When people think about becoming more sustainable, they often consider their home life and personal habits. But given that most people spend a third of their time at work, it’s also important to consider green ideas for the office.
Ways to go green in the office can apply to both shared workspaces like your company’s office building or a local coworking space as well as your work-from-home setup.
Sustainability in the office doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking—small, simple actions always add up over time. And, by investing in sustainable and green ideas for the office, you’re creating an inspiring workspace people want to be in.
So, here are a ton of easy ways to go green in the office today.
21 Green Ideas For The Office
Only Print When Absolutely Necessary
Despite all the digital advances and conveniences we have today, many offices and employees still rely heavily on paper. People like to print out documents, meeting agendas, or emails.
But all this printing isn’t good for the environment. Try these options to help foster sustainability in the office:
- Share files digitally instead of printing them out
- Allow and encourage the use of laptops or tablets in meetings for people to take notes instead of printing a meeting agenda or minutes
- When circulating a document, instruct your team members or colleagues if they should or shouldn’t print a document
- Provide a few copies of a document stored in a central location so employees can share
Use Double-Sided Printing
While printing less is one of the key ways to go green in the office, there are times you do need to print something out.
When you do, use double-sided printing. Less paper is always better for the environment, plus you’ll save money in the long run.
Introduce A Scrap Paper Box
The next step after reducing your printing is to reuse that paper whenever possible.
Bring a scrap paper box into your office, somewhere people can drop unused printouts or printing mistakes. Then, encourage people to use this paper for taking notes, brainstorming, or printing drafts.
Encourage Recycling In The Office
We’ve reduced the use of paper to print, opted to reuse it where possible through a scrap paper box, and the last step is to recycle it.
Prioritize and encourage recycling in the office—both for paper and other materials like plastic, glass, and metal.
You can encourage recycling in the office by providing clear and obvious recycling bins throughout the office space. Education around recycling can also be influential, so consider offering some professional development or resources around the topic.
Set Up A Printer-Friendly Email Signature
Email signatures can get quite elaborate with logos, images, or huge blocks of text.
And while companies and employees should be minimizing printing altogether, some people may choose to print a copy of an email for future reference. So, ensure your email signature is printer-friendly by opting out of ink-intensive images or logos.
Choose Eco-Friendly Office Supplies
Offices need a lot of tools and supplies to run effectively. If you make an effort to swap them for eco-friendly options, it can make a huge difference. Here are a few green ideas for the office:
- Recycled or alternative paper or paper products (i.e., sticky notes, envelopes)
- Pens and pencils made from recycled or reclaimed materials
- Organizers made from metal instead of plastic
- Bamboo-based products such as rulers, organizers, or paper
One of the biggest things you can do is look for products made without plastic, which is one of the worst sources of waste and pollution today. Metal, glass, and bamboo are all better options.
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies
Just like office supplies, switching to eco-friendly cleaning supplies and products can make a huge difference. Swapping to reusable cloths and towels instead of single-use paper towels is one key step to take.
You can also invest in products from companies that prioritize the environment and, as a bonus, are better for you as well! Here are some reliable options for sustainability in the office:
- Grove Co. cleaning concentrates
- Seventh Generation cleaning products
- Blueland refillable cleaning products
Buy in Bulk
If you keep a stocked kitchen in the office with things like sugar, cream, salt, or other commonly used items, there’s a chance to become more eco-friendly by buying in bulk.
This is one of the green ideas for the office that not only saves money, but it reduces unnecessary and excessive packaging. Employees can also use exactly what they need and easily refill something when it’s run out.
Turn Lights & Electrical Equipment Off At Night
There’s simply no reason the lights need to be on overnight. Make it a priority to turn them off, along with any electrical equipment, to save power.
If your team members are having a hard time remembering to do this, consider these options:
- Create obvious signage to remind people to turn off lights and equipment
- Invest in motion-sensing lights that automatically turn on and off
- Implement a schedule where team members are responsible for checking everything is off for a week at a time
Light The Office With Daylight Whenever Possible
Not only is daylight great for boosting moods and morale, but it’s great for the environment! If you’re in an office space with natural lighting, consider whether or not you also need artificial light.
