Your work routine shape more than just your productivity. They also influence the environmental footprint you create between the first email you send in the morning, to the last light switched off at night.
Many sustainability tweaks feel too complex or time-consuming, but there are still small and practical adjustments you can make in the workplace, which will still make a difference.
Swap Disposable Coffee Cups For A Reusable Mug
Bring a reusable coffee cup or a travel mug to work, and skip using throwaway cups altogether. Many coffee shops now offer a small discount when you bring your own mug, so you can save money but also cut down the waste too.
Stainless steel travel mugs will keep drinks hot longer, while glass options taste neutral, and they’re easy to clean. Pick a size that fits your office cup holder, or in your bag.
Also, keep a reusable water bottle at your desk too. Using a stainless steel water bottle, or other reusable water bottles will reduce single-use plastic usage, and remind you to drink more. You can refill it from the office kitchen, or from a filtered tap or water cooler, depending on where you work.
Store leftovers in glass food storage containers, instead of using plastic bags or disposable tubs. Glass food storage lasts longer, doesn’t absorb odors, and you can move it easily from the fridge to the microwave.
Rethink Your Printing Habits To Cut Paper Waste
Check if you really need to print something out, setting your default to be double-sided and black and white, to save paper and ink without any extra effort.
Create some simple rules for your office printer, with a sign of the print limits, asking people to print preview, before they press print. You can even set up quotas and limits, or require a quick approval, before doing any large jobs.
Try and encourage a zero waste mindset. Offer everyone a clearly labeled compost bin for food scraps, and a separate bin for recyclable paper which you can place near the printer. This makes it easy to sort waste, and keeps paper that cannot be reused, out of the trash.
You can choose greener supplies, like buying recycled paper, refillable cartridges and energy-efficient printers. You can use the toner-saver mode, and schedule machine sleep times to reduce power use, whenever the machines sit idle.
Choose Refillable Pens And Sustainable Office Supplies
Swap disposable pens for refillable pens, as this cuts down plastic waste, and will save money over time, as you only need to replace the ink and not the entire pen.
Look for sustainable office supplies made from recycled paper, bamboo or post-consumer plastic. This includes notebooks, folders and desk organizers that will last longer than cheap throwaway items.
Use reusable produce bags for your snacks and lunch items, instead of single-use plastic bags. They can fold small, wash easily and cut down on your personal daily plastic use.
Switch To Energy Saving Settings On Your Devices
Cut your energy use at work, by changing your device’s settings. Turn on energy saver or battery saver on laptops and tablets, so they’ll dim the screens and limit the background activity, when they’re idle.
Set the monitors and computers so they go to sleep after short inactive periods. Use dark mode where available, and lower the screen brightness, as both reduce power drawn on LED light bulbs and their display.
Enable automatic updates and scheduled restarts, so the devices stay efficient without you having to leave them awake.
If your office has smart thermostats, program them for work hours and setbacks after hours. Smart thermostats keep temperatures stable, and reduces the HVAC runtime, saving energy.
Switch the printers and copiers to sleep or power-down modes whenever they’re idle. Choose devices that give you energy-saving features, and compare options for lower standby consumption.
Replace old bulbs with LED light bulb in desk lamps or in common areas, as LEDs use far less energy and last longer than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.