Our office environment largely determines the results of our workforce. No one likes working in a drab, poorly lit office composed solely of cubicles. It’s no wonder marketing agencies and leading creative firms consistently opt for bright, inspiring spaces. But sustainability must also be added to these more pleasant and humane office designs.
This is what eco-friendly offices are all about. In these offices, we’ll not only have the opportunity to work in a pleasant environment, but we’ll also ensure that the ecological impact of the office itself is as minimal as possible. This way, we can attract talent who are especially concerned about the health of the planet, and we’ll also be doing our part to protect nature.
Let’s take a look at some basic tips for creating an eco-friendly office environment, from the layout of the space to using renewable energy whenever possible.
Let’s start with the plants
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Plants use CO2 during photosynthesis, so their presence reduces excess CO2 in the atmosphere. We won’t be able to reduce the global temperature by one degree simply by placing a pothos plant on our desk, but every plant counts, and plants also contribute to a much more pleasant office environment for everyone.
There are many studies that suggest that the presence of plants in a space makes the environment more peaceful and more creative. But there’s no need to dwell on these types of studies when our own experience already tells us that we are more comfortable in an environment where green predominates.
The more natural light, the better
Having plants in the office will also help us strive to get as much natural light as possible through the windows. They need them to thrive, and so do we! Natural light will help us better balance our circadian rhythms, so our staff will be much more active and alert. We might even save on coffee!
Furthermore, the more natural light we have in the office, the less money we’ll have to spend on light bulbs. Anything that saves electricity is
important for preserving the well-being of the planet, so we shouldn’t skimp on architectural investments to maximise natural light in the office.
Saving electricity should be a priority
Reducing electricity consumption is essential for any eco-friendly office, and the good news is that there are many ways to do it. One of the main ways is to purchase energy-efficient appliances, including those in the office kitchen, if we have one. And, of course, all lighting should be LED.
We can also reduce power consumption by avoiding unnecessary computer activities. Installing a VPN to protect our connection or keeping an antivirus running in the
Background tasks are unquestionable tasks that should remain operational, but we can definitely avoid streaming sessions when there’s not much work to do.
Plastic must be avoided
Plastics have to be a thing of the past. It doesn’t make much sense to continue using plastic cups for coffee when we can simply install a coffee maker in the kitchen and use ceramic cups. It doesn’t make sense to buy plastic wastebaskets when we can buy metal ones. And so on.
Massively reducing unnecessary plastic consumption will not only help reduce pollution—especially in the Pacific Ocean—but will also reduce the extraction and refining of oil used for its production. Every little helps create a cleaner, better world.
Wooden furniture is better than metal furniture
If we have to buy furniture for our office, wood is the ideal material. Metal desks emit a large amount of CO2 during manufacturing, not to mention the CO2 from metal mining. Furthermore, these types of desks often include finishes that protect the metal from polluting materials.
Wooden desks don’t present these problems, and the trees used to make them can always be replanted. But we must be careful to ensure that the wood in our furniture comes from sustainable plantations; otherwise, we could be putting tropical rainforests at risk.
Recycle everything you can
The recycling process in an office involves two fundamental steps. The first involves purchasing items that are recyclable, or better yet, recycled and recyclable, to minimise the ecological impact of their production and subsequent disposal. Polymer-free paper, aluminium cans, lithium batteries…
The second step is the discipline of recycling. All office staff must be aware of the need to recycle materials; otherwise, these efforts will be in vain. And, of course, we must provide the means for this recycling by installing waste receptacles for each material.
All of these measures, combined with proper heating and cooling, will make our office much more sustainable and create a much more pleasant work environment for everyone. The results will be noticeable in employee relations and the company’s bottom line!
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