Many employers are attempting to “go green” at work. Making eco-friendly changes is beneficial to the environment, but can also be encouraging to workers. It shows that your company is current and cares enough to make a difference in the world around us. There are many quick steps you can take to be more “green” at work. Here’s what you can do.
Seven easy ways to have an eco-friendly workplace
Want to “love your mother Earth” from 9–5 each week? Consider the following seven strategies:
- Encourage carpooling. You can help employees conserve our fossil fuels and reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere by encouraging carpooling. Post a sign-up sheet where employees can volunteer their willingness to carpool, and find others that live close by. Bring up carpooling during department meetings to encourage your staff to travel together.
- Give the option to work from home. Another way to help your staff save on fuel is by offering the option to work from home, if possible. This doesn’t need to be full-time—even a day or two each week can help the environment.
- Reduce plastic waste. Does your office have a coffee station? Disposable coffee cups end up in landfills. But ceramic or travel coffee mugs can be used again and again. Supply mugs for use in the company cafeteria, or ask your staff to bring in a mug from home. As a gift, you can also give corporate-branded travel mugs to your employees so they’ll have something to use each day at work.
- Save energy with natural light. In parts of your office with windows, turn off the lights during the brightest parts of the day and rely on natural lighting.
- Offer electronic materials. When supplying clients with marketing materials, brochures, reports or anything else that can be printed, offer an electronic version instead. It will be faster and easier to send out via email—and better for our environment.
- Be green with your PC. If a PC has been un-used for more than 10 minutes, ask your staff to place it on standby or hibernation mode. This can help your company use less energy rather than continuing to power up idle machines. Employees should turn computers off completely when they log off for the day.
- Decorate with real plants. You can reduce the amount of plastic your company relies on—and add valuable oxygen to the environment—by decorating around the office with real plants, rather than fake. It will also add to the positive vibe of your office surroundings when employees are among lush greenery.
Other longer-term ways to be green
You can also partner with a recycling company to remove and reuse all paper waste, and install energy- efficient lights and devices throughout your building. These steps take more planning and budgeting, but are worth it in the long-run.
Supplement your staff with Snelling Georgia Group
If you’re looking for new workers in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, contact Snelling Georgia Group. We’ll work with you to find staff best-matched to your open job opportunities. To learn more, contact Snelling Georgia Group today.
