Four Simple Ways To Make Your Office More Environmentally Friendly
ShareYou probably spend a lot of time thinking about the day-to-day operations of your company, but how much thought have you put into transforming your company into an environment-friendly workplace? Going green doesn't have to be difficult. Your company can reduce its ecological footprint by making a few of these simple changes.
Go Digital
While your company may not be able to eliminate the use of paper in the office completely, you can reduce the amount of paper used by going digital. To reduce the amount of paper you use:
- Send documents via email instead of interoffice mail, regular mail, or fax.
- Read documents from the computer instead of printing them to read.
- Transfer employee training information to digital files.
- Use external hard drives to back up your data digitally instead of printing documents.
Have Used Paper Shredded
It's also important to properly dispose of the paper that you do use. Instead of throwing used paper in the trash, encourage your employees to put used paper in recycling bins. Then, hire a paper shredding company to dispose of the paper. A paper shredding company not only shreds your discarded paper, but it recycles the paper that it shreds so that the paper you throw out can be used again and again. For more information, contact Vital Records Control or a similar company.
Purchase Recycled Products
Instead of purchasing regular reams of printer paper or tablets of new paper, purchase paper products that have been made from recycled materials. Most paper products come in an eco-friendly option, so you can also purchase recycled paper towels and napkins for your employee break room. Other eco-friendly office supplies that you can purchase include:
- File folders
- Envelopes
- Forms
- Refillable pens
- Mailing labels
- Plastic desk accessories
- Printer ink
- Toner
Stock the Breakroom with Nondisposable Supplies
Instead of purchasing paper plates and cups for your employees to use while they are on break, stock your break room with regular coffee mugs, plates, glasses, and silverware. Let your employees know that the supplies are for everyone to use and that each person is responsible for washing and returning his or her own dishes. Also, put a recycling bin in your break room so that your employees can recycle their soda cans and plastic bottles.
You don't have to make huge changes to make your office more eco-friendly. It isn't difficult to hire a paper shredding company, buy products made with recycled material, and stock your employee break room with glass dishes. And, chances are, you aren't just reducing your company's ecological footprint, you're probably saving your company money too.