Today, more companies than ever before have made a commitment to reduce their total environmental impact. There are a few compelling reasons for all businesses to consider taking these steps.
From a business standpoint, most consumers will be more inclined to purchase a product from and invest in services provided by companies that have a proven track record of social responsibility related to their total environmental impact. In fact, it’s estimated that over 80 percent of all consumers are more inclined to support a brand or company that has a history of sustainability.
If you want to create an eco-conscious organization, a good first step is to look into solar panel cost for your building; however, that’s not all. Make sure to take additional steps, as well.
Start a Recycling Program
An effective way to begin implementing a sense of mindfulness about sustainability is by creating a recycling program in your office. From individual workspaces to break rooms and kitchens, make sure you are providing information about the responsible disposal of waste. This can be done with the right signage on various waste stations. These signs should help your workers distinguish between what is trash, what is compost, and what is recycling.
Another way to minimize waste is by finding options to safely remove, donate, or recycle old electronic equipment. There are several services that offer this today.
Take Steps to Conserve Energy
Switching off your electronic devices and turning the lights off around the office or building after hours will help you conserve energy resources and ensure you can save money on your electric costs. It is a good idea to create a policy related to energy consumption, including what employees are responsible for – such as turning off their computers and other devices at the end of the day.
Consider Going Paperless
Cloud and digital computing solutions allow companies to be much more collaborative, efficient, streamlined, and – you guessed it – green. From using a desktop application such as Google Drive for project coordination to investing in payroll and HR software solutions, you can easily swap out traditional paper and pen for a cleaner, more organized, and eco-conservative alternative.
Support Green Vendors or Suppliers
Try to find the products, equipment, and items that you need from green-friendly companies and brands. Conduct research into various vendors of interest to learn more about their sustainability efforts to see if they are aligned with your company’s values and vision related to reducing your environmental impact.
Reuse to Reduce
It is estimated that over 1.6 to two billion disposable coffee cups are used by Canadian workers each year. You should take steps to discourage your workforce from producing this type of waste. You can do this by encouraging the use of reusable coffee mugs along with reusable water bottles. One way to do this is by providing workers with company-branded items, like stainless steel water bottles and travel mugs. You can even give monthly incentives, such as gift cards and more company gear for those who use these reusable items.
Purchase Plants for the Office
When you place plants around your office, you can beautify the workspaces and improve the overall atmosphere. Plants have also been proven to help reduce anxiety and stress for your team. Also, indoor plants can help to boost oxygen levels while removing harmful toxins and pollutants like formaldehyde and carbon dioxide. In fact, it has been estimated that using indoor plants can help to reduce overall indoor air pollutants by up to 87 percent in just 24 hours.
Conserve Human Energy
While this may not be something that comes to mind when you are thinking about eco-friendly practices, the fact is, the wellbeing of your workers is essential to the healthy habits your organization has put in place. Something that is just as important is mindfulness.
You should think about taking steps to sustain energetic and healthy employees. This will be beneficial for your company’s productivity levels. You can do this by creating a non-toxic, safe environment. One of the first ways to achieve this is by offering nutritious and sustainable options, such as organic vegetables and fruits in the break room.
Is Your Workplace Eco-Friendly?
If you are ready to make a change in your office or workplace, which includes improving sustainability, make sure to use the tips and information found here. This will help ensure you get the desired results you are looking for. Being informed and knowing what steps to take is essential to achieving your goals.
