Tips for employers to make their workplace environmentally friendly

In today’s world, businesses play a significant role in shaping our ecological footprint. Therefore, it is imperative for employers to take proactive steps towards sustainability.

This article sets out tips for employers to make their workplace environmentally friendly.

Travel to and from the Workplace

During the pandemic, business-related travel plummeted as many people worked from home and business meetings were conducted over video call. Allowing these practices to continue, at least partially, will help reduce vehicle emissions and their associated environmental impact.

Additionally, there are several other methods employers can use to encourage greener forms of travel to work, such as:

• Vehicle salary sacrifice schemes that offer low emission or electric vehicles;
• A cycle to work scheme;
• Organising an employee carpool rota; or
• Subsidising public transport and travel cards.

Reduce Energy

Employers should remind their staff to turn off lights and computers when they are not in use. It is also crucial for employers to be mindful of the use of air conditioning, and ensuring it is only used when necessary.

Installing energy efficient lights and/or motion sensors that turn off lights automatically when no-one is in the room can help reduce energy usage as well as saving employers money on their energy bill.

Wastage

Something that employers may not always think about, but fixing that leaky faucet in the kitchen or bathroom could potentially stop the business wasting gallons of water.

Employers could also look into alternative and eco-friendly water supply systems to stop unnecessary wastage. For example, rainwater harvesting consists of collecting and storing rainwater that lands on the business property. This water can be used directly in non-human processes such as sprinklers, or treated locally to meet approved standards for consumption.

Plants

In nature, plants and trees are the first line of defence against pollution. Introducing plants into the office space can assist to make the office visually more appealing but can also aid in the production of oxygen in the office. This may improve the air quality throughout the workplace which is essential for both employees and employers.

If the office gets a lot of sunlight, shade from trees can help to cool down the office and employees without having to turn on air conditioning units as often or as high.

Sustainable Suppliers

Green procurement is another easy way for employers to transform their business’ carbon footprint. This not only makes the company greener, but depending on where employers source from can help to foster collaboration with local suppliers, which can also cut down spending on shipping and transportation. This effectively means sourcing goods and services that are produced in a sustainable way. This could include goods that are non-toxic, recyclable, or that are made from renewable and natural ingredients and materials, such as toilet paper, printing paper, and cleaning products.

A procurement policy can be introduced to assist employees in committing to some of the company’s ideals which might include reducing waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy and water, and using renewable energy sources.

Green Hosting and Website Weight

All the content of a business’s website is hosted on a server; these servers use a lot of energy to run and keep cool.

The amount of files a business has stored on the server, as well as the amount of data requests the business’ website makes to the server as a user navigates the site, the more energy the website is using. The more complex a website is and the more weight it carries, even down to the hidden background coding, the bigger this user request will need to be, and therefore the more energy is required. Reducing website weight and the number of calls to the server can help to make a business website more eco-friendly.

Having a website hosted on a server that is powered using green energy and ensuring employers or their web developer carry out regular website clean-ups of unnecessary files, codes and plugins can be a huge way to reduce the climate impact the website has.

Donation of Equipment

When office items need replacing, employers should consider donating these appliances, furniture or electronics to charitable organisations to avoid taking them to the landfill.

When companies choose to donate these items, they not only help to prevent these items ending up in landfills, but it means that other local organisations and community members can benefit from and make use of these donations.

Supporting Environmental Organisations

There are many charities and organisations at the local, national and international level that are committed to protecting the environment. Employers could support such organisations through sponsorship or fundraising. Alternatively, employers could partner with a local organisation and organise a staff wide volunteering day where everyone takes part in an activity that promotes good work for the community. If a business cannot afford to allow all staff to volunteer all on the same day, they might instead consider granting staff a day or two of special paid leave to volunteer on their own for an environmental charity they support.

There are many things employers can do to make their workplaces more environmentally friendly. Employers should evaluate their business for areas where improvement could be made and try to set specific, reasonable goals for reducing their environmental impact. Engaging with employees on projects of this nature can lead to a wider pool of ideas, contribute towards buy-in from an employer’s workforce and spread the message that the business is a green employer that cares about the environment. Such activities and corporate messages can enhance an employer’s reputation as a business, improving recruitment and retention opportunities.

It is possible that schemes you implement will require a change in your policies or documentation in the workplace. If this is the case, you can contact our Peace of Mind team by emailing employment@warnegoodman.co.uk or calling 023 8071 7717.