8 Ways to Promote Sustainability in the Workplace

Approximately 70% of office waste is recyclable, but on average, only 7.5% gets recycled. This contributes to the 43.9 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste that the UK produces, on average, each year. And this doesn’t begin to cover transport or energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, companies are looking for new ways to reduce their waste and environmental impact. 

This is where sustainable workplaces come in. 

A sustainable workplace strives to use resources and practices that have minimal to no impact on the environment. As well as reducing your carbon footprint, a sustainable workplace promises other benefits, such as reduced costs and improved culture. Indeed, on the subject of culture, Forbes found that 64% of millennials wouldn't take a job unless the business had a strong corporate social responsibility (CSR), with 80% saying they’d be more loyal to companies contributing to social and environmental issues. 

So, how do you become a sustainable workplace? In this article, we get you started with our top eight ways to promote sustainability in the workplace.

1. Go Paperless

80.6m tonnes of printing and writing paper enters the waste stream each year in the UK, which accounts for 24% of total UK waste. Do your part in reducing this with a paperless office. 

Encourage employees to use digital platforms for communication, documentation and storage. Digital and cloud solutions, like Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Xero and Gusto, have enabled companies to become more streamlined and efficient, while also reducing paper.

In the event that paper needs to be used, make sure that it is used with the environment in mind. This might include printing on both sides of the paper by default, avoiding over-production of marketing material, reusing paper where possible, and always recycling it after use.  

As well as the benefits for the environment, going paperless will save you space and time, and enables easier transfer of information between employees and clients. 

2. Implement Energy-Saving Practises

Implement energy-saving practices, and encourage employees to commit to them when in the workplace. For example, you can —

• Use energy-efficient lighting and heating systems.
• Invest in loft and cavity wall insulation. 
• Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances when the time comes. 
• Encourage employees to fill a sink, rather than keeping the tap running. 
• Make the most of natural light from windows, doors and skylights. 
• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. 
• Turn off computers and other electronics between uses.
• Use kettles to only boil the water that’s needed. 

If you want people to adopt these practices, they need to understand what they need to do and why they need to do it. Deliver strong and consistent messages to encourage your employees to also believe in the vision. This might include adopting a sustainable slogan. 

3. Stock Eco-Friendly Products 

From cleaning and office supplies to the utensils in the kitchen and the toilet paper in the bathroom, choose products that are kind to the environment. This might mean investing in low or zero-waste supplies that are biodegradable and free from harmful chemicals, and buying in bulk to cut down on packaging and travel miles. 

You could also develop a procurement policy that prioritises the purchase of environmentally friendly materials, products and services. Although a voluntary act,The European Commission writes that this can ‘help stimulate a critical mass of demand for more sustainable goods and services which otherwise would be difficult to get onto the market.’

Taken from Wild & Stone's range of eco wholesale products. 

4. Introduce Green Initiatives & Schemes 

To help your employees get motivated about a green workplace, implement green initiatives with rewards. Bike to work schemes, car-sharing programmes, season ticket loan schemes, electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes and “bring your own cup” rewards are some great initiatives to keep your employees engaged with sustainable practises.