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7 Ways to Improve Sustainability in the Workplace
Last updated: May, 2023
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Are you committing to reducing your carbon footprint and improving sustainability in the workplace? Then, you need policies that encourage green behaviors and support your net-zero goals.
These changes go beyond saving the environment. It directly impacts employee satisfaction, reducing staff turnover and increasing your bottom line.
But to get there, you need to make sure your workforce is on board with your ethical standards. You must create an environmentally friendly culture that supports your employee sustainability initiatives.
7 Ways to Improve Sustainability in the Workplace
Here are some of the best workplace sustainability initiatives to drive behavioral change and reduce your carbon footprint.
1. Spread Awareness of Your Net Zero Goals to Increase Engagement
Spreading awareness of your progress towards net zero does two things:
- It improves employee engagement
- It increases visibility
Both of these are crucial in getting your entire organization to support your green initiatives.
You can spread awareness through an internal newsletter, a website sustainability section, or an employee engagement platform like Emission Sentri.
It connects all your emissions data into one dashboard and delivers insights on your progress across your digital eco-system, helping to bring visibility to your progress on autopilot.
RELATED: The Best Employee Engagement Solutions
2. Find a Greener Web Hosting Service for Your Site
Want a quick way to make a change to your carbon footprint?
Switch to a greener hosting service for your company’s website.
According to Sustainable Web Design, the Internet produces 3.7% of global emissions and is on the rise.
That’s not all.
Data centers, the backbone of web hosting services, are known for their high energy consumption, contribute to 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and produce electronic waste.
A green web host provider uses renewable energy sources to run its servers or urchases renewable energy credits to offset the energy used by your website.
By making the switch, you can make your website carbon-neutral and support a more sustainable digital infrastructure.
RELATED: Engaging Employees in Sustainability: 6 Strategies You Need to Know
3. Offer Awareness Training and Certifications
If your employees lack green skills or are unaware of their carbon footprint, achieving your net-zero goals is difficult.
A study by the National Environmental Education Foundation revealed that organizations investing in environmental education for employees see a multitude of benefits, including:
- Improved profitability
- Employee retention
- Increase engagement
Moreover, employees care about sustainability. According to IBM, about 70% of employees find sustainability programs make an employer more appealing.
But it’s not enough to have a presentation once every quarter. If you want to create a sustainable workplace culture, you need the right tools to keep it front of mind.
Emission Sentri offers on-demand awareness training and certifications. Ranging from basic to advanced topics, your employees can upskill themselves at their own pace and use the monthly personalized AI recommendations to see where they can improve to help the company meet its net zero goals.
RELATED: Steal These X Excellent Sustainability in the Workplace Examples
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4. Encourage Sustainable Transportation
Promoting the use of public transport, cycling, or carpooling can drastically lower the collective carbon footprint of commuting employees.
Transportation contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions, accounting for approximately one-fifth of direct CO2 emissions from fuel combustion.
To reduce emissions from the daily commute, you can encourage and reward your employees for adopting green options like:
- Biking
- Walking
- Carpooling
- Public transportation
You can also support this behavior change through incentives like subsidized transit passes, bike racks, hybrid work models, or organizing carpool programs.
RELATED: Sustainability in the Workplace: X Ways to Influence a Sustainable Behaviour Change
5. Conserve Energy Within the Office
Offices are energy sinkholes.
Lighting, heating, and cooling systems account for a large portion of your utility bill.
And the impact on the environment is massive.
According to the International Energy Agency, commercial and residential buildings account for nearly 40% of total CO2 emissions.
The good news?
A few simple changes can lead to substantial energy savings.
- Switching to LED lighting can save at least 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
- Investing in motion-activated lights.
- Encouraging employees to switch off and unplug services.
RELATED: Why Employees Want to Work for Sustainable Companies
6. Recycle or Donate Your Company’s Electronic Waste
Did you know?
The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 reported a staggering 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste generated worldwide, with only a 17.4% recycling rate.
Harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, and cadmium will pollute the environment without proper disposal or donation of electronic products.
What can you do?
- Donate functional electronics to extend their lifespan and reduce the demand for new products.
- Implement e-waste recycling programs at your office.
- Shred your old electronics to destroy any information and downsize the waste.
7. Reduce by Reusing
Adopting a “reduce by reusing” approach is a powerful strategy to minimize waste and promote sustainability. It promotes moving away from single-use disposable products and, instead, using reusable alternatives.
Your office can apply this strategy by:
- Offering reusable office supplies.
- Refillable pens
- Reusable water bottles
- Reusable cutlery
If you want to take it a step further, you can prioritize furniture and electronics refurbishment, which saves costs and decreases your environmental impact.
Kickstart Your Workplace Sustainability Initiatives
Improving sustainability in the workplace is a strategic move that improves employee satisfaction while helping preserve the planet for future generations.
By spreading awareness of your net zero progress, offering green skills training, and driving behavior at scale, you can demonstrate your commitment to creating a culture of sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can sustainability initiatives attract top talent?
Sustainability practices make a company more appealing to skilled candidates who value environmental and social responsibility. It’s becoming increasingly important for Millennials and Gen Z, who both look at a company’s sustainability track record before deciding to take a job.
- What are some initial steps towards workplace sustainability?
The first steps towards workplace sustainability include assessing your current carbon footprint impact, identifying where you can make changes, and setting measurable targets to achieve net zero status.
- How does sustainability impact a company’s bottom line?
Sustainability impacts a company’s bottom line by saving on operational costs, improving staff retention, and enhancing a company’s reputation. Consumers want to support green businesses and will boycott those who don’t hold similar values.