How To Create a Sustainable Workspace?

The business world occupies an important place in the lives of every one of us. People spend more time at work than they do with family and friends. With the increasing pressure of competition, the need to create a sustainable workplace is becoming more and more critical. A sustainable environment is essential to help people relax and be productive during a long, stressful day.

Eco-sustainability has become one of the major concerns in today’s business world. All companies, whether in industry or technology, are contributing to global warming and pollution. However, these companies and employees can also help design workplaces that contribute to environmental sustainability. These capabilities include incentives and opportunities to repair damage to ecosystems. Here’s a few ways you can help create a sustainable work environment!

Enough Paper

Drafting, duplicating, and reviewing documents clogs printers and creates discarded piles of papers. The green solution is to reset the method. By printing only what you need, you can reduce the waste of printing documents and presentations. Save drafts to your laptop or a shared cloud, where they can be easily be deleted with a single click.

Maximize the Use of Natural Light

Not only is natural light environmentally friendly, but it also provides excellent visibility. All you have to do is adjust your chair or desk to the best angle and adjust your curtains well. The later you turn on the lights, the better it is for your mood and the environment.

Unplug Everything

When you are done, unplug everything. This not only feels liberating, but it also saves all the power consumed by printers, computers, and mobile device chargers that are unnecessarily on standby or connected to the network.

Set Up Recycling Centers

It’s easy to say separate collection simply, but it often creates worse consequences due to negligence and lack of shared rules. That’s why it’s essential to clearly state the rules and name each container with their specific collection items to be recycled.

Smart Commuting

How do you get to work every morning? Have you ever wondered if you’re optimizing your resources? Carpooling may be the best way to save money and CO2 emissions. If possible, it is even better to use a bicycle. Most importantly, your choice should not be an isolated one. Present your transportation problems to your colleagues and create a network of smart commuters.

How to Create a More Environmentally Sustainable Office for Your Employees

Green Initiative Proponent

If you work in an office or coworking space, you can become a proponent of green initiatives and raise awareness of the people you work with and around you. You can even form a “sustainability team” with other coworkers to recommend common protocols for waste disposal, energy conservation, and products used for cleaning. Such bottom-up efforts are far more effective than any business decision.

Office Plants

Whether large or small, having a plant near your workplace will improve the air around you and remind you that there is a beautiful world out there.

No Plastic

Do not bring disposable bottles, glasses, cutlery, or plates into the workplace. Always choose glasses, plates, and water bottles that can be washed and reused.

No to Unnecessary Meetings

How many useless meetings do you have every week? How much valuable time are you taking away from your workflow to address issues that could have been resolved via email? Unnecessary meetings also impact the environment, with vehicle travel leading to environmental pollution, trash and plastic from impromptu snacks, and extra cleaning at the end of the day. Optimize your time and set up moments to confront your team and customers according to a specific agenda.

Relax and Breathe

Don’t underestimate the impact noise can have on your productivity and mood. Ensure your workspace has an area or corner dedicated to silence and relaxation. This can be a place for people to meditate, take a minute to themselves, or take a little “power nap”.

Do you have any other tips? Share it with us in the comments below!

How To Be A Sustainable Traveler?

Traveling is wonderful, but unfortunately, not always sustainable. By flying a lot, traveling by car, and being irresponsible with water, energy, and waste in our vacation destinations, we are putting some of the most beautiful places in the world at risk. Here are some tips to help you travel sustainably!

Compensate for the CO2 Emitted by Your Flight

Airplanes are the most environmentally damaging mode of transportation, with high CO2 emissions, 5 to 15 times more than other modes of transportation such as rail.

However, never flying again is not an option for many world travelers. Besides, if you are going on vacation to Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, or Africa, there is no other choice. Nonetheless, there are a few things you can keep in mind when booking your flight to make it more sustainable and to offset the environmental pollution caused by your tour.

  • If possible, book a direct flight with no stopovers. Airplanes emit a lot of CO2 and other wastes during take-off and landing.
  • Travel light: The heavier the plane, the more fuel it consumes and the more pollutants it emits. Keep your bags and suitcases as light as you can and, if possible, take only hand luggage. You can also save your wallet by paying extra to check in your suitcase.

Choose Sustainable Accommodations

Not all hotels are equally eco-friendly, but how can you tell if an accommodation is sustainable? Check to see if the hotel or apartment is Green Key certified. This is an independent international organization for sustainable tourism. Besides, all-inclusive holidays are not the best option for the environment. All-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink is delicious, but all-inclusives often cause a lot of wastage.

Be Careful When Diving and Snorkeling

Diving among the colorful coral reefs is a highlight for visitors to Australia, Indonesia, and Egypt. Who wouldn’t dream of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef? Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef, like other coral reefs worldwide, is in grave danger of disappearing altogether. This does not mean that diving and snorkeling will no longer be possible, but caution is advised. Make sure not to touch the coral and use sunscreens that do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Coast, Coral Reef, Transparent, Tropical, Widi Islands

Reduce Plastic Waste

Did you know that more than 8 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean every year? If this trend continues, the oceans will become a plastic soup. Just a few changes in your travel behavior can make a big difference.

  • Take a reusable water bottle with you, don’t buy plastic bottles (even the cheap ones!).
  • Don’t go to restaurants or cafes.
  • Don’t buy plastic water bottles, leave straws at restaurants and cafes, and take a shopping bag when you go shopping.

Use of Public Transportation

Offsetting the CO2 emitted by air travel is a step in the right direction, but ditch the plane and opt for public transportation if you want to travel even cleaner. Trains allow you to travel quickly and easily to many beautiful destinations in Europe.

For example, you can travel by train across the continent by interrailing. You can also take the night train to Prague and enjoy a city break. Once you arrive at your destination, it is advisable to use public transportation such as metro, streetcar, or bus instead of renting a car. Furthermore, cycling and walking are very healthy and good for you.

Metro, Platform, Public Transport, Railway, Station

Eat Vegetarian or Vegan While Traveling

Some of you may already leave meat and dairy products at home, but why not do so once in a while when traveling? More and more people are vegetarian or vegan, which is reflected in the menus of restaurants. In trendy cities like Berlin, London, and New York, there are countless vegetarian and vegan restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food. Good for the body, good for the animals, good for the environment, and good for nature!

Buy Second-Hand Suitcases and Backpacks

We all like to buy new suitcases and backpacks. But do you need to buy a new one? Maybe one of your friends or family members still has a suitcase or bag that you can use for your vacation, or you can buy an excellent used suitcase on Marktplaats or Ebay. They are a sustainable and inexpensive alternative to new suitcases.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!