We have spoken in depth about bedroom applications, touched upon the importance of eco-friendly bathrooms and marked upon the essentials of environmentally conscious bedrooms. In this final part in the series, we focus on the importance of sustainable office spaces.
At home and in the corporate sphere
A workspace, within the perspective of the current age, can be an office space where you are with colleagues or it can be nestled comfortably within your home. As vaccine roll-outs slowly but surely increase our immunity to Covid-19, people are rethinking going back to work for reasons other than the pandemic alone.
Working from home beyond 2021
The demand for flexibility in where and how people work will also mean a change in how they properly regulate the mix of professional with home environments.
One interesting aspect in a post pandemic world is that people have noticed how much of their work they can do from home thanks to seamless connections through digital platforms. There is definite utility to blending work and personal spaces.
According to data gathered by Global Workplace Analytics, we can expect more people to work from home after they are allowed back into work spaces. The concept of working from home is nothing new. Much of this demand has been clearly building up for quite some time to alleviate traffic congestion in some countries.
Before the crisis, a study from Boston Consulting Group, has concluded that 53% of the South African workforce can and would prefer to work from home. With this data in mind, we explore ways in which we can make our home-work environment more sustainable.
Working from home may be convenient, but convenience comes at the cost of footing the utility charges. There are some easy ways to reduce your consumption and remain eco-friendly while doing it.
Adjust the way you consume power. Lowering heaters by just 1°C than your usual can save you hundreds on your electricity bill. While you’re saving on heat, consider using your devices in power saving mode for simple applications and be sure to unplug from chargers as often as possible when not in use.
Consider sustainable office supplies
Did you know that office employees can create one kilogram of waste per day? While you’re at home, consider using eco-friendly office supplies such as paperless notepads and biodegradable pens.
We often find that the largest contribution to waste comes from the paper we consume. This is one of the reasons why paperless notebooks that allow you to easily erase and reuse are exactly the sort of product you need both at home and in the office.
A long lasting pen is vital to any office space, the problem comes with how many we lose and consume. Biodegradable pens that are made from recycled and upcycled products are always the better choice.
Returning to the work space
The number one priority of any management firm should be the health and safety of their employees when initiating the return-to-work policies and procedures.
Happy and satisfied employees lead to a net positive in efficiency. Consider some of our ideas in implementing a more sustainable work space within the corporate sphere.
Internal office use of water can rise to significant amounts. Save this valuable resource by installing water-saving plumbing solutions. Try using dual flush cisterns and regularly maintain your taps in your bathrooms.
When purchasing new appliances for the kitchen, be sure to look out for kettles or coffee machines that are low on water usage and energy efficient. Encourage a corporate environment that carries the message of sustainability to help mitigate overconsumption.
Like at home, so too in the corporate sphere, we need to think about eco-friendly practices when using paper suppliers. Ensure they provide you with paper that guarantees sustainable papermaking policies. If possible, try to use paper as little as possible by investing in reusable resources or phasing out and opt for digital solutions instead.
Be sure to order all office stationery in bulk. When looking at the stationary itself, small considerations make a big difference. Always think green and buy products from suppliers that source eco-friendly products. Use glass instead of plastic, pencils instead of pens, and alternate to using rechargeable batteries.
Try to limit the use of plastic or paper as a whole. Encourage employees to bring their own cutlery and utensils and provide linen towels instead of paper. Try to make use of email greeting cards and encourage a shift to communicating through corporate social apps designed to save time, resources, and improve productivity.
Sustainable decorative appeal
People like working in office spaces that are modern and attractive in their design. Thankfully companies are focusing more on using green materials when implementing interior décor trends. Not only this but it also lends to making the office space a healthier environment.
Sonae Arauco speaks openly about their commitment to creating decorative solutions that are both naturally beautiful to look at and developed using sustainable practices.
To envision an office space that is both visually pleasing and eco-friendly, take a look at our 3D simulator.
A high quality and sustainable office creates a space for excellent employees who are excited about returning to work.
Whether you have decided that working from home is the new route or miss the fast paced lifestyle of the office, enter into this new sphere with a sustainable mindset in mind. Create a workspace that embodies both a modern and environmentally conscious aesthetic by implementing eco-friendly principles.
Don’t forget the three Rs of Sustainable Practices
As stated in our previous articles, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle is the best known practice for continued sustainable living. Understanding the core concept of this method will go a long way in ensuring you keep up with environmental trends.
For more information on our wood-based decorative panels and services, visit us at https://www.sonae.projects.coppertable.co.za/