Sustainability concerns us all and a secure future for us and future generations on our planet can only be achieved together - I think we all agree on that. Every change, no matter how small it may seem, can be helpful there is potential in the most unlikely of places. Offices are a great example of this. We spend so much time there that it can provide an easy starting place. We have put together some beginner tips that can make our workspaces more sustainable in a flash and with little effort. Who's in?
1. A classic example of sustainability in the office: waste separation
The topic is as old as modern environmental protection itself - waste separation! In the daily office madness, however, this can easily be forgotten, as we all know. But clear communication often helps a lot. Therefore: provide segregated waste bins that match the waste categories collected, post clear explanations of what belongs in which bin and also talk about the topic in team meetings every now and then. Awareness creates action.
2. Save paper - in the washroom and office
Does every email have to be printed? Can important documents perhaps be better structured and archived in digital folders? Does the offer to the customer have to go out in letter format or is an email sufficient? Does it really need print advertising? Simple questions can bring about big changes for a more sustainable office management. If documents still need to be printed, it is best to do so on recycled paper.
The same applies to the washroom or toilet: a study by the Federal Environment Agency1 shows that cold-air hand dryers are significantly more environmentally friendly than paper towels. Fabric towel dispensers are an alternative. Cloth towels are easy to wash and are not only environmentally friendly, but also cost-effective, comfortable and hygienic. If you still want to use paper towels for various reasons, you should opt for recycled paper towels. By the way, this also applies to paper towels in the kitchen.
3. Environmentally friendly equipment use
Office equipment in particular can provide some environmental quick wins. One of the most common tricks is to set the default setting for printers to double-sided printing, saving paper automatically. The coffee machine in the kitchen can also be set to standby for a maximum of 30 minutes and then switch itself off to save electricity. Another good lever in terms of economical energy management is the hibernation mode of PCs, which consumes less energy than the standby mode. For most colleagues, the performance of the two settings makes no difference and can contribute to a better energy balance for the company.
4. Making green spaces edible and bee-friendly
If you have green spaces on your company premises, you can easily use them for the benefit of your employees and the environment. For example, low-maintenance vegetables can be planted for free use, small fruit trees and bushes such as currants can be planted, or bee-friendly flower meadows can be sown. The benefits are twofold – better habitats for pollinators AND more relaxing environments for colleagues. Why not hold the next team meeting in the open air to encourage creative brainstorming.
5. Environmentally friendly cleaning agents
Whether surfaces or hands, cleaning in the office should be effective, simple, safe, but also environmentally friendly. The quickest way? Use cleaning agents from well-known manufacturers and, in the very best case, those that have been produced sustainably and are healthy for skin and the environment. It is not without reason that many PURELL® products carry certifications such as the Ecolabel, the Ecologo or the Cradle to Cradle certificate. These products make it easy for you to establish sustainable cleaning in your company as well.
Together we can achieve so much more for a sustainable future. At PURELL, we have set our own goals for this, which let us work effectively towards a better climate balance. Will you join us?
1https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/haendetrocknung-0
