A partner of 
If you want to go sustainable and make a difference, now is the time! Climate change is more evident than ever, and we desperately need to do everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint. Be it at home, during a commute, while travelling, or even while working. Actually, especially at work.
Since the middle of the 18th century, atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by more than 40%. This is as high as it was 14 million years ago when many species disappeared from the face of Earth.
If you are a business or a startup owner or employee, we have a lot of tips and tricks for making it sustainable. In this blog, we’ll go through the easiest ways to reduce carbon emissions at work and actually make a difference. So let’s go…
But first of all, are you aware of what exactly we refer to when we talk about the office’s carbon footprint?
What is Carbon Footprint at Work?
Carbon footprint at work is primarily the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are released due to the work activities at work premises. Greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, etc. These GHGs trap and release heat that contributes to climate change.
Every office has a low to high impact depending on its scope of emission. There are three scopes of carbon emission; depending upon these scopes, you can plan to decarbonize your enterprise.
Why Does Carbon Emission at Work Matter?
Now, let’s get some facts straight about why reducing one’s carbon footprint is especially important at work.
27% of global emissions are from building operations.
- The architectural marvellous buildings of offices and homes are responsible for more than 40% of power consumption globally. Out of this, 15% of the consumption is due to only four materials: cement, iron, steel and aluminium.
- Industries account for 6% of carbon emissions single-handedly.
- Manufacturing sectors, such as paper, pulp, food processing, print, etc., account for more than 10% of carbon emissions.
Beyond your business’s infrastructure, our actions also matter. A truly sustainable workplace requires a team effort. By working together to make processes more efficient and adopt eco-friendly practices, we can create a culture of environmental responsibility that extends beyond the office walls.
How do You Calculate Your Company’s Carbon Footprint?
The carbon footprint is the sum of all direct, indirect, and other emissions related to greenhouse gases. To calculate properly, you’ll need a lot of data, including activity data and emission actors.
Carbon Footprint = Activity Data x Emission Factor
When you multiply the activity data with its related emission factor, you’ll get the carbon footprint released from that activity. Activities can include power-consuming units such as space cooling and heating, equipment, transport vehicles, and many more.
This is a guidance for Scope 3 activities by the GHG protocol.
Why Should Your Business Have Low Carbon Footprint?
The consumer base is shifting from generic to eco-conscious consumers. Even if they do not have the time to buy an eco-conscious product, most youngsters want to buy sustainably and ethically sourced products. Stressing the demand for companies which are good for the environment and have a lower carbon footprint.
Transparency is the key to customer loyalty. Going forward, it will only become harder for the companies to keep up if they do not make their supply chains and production transparent. Moreover, going carbon neutral can also reduce the cost of production and transport for many businesses.
If companies measure their carbon footprint, use eco-friendly materials, and adopt ethical sourcing practices, their brand image can drastically change. This shift will help them build and gain a new and loyal consumer base, reduce costs, and position the business as a responsible entity.
So, having a sustainable business with a lower carbon footprint will:
- Be economically efficient
- Gain competitive advantage and enhance customer loyalty
- A green, ethical and socially responsible business branding
- Place your business in the market as a reputable one
- Lower the environmental impact and carbon footprint
- Mitigate risks and generate innovation
18 Ways You Can Reduce the Carbon Footprint at Work
There are tons of methods and easy practices that can help diminish the emission of GHGs from your premises. First, let us get into the most practical ones.
Try to Reduce the Paper Use
Interestingly, the pulp and paper industry accounts for around 4% of carbon emissions. Yet, it is projected to rise by 2030, particularly in Europe. It is responsible for 40% of waste in landfills, according to EPA.
By using digital workspaces and document storage systems, we can help reduce the emissions from this small yet impactful industry.
Water is a Basic Need, Not Water Bottles
Simple. Right? Have you ever been to offices or worked at places that waste hundreds of dollars to get the packaged water and burn energy to keep those bottles in big refrigerators? We have all seen this, but we do NOT support them.
To avoid making a fool of yourself with the microplastic-containing water bottles and that over-costly refrigerator, we have a very easy solution. Just install a water purifier and keep glasses or steel bottles to store the water. You may also ask your employees to keep their own bottles or glasses to make it more feasible for everyone.
Managing Space Temperature
Research suggests that extreme temperatures can negatively impact productivity. So, instead of using air conditioners all day, you may install fans to keep the humidity in check. Keep in mind not to blast your heaters over the winter and ensure proper heater maintenance during winter. Remember to find the sweet spot because low temperatures hinder concentration and reduce efficiency by 4%, and higher temperatures cause tiredness and reduce efficiency by 10%.
Buildings can be designed in a manner that is better at adapting to extreme temperatures. To add to these, thermostats, filters, and HVAC systems can effectively save energy to reduce emissions. The proper and adequate temperature would:
- Increase employee efficiency
- Keep the building properly maintained
- Increase the employee wellbeing
- Decrease the costs of running air conditioners and ventilation systems
Turn that Light Off
There are always areas in every office that have a significant amount of natural light. Identify those regions and make a rule to keep the light off during that time in your work premises. Have functional windows and gates to let the natural light in.
You should encourage your employees and colleagues to turn off the lights after they do not need them. It can significantly reduce the carbon emissions. Moreover, using LEDs is the most efficient lighting system as compared to traditional bulbs. It can save you some bucks.
Remove that Plug to Reduce Carbon Footprint
It is so simple that it just never occurs to us. But hey, it’s true. Unplugging the devices after use can actually reduce electricity consumption. You can ask your employees to do it every day before leaving their desks. It is also a safer option, reducing the risk of fire hazards.
