By Ronie Salazar
Sustainability is important in all aspects of life, including the workplace. Despite this, many people find it difficult to be sustainable while working. This can be due to several reasons, such as lack of knowledge or confusion about what being sustainable means.
In this guide to the sustainable workplace, we will discuss some simple ways you can do your part to care for the environment. We hope that this information will help make it easier for you to transition to a more sustainable lifestyle!
Editor’s note: I’d be careful not to define a sustainable workplace only by what happens inside the office. Recycling bins, bike racks, mugs, and better cleaning products all help, but the modern workplace now stretches across offices, homes, commutes, suppliers, cloud tools, and shared equipment. A company can look greener on-site while quietly shifting energy use, waste, and costs somewhere else. The more useful question is not simply “is our office sustainable?” but “where does work create impact, and are we measuring the parts we can actually change?”
Measure the Footprint of How Work Really Happens
A sustainable workplace should start with the way people actually work, not the way the office appears on a policy document. That means looking beyond visible habits such as printing, recycling, and single-use cups, and asking where the biggest impacts are coming from.
For many organisations, the answer may include commuting, building energy, business travel, purchased equipment, food, cleaning contracts, digital tools, and homeworking. Hybrid work has made this more complicated. Fewer office days can reduce commuting, but it does not automatically make a business low-impact if the office remains fully heated, cooled, and lit for a half-empty floor, or if employees are using inefficient home setups.
A useful first step is to create a simple workplace impact map. This does not need to be a full corporate carbon audit at the beginning. It can start with practical categories:
How employees travel to work.
How often the office is occupied.
How much electricity, heating, cooling, and water the workplace uses.
What equipment is bought, repaired, reused, or replaced.
How much waste is produced, and what is actually recycled or composted.
How much business travel is required.
Which suppliers shape the workplace footprint, including cleaners, caterers, landlords, couriers, IT providers, and facilities managers.
Once these categories are visible, leaders can make better decisions. For example, if most employees drive long distances, flexible work, carpooling, public transport support, secure bike storage, and better scheduling may matter more than another office recycling poster. If the office is only half full on many days, the bigger opportunity may be reducing wasted heating, cooling, lighting, and leased space. If laptops and monitors are replaced too often, repair, refurbishment, and responsible procurement may have more impact than asking staff to print less.
This is also where sustainable workplace policies need to be fair. Remote work can reduce commuting, but it can also shift energy costs onto employees. If a company encourages homeworking as part of its sustainability strategy, it should think about efficient equipment, reasonable support for home office needs, and guidance that helps employees reduce energy waste without making them personally responsible for the company’s environmental performance.
The same applies to office attendance. If employees are required to come in, make those days count. Coordinated office days can reduce the problem of heating and cooling large spaces for very few people. They can also make commuting more worthwhile by concentrating meetings, collaboration, mentoring, and team activities into the days when people are already travelling.
A practical workplace sustainability review might ask:
Are we measuring commuting patterns, or only office waste?
Are we running a large office at full capacity when it is rarely full?
Do our hybrid policies reduce emissions, or just move them?
Can we repair or redeploy equipment before replacing it?
Are our suppliers aligned with our sustainability goals?
Are employees given clear systems, not just individual guilt?
The goal is not to make every workplace perfect. It is to stop treating sustainability as a collection of small symbolic actions and start managing it as an operational issue. A greener workplace is not just one with plants, mugs, and recycling bins. It is one where space, energy, travel, purchasing, and employee routines are designed with less waste from the beginning.
Office Settings for a Sustainable Workplace
Implement recycling and composting programs
Implementing recycling and composting programs is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste. Recycling allows materials that would otherwise be thrown away to be reused while composting turns organic waste into a valuable resource that can be used to improve soil health.
When it comes to recycling, there are several options available to businesses and organizations. One of the most popular methods is single-stream recycling, which allows all recyclable materials to be placed in the same bin. This makes recycling more convenient and increases participation rates.
Composting is another effective way to reduce waste. By composting organic waste, businesses and organizations can create a valuable resource that can be used to improve soil health and promote plant growth. Composting also reduces the amount of methane gas produced by landfills, which is a potent greenhouse gas.
Businesses and organizations can implement recycling and composting programs by working with their local government or waste management company. Many communities have recycling and composting programs already in place, so it is important to find out what is available in your area. Many private companies offer recycling and composting services. These companies typically have experience in implementing these programs and can help you get started.
Encourage employees to telecommute or work from home occasionally
Employees who telecommute or work from home can enjoy some benefits. For one, they can save on commuting costs and time. They can also have a more flexible schedule, which can be beneficial for employees with children or other family responsibilities. Additionally, working from home can help boost employee morale and productivity.
If your company allows employees to telecommute or work from home occasionally, there are a few things you can do to encourage them to take advantage of this perk. First, make sure they are aware of the policy and how it works. Second, provide them with the resources they need to be successful, such as a quiet place to work and a reliable internet connection. Finally, give them the freedom to work from home on days that work best for them.
