5 tips for a more sustainable office

1. Replace bottled water with a tap

“If all Flemings were to replace 1 day of bottled water with tap water, together we would save as many greenhouse gases as driving around the Earth 140 times.” This is one of the conclusions of a recent study by Ghent University, Pidpa and De Watergroep (Thomassen G. et al, 2021). So remove the office drinks machines and replace them with a Robinetto water tap with chilled still and sparkling water.

2. Remove the individual trash cans

Removing the bins per desk (island) in the office, does that sound drastic? On the contrary, it turns out to be a very effective way to make everyone better sorting. Usually, everything goes quickly in the bin next to your desk: the yogurt jar for your breakfast, the banana skin from your 11 o'clock and the plastic wrapper for your chocolate bar. Recognisable? Neat, though. But that's how everything comes to the big heap of residual waste and there is no sorting. By the way, processing residual waste is much more expensive than PMD, paper or organic waste. When you remove the individual garbage cans, provide 1 or more clear ones per floor waste sorting stations. This way, sorting is automatic and you get the short physical break — a run to the trash — free of charge.

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3. Does the latter turn off the light?

Turning off the lights after the workday or meeting: simple would you think? But in many workplaces, lights stay on for hours after everyone has gone home. The habit of turning off the lights: a small action with a big impact at the end of each day. And it doesn't stop with lighting, of course. Also consider the automatism of, for example, to close the windows, turn off the air conditioning or heating etc. Not only do you save on CO2 emissions (energy that does not need to be generated), but you saves also strong on those energy bill.

4. Drink coffee from a real cup

Admit it: drinking out of a real glass whether coffee mug at the office, that immediately makes you feel warm and welcome, right? And more importantly: less residual waste! So no disposable cups in your office kitchen. Even the cardboard cups still contain an (invisible) layer of plastic and are therefore not easily compostable or recyclable. With the cooperation of your staff, these mugs also end up perfectly in the dishwasher at the end of the day. No waste, no effort!

5. Opt for refurbished IT equipment more often

Did you know that buying 1 refurbished laptop avoids 60 kg of CO2? And with the purchase of 1 refurbished smartphone 13.5 kg CO2 (iPhone SE)? Refurbished means “renovated” or “revised” in Dutch. All parts are checked and repaired where necessary. And what do you do with your old computers and laptops? Don't just throw them away, have them picked up to start a second life, via Circular Brussels for example.

Convinced? Do an office scan

How helps Sustainable Office your company? They first carry out an “office scan” to see what ecological efforts are already being made and what the working points are. Then they provide concrete solutions and recommendations for every corner of the office: from the coffee machine, the waste bins to the printer. Everyone in the office sees and feels the immediate result of every effort.

In order for a more sustainable office to really succeed, you must of course get the staff on board. Through well-placed playful messages (“nudging”) and workshops, you ensure behavioral change. Involve the team, communicate why you're changing something, and overcome that last resistance. Sustainable Office can help you with that as an external expert.

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