In today’s society, it is nearly impossible for companies to avoid using energy in their day to day operations. Examples of energy consumption in the workplace range from providing electricity in the office to keeping the office space cool in the warmer summer months. As a result, more businesses are beginning to move toward more sustainable practices. This comes as an effort to not only reduce power costs, but reduce harmful consumption.
What exactly does sustainability mean?
The concept of ‘sustainability’ is broad, but generally refers to the use of better practices to help preserve the environment. Often, it involves one or more renewable energy, typically those that do not cause harm to the environment or deplete our natural resources in the process. Essentially, sustainability uses natural forms of energy to power some of our biggest necessities.
How Can Companies Move Toward Sustainability?
Companies who would like to incorporate significant sustainability in their workplace have a couple of options. More substantial forms of sustainable energy include solar and wind energy. Many companies have began building the necessary equipment in order to utilize these forms of energy more efficiently. Because these forms of energy require specialized equipment that can often be expensive, many companies opt out of these options. Even so, they can implement other ways of practicing sustainability in the workplace.
Plastic Elimination
Because larger sustainable measures like solar or wind energy may require a larger investment, companies will work to find other ways to make their workplace more sustainable. A trend that has been rapidly growing in recent years is eliminating single-use plastic completely in the workplace. Single-use plastic includes plastic grocery bags, plastic cups, and plastic straws, the latter commonly used for coffee. In doing so, the company is actively working to reduce their plastic consumption while practicing a form of sustainability.
Reduce or Eliminate the use of Printers
Countless companies across the nation have begun implementing a significant reduction in printing, while others have nearly eliminated printing altogether. This practice can significantly reduce the amount of paper that is being used. According to a study from the Paperless Project, US companies spend more than $120 billion per year for printed documents, even though most companies require a digital copy as well. By implementing a stricter policy on printing, companies can not only significantly reduce their paper consumption, but also cut down on the amount of energy they use through less use with the printer.
While these are only a couple examples of how companies can begin to incorporate sustainable practices in the workplace, there are numerous tactics that can be used. And every company has its own responsibility to implement these practices. Sustainability will not only benefit the efficiency of the workplace, but can help keep the environment vibrant.