Provide bike racks and showers for employees who choose to cycle to work
As more and more people choose to cycle to work, businesses need to provide amenities that make cycling a more convenient and appealing option. Bike racks and showers are two such amenities that can encourage employees to cycle to work.
Bike racks provide a safe and convenient place to store bikes, while showers allow cyclists to freshen up after their commute. Both of these amenities can be easily installed in a sustainable workplace, and they can make a big difference in encouraging employees to cycle to work.
There are just a few things to keep in mind. First, it’s important to choose the right location for the bike racks and showers. They should be located in a convenient spot that’s easily accessible for employees.
Second, you’ll need to consider the cost of installing and maintaining the bike racks and showers. While the initial investment may be significant, it’s important to remember that biking can save your employees money on transportation costs over time.
Third, you’ll need to make sure that the bike racks and showers are properly maintained. This includes regularly checking for damage and making repairs as needed.
Use eco-friendly cleaning products
As a business owner, you want to do what’s best for your company. That includes using eco-friendly products whenever possible. When it comes to cleaning products, there are many green options available that are just as effective as their traditional counterparts.
Eco-friendly cleaning products are made from natural ingredients that are safe for the environment. They are also often biodegradable, which means they won’t pollute the earth when they are disposed of. Many eco-friendly cleaners are also gentle on surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about them damaging your office furniture or equipment.
Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products is a great way to show your customers that you care about the environment. It’s also a smart business decision, as using green products can help you save money in the long run. Eco-friendly cleaners are often just as effective as their traditional counterparts, but they cost less to produce. This means you can pass the savings on to your customers in the form of lower prices.
Plant trees and gardens around the office to improve air quality
Planting trees and gardens around the office can help improve air quality by providing natural filtration for the air. Trees and plants also release oxygen, which can help improve indoor air quality. By improving the air quality around the office, you can contribute not only to a sustainable workplace but also create a healthier work environment for employees.
Trees and gardens can also help to reduce noise pollution. With more plants and trees around the office, there will be less sound bouncing off of hard surfaces. This can create a more peaceful work environment, which can lead to increased productivity.
Remote Work Settings for a Sustainable Workplace
Invest in quality laptop and phone chargers that are both Energy Star certified
Having a quality laptop and phone charger is important for many reasons. Not only do they help keep your devices charged, but they can also help save you money on your energy bill. Energy Star certified chargers are designed to be more efficient than traditional chargers, so they can help you save even more money.
Investing in a quality laptop and phone charger can help you save money in the long run, so it is definitely worth the investment. Make sure to look for Energy Star certified chargers to get the most efficient product possible.
Use a screen protector and keyboard cover to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced
Most people are unaware of the amount of plastic waste they produce daily. From packaging to single-use items, the average person produces a lot of plastic waste without even realizing it. But there are some easy ways to reduce your plastic footprint and one of them is by using a screen protector and keyboard cover.
A screen protector is a thin film that you can apply to your phone, tablet, or laptop screen. It helps to protect the screen from scratches and other damage. Many of them are made from recycled materials and are completely recyclable.
A keyboard cover is a great way to protect your keyboard from dirt, dust, and spills. It also helps to keep your keyboard clean and looking new. Keyboard covers are usually made from silicone or another type of flexible material. They’re easy to clean and can be reused over and over again.
Using a screen protector and keyboard cover is a great way to reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce. Not only are they made from recycled materials, but they’re also reusable. So, you can feel good about doing your part to create a sustainable workplace, reduce plastic waste and help protect the environment.
Buy your water bottle and coffee mug to reduce waste
If you care about the environment, then one simple way to reduce your ecological footprint is to bring your water bottle and coffee mug with you wherever you go. By doing this, you’ll drastically reduce the amount of waste that you produce daily.
And it’s not just plastic bottles and coffee cups that you’ll be saving from the landfill – you’ll also be saving all of the energy and resources that went into producing them in the first place. So next time you’re heading out the door, make sure to grab your reusable water bottle and coffee mug!
Print documents only when necessary and use double-sided printing whenever possible
Every time you print a document, you use up paper and ink.
By printing only when necessary and using double-sided printing whenever possible, you can save both resources. Think about whether you need to print a document before hitting the print button. If you don’t need a hard copy, there’s no need to use up paper and ink printing it. Whenever possible, choose double-sided printing.
This way, you’ll use half as much paper while still getting your document printed out. Plus, it’s more environmentally friendly!
Final Thoughts on the Sustainable Workplace
While not every company can or needs to go remote, there are some easy and simple ways to make yours a sustainable workplace. Implementing a few of these changes can help reduce the amount of waste your office produces, conserve resources, and improve air quality. If you’re looking for more tips on how to make your office greener, check out our other blog posts or contact us for advice.
Ronie is from Veed. He’s an energetic content marketer with extensive experience in the digital realm. His curiosity and enthusiasm resulted in an ever-growing portfolio that encompasses anything from video editing jobs to distributing his creative work to top-notch websites.