We’ve all used words like “environmental footprint,” “sustainability,” and “environmentally friendly.” These words are possibly familiar to you, owing to people’s desire to be more environmentally conscious than ever before. That is why it is important to understand the various ways in which your company can be proactive in helping the world in easy but efficient ways.
RECYCLE AND USE BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS
This can include things like recycling ink cartridges, upgrading the technology, and using biodegradable items in the workplace. These activities demonstrate that you are concerned about the environment’s future and are taking steps to make the world a better place. To further reduce the use of disposable water bottles, you should offer reusable water bottles to your workers. For example, it is estimated that 32 million tons of plastic waste were produced in the United States alone in 2011. You may also add a water filtration system to assist with this, which saves money and prevents water bottles from ending up in landfills.
USE ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING
Because of their design, LED lightbulbs can be extremely beneficial. “LEDs use much less energy and do not contain mercury or other poisonous gases used in incandescent and fluorescent lights,” writes Marla Tabaka. Although LED lighting is more expensive, it outperforms fluorescent lighting in the long run by lasting up to five years.
If the cost of LED lighting is prohibitive or if your workers choose to control their own lighting, you can allow them to use mood lighting or a desk lamp instead.
SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS AND FUNDRAISERS
This will be an excellent opportunity to collaborate on a local fundraising campaign with another local company or an environmentally conscious charitable organization. This initiative could take the form of tree planting, maintaining a local natural area, or engaging in a neighborhood “clean up” day. This fosters teamwork and allows you to give back to your community and the environment.
MINIMIZE THE USE OF PAPER
Since we live in a virtual world, printing anything is no longer possible. For signatures, you can use digital formats like DocuSign. You can also save all files to a computer hard drive or a cloud-based drive rather than copying them and filing them away. Furthermore, you can use recyclable paper or print on both sides to avoid wasting more paper than necessary. Simple changes can have a big impact on the climate.
USE “THINK GREEN” AS SIGNATURE IN YOUR EMAILS
With the need to print less, you’ll want to remind people to print only what they need or what they consider necessary. This simple reminder has the potential to sow the seed in the minds of those who read your email. This will encourage them to think about reducing their paper use and replace it with more environmentally friendly options.
ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO WORK FROM HOME
Telecommuting has become a way of life for many people, even though we are in the midst of a pandemic. It wouldn’t hurt to let people work from home until we figure out a safer way to get back to the workplace. This will save the company money on electricity and help with fuel transmissions for employees who have to drive to work. Although small steps in this direction can seem insignificant at first, they add up in the long run.
