5 simple steps to help make your office greener

When running a business, there are many aspects of operations that need to be adhered to in order to keep in line with regulations by governing bodies. One area which is becoming increasingly important is that of waste management.

By analysing your current business practices, you can begin to create a clear picture of how sustainable your operations actually are. In addition, by creating greater awareness of working in a more environmentally friendly manner, you can start to embed these practices in the very culture of your business, setting a precedent for future operations.

In this article we explore the 5 simple changes you can introduce to your business in order to help make your workplace more economical.

Paper management

It has been reported by Conserve Energy Future that one office employee alone consumes 10,000 sheets of paper every year. With the development of technology and the rise in digital industries, whilst it is not currently viable for many organisations to go completely paperless, it can certainly be greatly reduced. Offices and teams can work to conserve paper usage by putting limits on the amount of paper they use, for example ensuring that documents fit a single page. Why not even make use of scrap paper for the note takers or doodlers among you?

Focus on the online aspects of your business particularly in terms of communications, favouring emails for internal and external communications. Not only is this a more secure method of communicating, but it also leaves a clear digital trail should this be required in the future. In terms of HR, payslips, sickness and holiday forms, all can be requested, completed and submitted online. It might mean investing in software which allows you to do this, but with increasing GDPR requirements and the need to store data securely, this could well be a worthy investment.

Recycle awareness

In addition to reducing unnecessary usage of materials, it is also important to put procedures in place for recycling. Make sure you have provided easily accessible and clearly marked recycling outlets such as bins and that everyone is aware of what waste should be but in which bin. The use of visible literature and regular training is essential so that everyone knows they have a part to play. Organising for a regular recycling collection from your office will also help to keep the behaviour in people’s minds. The scope of recycling could also delve deeper into staff's working habits for example, their lunch preferences and how they dispose of such items. Encouraging staff to bring in food in reusable containers and providing a selection of cordials for example could help to reduce the amount of single use drinks bottles and packaging purchased for lunch.

Energy usage

Whilst reducing paper waste is an important step in becoming a greener office operation, the switch to using more devices is likely to result in increased energy consumption. Whilst this cannot be avoided particularly in such a digitally oriented business world, there are steps which can be taken to ensure staff are educated about good working habits. This could include ensuring that all devices, lights and other non-essential items are switched off during working hours. You could also look into conducting an audit to assess the amount of energy the business is consuming. With some energy supply companies now offering 100% renewable energy supplies, it could well be worth reviewing your energy contracts to see if you could not only save money but use greener energy too.

Business operations

Looking into your supply chain could help to identify areas in which you could also help to reduce the environmental impact of your business. One example is the location of your supplies; if you are sourcing items from overseas, is there a locally sourced option you could switch this to? What steps are your suppliers taking to also become more sustainable? Understanding that your business is part of a wider network is important in helping to make sure you are contributing to a much bigger change, which in turn will have an even greater impact on the way the industry operates as a whole.

E-business

Although this is quite an extreme measure for some, it could be worth reviewing your business to see whether you really need your current premises. Many businesses are now conducting the vast majority of their work online and with increasing demands for flexible working, there could well be opportunities for you to reduce the physical office presence needed, and with it all of the costs and usage. Some businesses are choosing to opt for a much reduced centralised ‘hub’ from which staff attend as and when needed, but are not there all of the time. It’s a fairly radical idea but one which we are likely to see cropping up more and more in various sectors in the future.

In conclusion, conducting an environmental audit is an important first step in identifying how your business could improve its sustainability and green credentials.  From this, you can start to implement new practices which not only help to reduce waste and associated costs, but help to create a new culture of social responsibility. It is a move that can boost the reputation of your business, increase appreciation from your staff and could even lead to new and exciting new business who value your commitment to greener operations. 

About the Author:

Sonya Cragg is Head of Sales and Marketing at Countrystyle Recycling, a dynamic privately owned resource management & waste recycling business operating across Kent. With an extensive fleet of over 120 vehicles ranging from Artics, RoRos, Dustcarts and Skip lorries; Countrystyle operates with a strong landfill avoidance ethos, with facilities equipped to handle various waste streams including but not limited to paper, plastic, cardboard, wood and handling general waste material to be processed into RDF. For more information visit www.countrystylerecycling.co.uk.