COVID-19 has caused many businesses to rethink how they run their company. By adapting and improvising to the circumstances around us, some businesses have found a way on how to thrive in our current situation. Although this has largely been regarding remote working, there are other great ways that businesses can readjust in this current climate. Thinking in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner, businesses are able to reduce expenditure on their daily operational budget while also being great for the environment.
Building the mindset of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Switching a single person’s habit is not an easy thing to do, let alone an entire company. However, with the right approach, it is achievable. Your first concern might be working out how to make your office an environmentally friendly place.
Starting with the building condition; Does the design and all of the appliances installed follow the fundamental tenets of reducing, reusing and recycling? This could be done in many ways, in order to inspire energy efficiency and environmental thinking. For example, you can lower the cost of insulation by applying grass on rooftops which can also add an aesthetic bonus. Another example is adding a little touch of nature inside the office for a better circulation of fresh air by applying vertical gardens and green walls.
These simple examples make the office feel more eco-friendly, which could trigger people to start thinking on how they can implement their own reduce, reuse and recycle method in their lives.
Eco-friendly property for a new business
Building a new business during these times is certainly a challenge, not only due to the uncertainty of when the pandemic will end but also from the many sets of new regulations imposed by the government. Nevertheless, a business has to run.
Choosing a good property as an office should be carefully planned which with a focus on the low cost of purchasing/rent and maintenance as well as potential to adapt to sustainability.
For example, choosing affordable and sustainable shipping containers as your new office would be a great idea. These containers can be easily modified according to your need and can easily be recycled once you have finished with them, reducing your carbon footprint.
Consider a flexible work practice
Remote working has been on a rise since the pandemic started. The conventional nine to five work hours from Monday to Friday is no longer the default work model for many businesses, instead of being switched with a flexible eight hours working time from Monday to Friday.
This new work model has been proven effective for some businesses and its employees where they can get the work done efficiently without having to travel to work. This could give many benefits to the environment due to the decrease in car-use as well as lowering the office utility bill.
However, for other businesses that still rely on the conventional working method to run their business, there are some solutions to make it work. For example, encourage the cycling to work or use of public transport to decrease the use of private transportation or set up a rolling schedule divided by each division to determine who will come to the office on each day with a limited number of persons inside the office.
Lower the energy usage in the office
Sustainability is no longer just the concern of big businesses because everyone can be sustainable even in simple ways such as reducing the use of the coffee machine at the office.
Without realizing, every business, whether it’s big or small, can consume excessive amounts of energy especially in regard to electronics, where most of them are not necessary to be used regularly during work.
The printing machine that always ON even though no one using it and the use of air conditioner on all of the rooms not just the ones with staff in them, are some examples of wasted energy in the office. By being mindful of these things and implementing a sustainable way of working, businesses can save a lot of money and drastically reduce their energy consumption.
Sustainable waste management
On average, Australian generate 67 million tonnes of waste each year and the waste generated from the office plays a big part in that. Waste management that prioritises sustainability is necessary for every business whether it’s a big company or a small one.
Hiring a skip bin for commercial use has been proven for years to be one of the best solutions for office waste, especially ones that are concerned about reducing, reusing and recycling. A skip bin hire Perth provider like Coastal Waste, has been one of the service industries that has taken action to protect environmental well-being, where every bit of waste that is collected from the office will be treated properly based on their recyclable and non-recyclable components and delivery to the local recycling centre rather than the landfills is prioritised.
Therefore, it’s safe to say that opting for the service of a skip bin provider to manage all of the office waste is a great way to support sustainability.
Eco-friendly Office
At the end of the day, as a business owner, you not only want to do well financially but also create a working environment that is convenient for everyone and adheres to the government regulations without leaving too much of a carbon footprint for the good of the environment. Therefore, setting up an eco-friendly office might be the best solution for your business.