Workplace sustainability has become more prevalent amongst employees over the past year as more and more of us work from home. Many of us have seen electricity bills increase and the abundance of paper we use on a day-to-day basis. This has prompted droves of workers to consider ways to be more eco friendly when working from home.

Having a green home office has two major benefits. Not only are you reducing your carbon footprint and helping the planet, but you could also be having a positive impact on your physical and mental health.

Being environmentally conscious at home doesn’t mean installing solar panels and crafting your own paper from hand. There are simple ways to go green at work.

Home office sustainability ideas

Wrap up and turn the heating off

Granted, when you’re sitting at your desk for the majority of the day it is much easier to feel a chill. However, without the luxury of your employer paying the heating bill, cranking the thermostat up not only increases your heating costs but your carbon emissions will skyrocket too.

Fortunately, with no formal dress code at home, wrapping up warm and donning some slippers means you’re doing your bit for the planet. If you’re still feeling nippy perhaps invest in some draught excluders or apply adhesive foam strips around older window seals to keep the heat in and the cold out.

 

 

Be mindful of electricity use

Your energy consumption is a tricky one when you’re working from home. You have likely been shocked by recent bills when they come through the door. This is a reality of working from home and there is no way to avoid using your computer or laptop. However, there are tips and tricks to adopt to alleviate this and be kinder to the planet:

• Turn items off when they are not in use
• Do not leave devices on standby
• Reduce the brightness of screens
• Only boil enough water for a single cup
• Put devices to low power mode or ‘sleep’ on breaks

Whilst these may seem finicky, they will cut down your emissions and energy bill when used together.

Consider switching to a green energy supplier

With gas and electricity in mind you can reduce your energy use by switching to a sustainable supplier. You can use a price comparison site to decide on the best company for you. Green energy suppliers will be able to report on their energy source and many guarantee 100% green electricity and carbon neutral green gas.

 

 

How to combat waste and recycling

Your regular office will likely have a recycling policy and appropriate bins for disposing of wastepaper and other items. Adopting this technique at home, not only regarding work, but the way you run your household can be highly beneficial for the planet. Most councils provide residents with both a black general waste bin and a blue recycling bin to encourage sustainable living. In your recycling bin you can dispose of work-related waste such as paper, envelopes, plastic bottles, brochures, and magazines. Did you know you can also dispose of household items such as carboard packaging, aerosol cans, drinks can, tins, plastic and junk mail? By putting a little effort in to your recycling habits you will notice your general waste bin is virtually empty, this means you won’t be contributing to landfill as much as you were before which is a positive step for a greener planet.

 

 

Invest in eco friendly office supplies

Going paperless is a great step to take for the welfare of the planet. However, it may not be feasible with your job. Try to look for recycled paper to use in your printer, or notebooks that can be recycled.

There are a number of companies that offer recycled, waste-free, or biodegradable office solutions. Did you know that Leitz have an entire Recycle range? Our green stationary range is the perfect addition to your eco friendly workplace. Every item in the collection is 100% recyclable and also made from recycled material too. Our Recycle range takes the premium quality and durability our customers love whilst helping to protect the environment. Leitz are dedicated to having as little impact on the environment as possible and we hope this is a journey you will join us on too!