions of disposable pens are thrown away on a daily basis. An eco-friendly alternative for disposable pens is reusable pens. Make sure to stock the office with a bunch of reusable pens, as well as with refills for these pens. This way you can keep track of their use, and each employee can have their own set of pens. Not to mention that these are cheaper considering the long run, and also, much nicer to use than regular pens.

• Introduce a Supply Cabinet

By having an office supply cabinet, you will be able to keep track of all the purchased supplies. In order to get your employees involved, make sure to put one or two people in charge of the cabinet as well. It won’t be long until the office notices that having supply cabinet is cost saving, and also completely useful and practical. There are also numerous sites and retailers online, like the Green Office, that provide recycled and sustainable green office supplies and equipment for your supply cabinet.

• Buy high-quality equipment

Okay, this part might sound a little expensive when compared to the advice mentioned above, but for a reason. When purchasing equipment, you should be looking for something of high-quality that will last you a long time and also not become outdated and obsolete in a few months. This way, you won’t be making frequent equipment purchases; therefore, you’ll save money and reduce manufacturing waste.

• Buy used furniture

Used furniture is usually cheap and can be easily re-designed to match the appearance of the office. Buying used furniture will not only help you save money, but it will also give you an opportunity to get creative, re-model and re-design the furniture to your taste and, not to mention, it will make the office unique and original. Moreover, using remanufactured cubicles is also an excellent idea for both cost and environmental savings. For used furniture, make sure to check sites like FreeCycle, Trash Nothing!, or CraigsList.

Few More Tips:

• Not everything can be recycled like, for example, your employees’ writing assignments and essays. Luckily for you, essay writing service australia is there to help you out. They provide online essay writing services, and all you need to do is just visit their site.
• Unplug computers and monitors when not in use, or check the computers for standby or sleep mode
• Purchase computers and monitors that are energy efficient, or consider replacing them with laptops and tablets
• Turn the lights off in the office rooms that are not frequently used, like the staffroom or the washroom
• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, as they are more efficient and usually last longer than the traditional bulbs
• Purchase multifunctional office equipment, like multifunctional printers, office desks or in-sink dishwasher for the office kitchen.