Sustainable Transportation Lowers the Carbon Footprint
You can offer passes or perks for employees who use public transportation such as buses, metros, etc. Additionally, walking, cycling, and carpooling are very sustainable ways to commute to work. Walking and cycling are not just sustainable but also budget-friendly and healthier options.
No Single-Use Stuff, Please
Invest once and avoid all costs. Buy cutlery, coffee mugs, bottles and glasses that can be reused again and again in your office. By choosing reusable options, you’ll achieve a double win: reducing your carbon footprint from single-use waste and minimizing inventory costs associated with landfill waste.
Hybrid Work Lowers the Carbon Footprint
Hybrid work was something that really improved the mental health and productivity of employees right after COVID was becoming manageable. Now, most offices have stopped this practice completely and switched back to the traditional everyday work in the office. However, giving the employees a hybrid work environment where they can work from the office as well as home in a week can be a sustainable alternative. What needs to be kept in account is that it can have mixed impacts and should be properly implemented by the offices and employees.
This will reduce transportation and electricity bills as well as improve their overall productivity.
Work From Home, a Big Yes
Now, I’m certain that in every office, there must be people who prefer working from home rather than in an office. So you need to ask your employees via a questionnaire, a survey, or maybe just a meeting if they would like to work from home. The employees who volunteer for it can be first given a temporary arrangement to work from home if it is feasible for your business. It also saves costs for office space and electricity consumption.
Then, based on their overall output and flexibility, you may give them the chance to work from home. This will definitely reduce the carbon count.
Making Buildings More Sustainable
If your office building is old or less energy-efficient, you can implement some techniques to fix that. You may add renewable energy systems or a PPA (power purchase agreement, which is a long-term contract for the purchase of sustainable energy at an agreed quantity and a stable price), add methods to power itself, or implement insulation and other energy-efficient methods. This can greatly reduce company energy expenses and carbon emissions.
Plants are Your Friends
Reduce the temperature and clean the air to give your office space a greener vibe. One friend can help you with that: Plants. Many plants, such as snake plants, absorb harmful air pollutants and make the office space cleaner. You may start with the small ones indoors or grow a self-sustaining garden space. Of course, you can definitely make use of some good air purifiers as well, particularly in the cafeteria or office kitchen.
Waste Segregation is So Basic
You know the drill. Wet waste, dry waste, electronic waste – all deserve their right and fateful ending. So, train your team to throw them in their designated bins while disposing of them. To make it easier, you can properly label all disposable bins and even add pictures of common trash that belongs in there. Moreover, as a manager, you need to ensure that all waste is properly given to the respective authorities.
Digital Waste is a Real Thing
Just to be clear, we are not talking about Electronic Waste. Electronic waste or e-waste refers to gadgets that can no longer be used, such as outdated computers or drained batteries. Whereas, digital waste is the trash that we collect while working on our devices online or offline. These can be redundant emails, duplicate pictures, unused draft documents, etc.
To reduce this waste, you can ask every employee to clear their digital waste every month and file a report. Trust us; this will reduce the load you are putting on the environment by storing those unnecessary files in the cloud. Moreover, it will add space and reduce your storage-related costs.
Collaborating with Sustainable and Ethical Suppliers
This might initially sound very difficult, but rest assured, it is possible. In fact, at Green Cloud Nine, we have been doing exactly the same by collaborating with suppliers who are making sustainable, vegan, organic and ethical products.
It helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain. You may implement this in your business by using recycled and sustainable products. These have a low carbon footprint and are mostly ethically produced throughout their life cycle. You will also be able to call your venture a green enterprise.
Think About the Farmers and Reduce Food Waste
If you have an office, you must also have a coffee vending machine, right? Have you ever wondered where those coffee beans come from? Or even the sugar? Now, let me introduce you to Fairtrade. If you are not already aware, fair trade is when you give the farmers the decent prices, working conditions, and deals that they deserve. Using products that have fairtrade certifications can really make a big impact in their lives.
Moreover, food waste and transportation emissions from agriculture and farming are reaching higher levels every year. To support reducing this, you may also consider buying from the local farmers and ensuring the least amount of food remains. Plus, you can engage with a nearby composting system or have a composting system of your own to minimize the waste.
Make Your Office Travel More Sustainable
Whenever you or your workers travel due to work, adopt the best and eco-friendly practices. If feasible, you can avoid the whole cost and emissions due to travelling by keeping the meetings online. If need be, make sure that you are travelling by public transport that has the least impact on the environment. Encourage your employees to take fewer flights or travel by train and make an example for them by not travelling via private jets.
Certifications are the Way
It is not a mandate if you have just started your sustainability journey. However, it is always better to have a certificate on your side to improve your business and keep emissions in check through audits and better practices.
Getting certification is tough and requires actual practical solutions. To greatly reduce emissions, you can get WELL, LEED, BREEAM, SOC, ISO, and Ecomark certificates.
Some Sustainable Business Inspirations with Low Carbon Footprint
We hope you liked our guide on building and making a business greener. Making a sustainable and decarbonised business is not easy, but it is definitely worth it. You do not need to get overwhelmed with all the information; you just need to start with the most basic and practical ones.
But if you do need some more inspiration to start your green venture, we have the right ones:
- You Can Not Avoid Your Destiny, and Mine is Green Entrepreneurship
- How To Build a Sustainable Start-Up
- Green Entrepreneurs For a More Sustainable Future
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these third-party sites, we may earn a small commission at NO ADDITIONAL cost to you. These commissions are a necessary source of income to cover our costs, allowing us to continue bringing relevant information to all our users. Learn more here.
