Tips for a Sustainable Office
People are far less likely to recycle at work than at home. They tend to feel a lack of responsibility because they are not paying for the items and are too time poor to instate rules and procedures for others to follow. Equally, they are unsure about what the right thing to do and what should go where. Some who are making an effort unwittingly contaminate recycling bins by putting the wrong things in the wrong bin.
In the UK, a survey of 2,000 people, conducted by Anglian Home Improvements, revealed that British people are fifteen times more likely to avoid recycling in the workplace than they are in their own homes. While only 1 per cent do not recycle at home, that rises to 15 per cent when it comes to recycling in the workplace (www.smallbusiness.co.uk).
Older employees are least likely to be taking responsibility for waste. Of those aged 55-64, more than one-fifth are not recycling at work (22 per cent). The greenest employees were 25-34 year-olds, with only 6 per cent not making the effort to recycle in the workplace.
But recycling is only one facet of how an office can be more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint. Green procurement, car pooling and cycling to work all have a major impact. And simple things like using keep cupa and reusable water bottles can reduce waste costs and the the volume of rubbish going to landfill.
Education is at the centre of changing behavior and engaging employees.
Change by Degrees designs and delivers workshops for employees and senior staff members on sustainability trends, consumer expectations and international best practice. Whether you want to learn the basics around waste and recycling or create a sustainability policy to guide your business model, we can help.