This might not be possible during gray winter months or in offices with few windows, but whenever possible, give the light switch a break and prioritize daylight.
Recycle Old Electrical Equipment
Recycling isn’t just for paper or plastic—old electronics need to be recycled too. Doing so diverts unnecessary waste from the landfill and parts of them can potentially be given new life as a different product.
In an office, there’s a ton of electrical equipment that may need to be recycled: computers, monitors, keyboards, kitchen appliances, A/V equipment, and more.
Depending on where you live, there are a few options to recycle old electrical equipment:
- Drop it off at a local depot that accepts electronics
- Return them to the store you purchased them in
- Participate in an electronics drive organized by your city
If you’re unsure where to recycle electronics, get in touch with your local municipality’s waste management department.
Use Non-Disposable Kitchen Supplies
Single-use kitchen supplies like plates, forks, and cups create a ton of waste. Instead, invest in high-quality non-disposable items for your team members to use.
This means, of course, that employees need to wash their dishes after using them. For this reason, it’s important to get team buy-in before making any changes. Like any of our green ideas for the office, talk to your team about why you’re making the switch so everyone can get on the same page.
Don’t Heat An Empty Office
Be intentional about how and when you turn the heat on in the office. Just like keeping the lights on overnight, heating an empty office is a waste of energy and resources.
You can invest in a system that auto-regulates the temperature, or simply make it part of your routine to turn the heat down a few degrees once everyone goes home.
Encourage Cycling and Walking To Work
Cycling or walking are two of the best eco-friendly ways to get to work. The added bonus is that they’re also great for physical and mental health!
One way to encourage cycling and walking is by starting a workplace competition or contest. Anyone who avoids driving and chooses a more eco option is entered to win a prize. By making it a fun and friendly competition, you’ll boost morale and connections between colleagues, too.
Organize Carpooling
For employees who can’t walk or drive, organize carpooling options for people who live close to each other. Team members can create a rotating schedule of drivers so that everyone has a chance to drive and a chance to be a passenger.
Choose LED Lighting
LED bulbs are more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. Because offices and workplaces use a lot of lighting, making this switch can save a lot of energy in the long run. They also last a lot longer, meaning you save money because of the switch!
Invest In Desk Plants
Plants and greenery in the workspace both look beautiful and have been scientifically shown to boost workers’ satisfaction and concentration levels.
But plants can also be a good eco option because of their ability to clean the air. Indoor plants can remove chemicals from the air, making it cleaner for humans to breathe and eliminating the need for artificial air fresheners.
Try a Plant-Based Lunch
Swapping out meat and animal products for more plant-based options can have a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and, therefore, fighting climate change.
Even small changes make a difference, so encourage your office to embrace the plant-based lifestyle at lunch. This could be by catering plant-based meals from a local restaurant or swapping plant-based recipes to try out.
Take The Stairs
You’ll notice that a lot of green ideas for the office are also good for your physical health, and this one is no exception. Taking the stairs instead of an elevator both reduces energy expenditure and improves your health and well-being—it’s a win-win!
Upcycle Furniture and Equipment
Over time, office furniture like chairs, desks, and tables will need to be replaced. Make sure these items aren’t simply thrown away by donating them or repurposing them through a makeover or updates.
Cut Back on Mail
Businesses are often put on a number of mailing lists, resulting in unnecessary catalogs, flyers, and mail showing up. Cut it back by contacting the sender and removing yourself from their mailing list.
This helps save paper and eliminates the need for you to figure out a waste removal or recycling solution.
These 21 ways to go green in the office are small steps that make a big impact. Consider which green ideas for the office you can implement in your workspace today.
And if you’re looking for a partner who equally cares about sustainability, contact us and book a tour of your local Launch Workplaces today.
