Striving for Sustainability: How you can make a difference in the workplace

Sustainability has become a central focus in many workplaces, especially environmental sustainability, with businesses striving to make their offices more energy-efficient or eco-friendly. In 2021, the UN reported that the tech industry was responsible for 2-3% of global carbon emissions and this figure is expected to rise in the future. Tech environments, such as data centres, use staggering amounts of energy and unfortunately, this cannot be avoided all that much.

However, it is possible for tech environments to adopt a more sustainable method of operating by looking at other elements of environmental sustainability and making wiser decisions. A more eco-friendly workplace can have many benefits, including reducing the negative impact your business could be having on the environment, minimising any unnecessary waste and even cutting costs!

There are many ways your tech business can become more ‘green’ and by making small changes, this is quite achievable. With these five easy steps, you can make a significant change in your workplace and do your bit to make a difference.

1. Reduce power used by numerous devices

In many workplace settings, there will be numerous electronic devices switched on all at once, even when they’re not in use and this is certainly the case in every tech company! Unfortunately, your devices can still consume electric power when they are switched off. This is often known as ‘vampire power’ and will happen when your electrical devices are still plugged in. So, to try to conserve some energy, it is best to either switch the device off at the powerpoint, or to disconnect it from the powerpoint completely. If this is something that is possible to do without your company, then it should be encouraged. Not only will you save electricity, but you’ll also reduce the chance of an electrical fire!

Do you have separate devices for printing, scanning, copying and faxing in your workplace? Another way you can reduce energy consumption is by trading in these devices for an all-in-one printer! These multi-functional printers combine all of these functions into the one device, which will reduce your energy consumption in the workplace as you will only be running one machine at a time.

Most of these printers also have a sleep mode or automatic power-off function, meaning you will save energy when they are not in use. By replacing a number of machines with an all-in-one printer, you can minimise your carbon footprint, make some space in your office and reduce the overall energy consumption of your tech business.

2. Switch to energy-efficient lighting

Something as easy as choosing an alternative type of lighting can also help promote sustainability in a tech environment. Switching to LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is an ideal way to make your workplace more energy-efficient, as LED lights consume up to 90% less energy than traditional lighting. These types of lights create less heat, therefore consuming less energy and having a smaller impact on the environment.

LED lights also have a longer lifespan, so they won’t have to be changed as often as incandescent or halogen lights and you will save money in the long-run! Some LED lighting fixtures have a built-in motion detector feature, which will help your workplace become even more energy-efficient, as the light turns off when the area is unoccupied.

Cold or natural LED lights are the most appropriate lighting for any tech business, as they are usually glare-free and are proven to be easier on your eyes. By switching to LED, not only will you become more sustainable, but you’ll also improve the mood, energy and workflow in your workplace! Good lighting is crucial, and LED is the best option for energy-efficiency and productivity.

3. Recycle as much as possible!

It goes without saying that you should recycle as much as possible in any work environment to try to reduce your carbon footprint and become more sustainable. Recycling is probably the most popular method of protecting the environment, so this is something that can be encouraged in a tech company. Your staff should be aware of the importance of recycling and the positive impact it has on our planet. Start by providing clearly labelled bins in communal areas and in the breakroom and encourage to correctly recycle paper, cardboard, plastic and glass. It’s good to always check packaging as this will generally tell you how the product should be disposed of.

However, with office supplies such as printer ink, the method for disposing of or recycling may be unclear, but it is equally important if you’re hoping to improve your sustainability. Check with the manufacturer’s website or the office supplies store where you purchased the ink to see if they offer any recycling initiatives. Some companies will recycle the cartridge for you, which is a much more eco-friendly option than disposing of it yourself. It is important to know you must recycle or dispose of these correctly as the plastic components and residual ink can be harmful to the environment!

4. Minimise food waste in the workplace

Reducing your food waste is another key action when trying to do your bit for the environment and is very doable within a tech company. When food is wasted, all the resources used to produce this food, such as water, land, energy and labour, all go to waste too. The disposal of food waste in landfill then leads to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change and changes in the environment. To try to minimise the food waste produced in your workplace, it will take some time and careful planning. Encourage employees to thoughtfully plan their meals and snacks out, so they are not left with far too much food. Refrigerating and freezing perishable foods will help extend their shelf life, so encourage others to keep leftovers rather than dumping them!

Unfortunately, food waste can sometimes be inevitable. In an attempt to combat that with a different approach, perhaps your workplace would be interested in starting a composting programme! Provide some compost bins in your break room or kitchen dedicated to leftover food and scraps. The waste collected can then be added to local compost piles or used as fertiliser when broken down. This is a much more beneficial method of dealing with food waste and contributing to a more sustainable environment.

5. Encourage alternative transport for commuting to work

In order to make the commute to work more eco-friendly, you will need to encourage staff to use more sustainable modes of transport that reduce carbon emissions. Some modes of transport that you could suggest are:

—  Public transport: Encourage your employees to take public transport to work, where possible. Provide information such as routes and schedules for buses and trains, and highlight the convenience of these modes of transport.

—  Carpooling: Float the idea of carpooling to coworkers who live nearby or along their commuting route. This is a great way to reduce stress and traffic, save some money and make your drive to work more eco-friendly.

—  Biking or walking: If possible, encourage employees to walk or cycle to work. Providing locker rooms, shower facilities and bike racks will give people the incentive to choose a more active commute to work! Many businesses offer a bike-to-work scheme, where the employer pays for a new bicycle (and accessories) and the employee then repays this in instalments from their salary, so perhaps this scheme would be a good fit for your workplace too.

—  Electric or hybrid vehicles: If your employees own electric or hybrid vehicles, they’re already working to lower carbon emissions. Providing designated parking spaces along with charging stations will encourage the use of these eco-friendly cars.

Aside from encouraging more sustainable commutes to work, offering remote work options to employees would be a normal practice for tech businesses and can also contribute to a more sustainable workplace. Work from home options can contribute to sustainability as it reduces the environmental impact associated with commuting, as well as reducing the energy consumption in the actual workplace. Each of these options can have a positive impact on how sustainable your work-day is, but you must make your employees aware of these options and the benefits they hold.

Addressing the carbon footprint of a tech business and trying to make it a more sustainable environment will take some time and effort, but there are many other ways in which you can make changes in your workplace to promote sustainability and more eco-friendly choices. The above tips are some changes you can implement quickly and encourage long-term. You’ll be surprised and delighted by how willing employees are to do their bit for the environment and to make the workplace more sustainable, so start today and see the difference you can make.

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