09/07/2024

The importance of a sustainable workplace and how to achieve sustainability at work

All companies should strive to protect the environment regardless of what gains these efforts may bring. But as an added bonus, promoting sustainability in the workplace does offer several key benefits.

It can elevate your brand’s reputation, promoting long-term growth and helping to attract and retain top talent. Plus, by switching to a green energy supplier, you can even save money on utilities. In other words, sustainability pays off.

But what does a sustainable workplace look like? How can you get started? And what are the best strategies to lower your carbon footprint and improve your environmental impact?

Read on to discover sustainability tips for work and learn how to supercharge your green initiatives.

What is sustainability in the workplace?

As the effects of climate change worsen, building a more sustainable future to mitigate global warming becomes imperative.

Companies like yours can play a vital role in this initiative by implementing environmentally friendly practices within their daily operations. But what does this entail exactly?

In a broader sense, sustainability means satisfying our present needs without precluding future generations from doing the same. Thus, workplace sustainability can be seen as supporting an organisation's efficiency while minimising unnecessary waste and behaviours with a negative environmental impact.

To achieve this critical goal, forward-looking businesses should teach their employees how to be sustainable at work and at the same time provide the right tools to enable continuous improvement.

The benefits of sustainability in the workplace

Before examining some sustainable practices that you can implement within your company, let's focus for a moment on the importance of promoting sustainability initiatives in the workplace.

According to Deloitte research, environmentally-conscious practices can help you win the favour of prospective employees who are increasingly aware of our fragile climatic situation. This can significantly simplify your hiring initiatives and the retention of a talented workforce.

However, there's more. Showing a strong commitment to sustainability with a sustained ESG strategy can fuel growth by enhancing your business reputation and increasing customer trust. It can also help your organisation save money by reducing waste and lowering your energy bills.

Most importantly though, embracing eco-friendly practices puts you in the perfect position when it comes to complying with evolving regulations. As new laws are introduced every year to address the climate crisis, you can avoid massive disruptions and future-proof your operations by ensuring that your company is limiting its carbon emissions by using renewable energy.

How to be more sustainable in the workplace

Now it's time to equip you with the right strategies to build a more sustainable workplace. In particular, you can hit this key target by preventing waste, promoting sustainability through a strong company culture, and investing in the right tech. 

Additionally, you can explore our top tips to go plastic-free and give your ESG credentials a boost.

1. Waste reduction

Here’s how you can start reducing waste in your office to better support the environment.

• Go green
  Prioritise renewable energy to lower your carbon footprint; you can either invest in solar panels or choose a green provider.
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• Optimise your paper usage
  Go paperless by focusing on the digitisation of your workflows and important documents. Alternatively, you can purchase deforestation-free paper.
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• Improve energy efficiency
  Reduce energy consumption by switching to LED lights, as they last longer, use less energy, and are brighter – your utility bills are sure to shrink and you will see significant cost savings.
  You can also install motion sensors for lighting to save energy. But, if you need more sustainability ideas, here are three tips that worked well for us.  
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• Recycle as much as possible
  From paper towels to plastic containers, you should incentivise your people to improve sustainability by reusing materials and properly disposing of what can be recycled. Naturally, make sure the right bins are readily available everywhere.

2. A green company culture

Another meaningful way to generate positive changes is creating a shared philosophy that is kind to the environment. You should raise awareness and encourage employees to support environmental sustainability in their everyday lives. 

For instance, they can turn off all computers and lights at the end of the day, take the stairs instead of the lift when possible, and set the thermostat to a lower temperature. 

By encouraging employees to work from home or take public transport, you can also reduce the pollution produced during the commute. The results include a decreased use of fossil fuels to lower greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in the long term.

Car sharing can be another effective solution to optimise the use of our natural resources, or you could encourage biking to work by providing adequate parking spots and enrolling in the Cycle to Work scheme.

Lastly, have you thought about inspiring a refill revolution? HydroTap provides employees with fresh, pure-tasting filtered water – chilled, sparkling, and boiling. When you’ve got it at the touch of a button, you’re much less likely to buy single-use plastic containers. 

3. The positive impact of technology

Investing in solar panels, efficient lighting systems, and e-signature software are all great ways to lower your carbon footprint and reduce waste. However, today, there are new ways technology can support your journey. 

Zip Water's innovative products, for instance, bolster your sustainability efforts by eradicating single-use plastic from the workplace. 

Our solutions offer clean, pure-tasting water across the country, and around the globe. From our economical HydroBoil to cutting-edge HydroTap, our products provide delicious tasting water – with minimal impact on the planet. 

Did you know that HydroTap produces 33% less carbon dioxide than a kettle over the course of a year?

Our ESG commitment is stronger than ever, and the way we design our market-leading products proves it. 

No matter the business, we have the perfect solution for your needs, so you can easily implement sustainable practices at work. But if you need extra support to drive sustainability in the workplace and improve your environmental management, get in touch to learn more.