European Union
Tips for an eco-friendly modern office
Education and available resources
We'd like to start with some of the simplest, most basic ways to make your office more environmentally friendly. We can make changes in small steps. It's best to start with education - without this, it's hard to imagine further action. It's all about raising environmental awareness among employees and working together to improve. Keep in mind, however, that your staff will start caring for the planet only if they have the opportunity to do so. The kitchen should include reusable dishes and cutlery so that no one has to use disposables. A water dispenser or filter will also prove indispensable - it will make it unnecessary to buy drinks in plastic bottles. To reduce the use of running water, it is worth supplying the company with a dishwasher, which also saves employees' time.
Waste segregation in the office
An eco-friendly attitude is also associated with waste segregation. This is a practice used in many homes - why should it be different in the office? This issue is being dealt with by the European Union - regulations on waste management can be found in various directives to implement a closed-loop economy. Recycling makes it possible to reuse used raw materials, which contributes to environmental protection. To make segregation of trash easier, set up several separate trash garbage cans in the right place.
In the offer of the MARO office furniture factory we have included models that will perfectly blend into the space. After all, it is best to opt for simplicity, excellent workmanship and universal design. Every element of the arrangement matters - make sure that even the waste baskets match the rest of the equipment. When it comes to distinguishing them, stock up on different-colored bags. According to current divisions, blue is for paper, green - for white and colored glass, yellow - for metals and plastics, brown - for bio-waste, and black - for mixed waste.
Saving energy
While writing about taking greater care of the environment, we couldn't forget about energy conservation. In Poland, its vast majority comes from the combustion of fossil fuels, which translates into harmful emissions and, consequently, air pollution. This is why reducing energy consumption is crucial when it comes to the functioning of a modern office. After all, we use a huge amount of equipment, and we also need adequate lighting (with parameters in accordance with PN-EN 12464-1:2004 standards).
So what can we do?
First of all, replace standard incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED bulbs. They consume roughly 75% less energy than their regular counterparts, while providing identical light output. They are also UV-free and can withstand high and low temperatures, as well as shock and mechanical damage. Energy savings are also helped by the colors of the walls - bright paints and high-gloss furniture reflect daylight, which means less need for artificial lighting. Some also choose to use renewable energy sources: photovoltaic farms are an excellent example.
Electronic media and eco-paper
For years, offices have been associated with huge, even horrendous amounts of documents, which automatically involves wasting paper. Fortunately, more and more companies are reducing these quantities through electronic information flow. Even handwritten signatures and stamps are slowly becoming a thing of the past in favor of qualified electronic signatures. These have the same legal force as their traditional counterparts. Efficient business operations are facilitated by special data management software.
However, it is known that sometimes a paper version of some document is necessary. You need to be prepared for such situations, but you can bet on paper that is 100 percent recycled or FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship and Chain of Custody). It turns out that the printing method itself also matters. It's always a good idea to print double-sided to avoid wasting space, as well as to set smaller margins and font.
Reducing the carbon footprint
Anyone planning to implement an eco-friendly approach should know what a carbon footprint is. It is the total sum of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by a person, organization, event or product. Greenhouse gases are emitted during the production and consumption of goods and services. The concept of carbon footprint makes it possible to quantify the impact of some entity on climate change.
For example, an airplane flight emits 285g of carbon per kilometer, while a train trip emits only 14g. To reduce the carbon footprint in the office, it is worth paying attention to transportation. Nowadays, many meetings are held online, as pandemonium has made us accustomed to. Employees can be encouraged to travel to the office by bicycle. For company cars, we recommend using an eco-friendly drive. At the MARO office furniture factory, we work with domestic suppliers and those from neighboring countries to shorten the supply chain and reduce the carbon footprint.
Summary
Innovative green measures can not only protect the planet in the long run, but also reduce operating costs. There are many modern offices that are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. It allows properties with limited environmental impact to be recognized. Points can be earned in various categories, such as location, access to transportation or savings in water and energy consumption.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an aspect that more and more young workers are paying attention to. They prefer to choose socially responsible and environmentally conscious companies. In the long run, taking care of the environment allows generating large savings.