Effective Ways to Make the Workplace Greener

This essay explores different ways by which companies could make their workplace greener. It covers topics such as reducing paper consumption, boosting natural sunlight, encouraging employees to use public transport or cycle, and implementing green spaces in the workplace. The benefits of a sustainable workplace environment include increased productivity, improved employee health, and reduced carbon footprints.

Identify the most
effective ways to make
the workplace greener

Contents
TOPIC SENTENCE.........................................................................................................................1
EVIDENCE AND EXAMPLES......................................................................................................1
INTERPRETATION........................................................................................................................2
EXPLANATION.............................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

TOPIC SENTENCE
The term 'green workplace' is described as the place where employers and employees make an
environment that is resource efficient, socially accountable and sensitive towards protecting the
planet. It could also be defined as sustainable schemes which leaders or managers of companies
implements in their workplace which would help them in enhancing their profitability. The green
workplace practices help in reducing cost, enhancing productivity and improving retention as
well as recruiting (Rezapouraghdam, Alipour and Arasli, 2019). These strategies are based on
cost-effective and concrete modifications such as video conferencing to reduce travelling
activities, enhance access to natural light to save energy and other factors. It simply means that
companies should make sustainable and conscious choices which will help to reduce, reuse and
recycle. With the increasing global warming and climate changes, companies must contribute in
making environment sustainable. The following essay covers different ways by which companies
could make their workplace greener.
EVIDENCE AND EXAMPLES
There are various ways by which employers and employees could make their workplace
greener so that they can become environment friendly. Some of the examples about how
companies have adopted various ways to reduce their impact on environment. For instance,
managers of organisations thought that first step to become sustainable is to start from paper
consumption. They implemented simple methods such as they encourage their employees to use
emails instead of using paper memos (Winchenbach, Hanna and Miller, 2019) . They also utilize
cloud storage rather than using printing documents. Managers also seek advices from their staff
members about how they can become more sustainable and go paperless. They initiate to present
prizes to those individuals who put their efforts to bring sustainability in the office and this also
encourage others to work together.
It has also been seen that boosting natural sunlight in offices which not only helps in
saving energy but also helps in reducing emission. Many managers in organisations have
implemented spaces which are in direct contact with natural light. This is helpful in maintaining
health of employees and also increases productivity in workers. The exposer to natural light will
have positive impact on the health of workers which will boost their morale to work more and
give their extra efforts.
1

Many companies also encourage their workers to use cycle or walk into work instead of
using their personal car to come at office campus (Kurniawidjaja and Susilowati, 2018). This
initiative will benefit the companies as it would help them in making good image in the society
and assist in reducing their carbon footprints. Managers boost the morale of employees and
motivate them to take public transport or cycle in order to come at work.
INTERPRETATION
It has been observed that exposer to natural light has helped in making employees
productive and healthy. It has been evaluated that employees who are working in the presence of
sunlight has become almost 6% productive and 15% more creative. Natural light is very
important for circadian rhythms of body which is accountable to control everything from
digestion to mood. According to study conducted by Cornell, it has been represented that shifting
of employees near windows has almost seen 84% decrease in diseases such as eye-strain, blurred
vision and headaches (12 ways to make your office more environmentally friendly, 2021).
By going paperless and digital, companies have enabled themselves to become more
efficient, streamlined and green. Most of the companies have implemented utilisation of online
applications such as Microsoft Office and Google drive which have helped them in reducing
usage of paper. In times of COVID-19, many organisations were forced to operate their business
online through conducting virtual meetings because of the implemented lock-down in the year
2020 (O’Rourke, 2021). This work from home facility has helped firms in reducing travel cost
and pollution.
In the year 2019 Google has signed around 18 agreements with various green energy
providers around the world. In this the company invested almost two billion dollars in new
infrastructure for eco-friendly options to gas and oil. It was one of the biggest corporate
renewable deal and the company committed to become carbon-free by the year 2030 (12 ways to
make your office more environmentally friendly, 2021).
It has been observed that depending on the type of companies, business travels are
responsible for generating almost 20-90% of carbon footprints. For reducing carbon emission,
companies have to implement Sustainable Development Goals which could help them in
becoming sustainable (12 ways to make your office more environmentally friendly, 2021). In
many companies’ managers take their time out for an energy audit and boost the morale of
employees to adopt initiatives that are eco-friendly.
2

Companies must not be afraid of becoming environment friendly as it provides them
opportunities to expand their business in a meaningful way. For instance, Apprale brand
Patagonia has become one of the favourite companies among ecologist and social activists as it
has taken initiative to reduce its environmental impact and make their workplace greener. The
company also become sustainable by donating funds to those agencies who are working towards
conserving environment. It has also launched an e-commerce website from where their potential
customers could purchase second-hand Patagonia products. It has been evaluated that the
company saw a hike of approximately 40% in their growth which was high from last year (12
ways to make your office more environmentally friendly, 2021). The initiatives taken by this
company represent that benefits could also be achieved by becoming sustainable and understand
values of customers.
EXPLANATION
It has been seen that many companies are operating their business in highly urbanized
areas which leads to highly stressful work environment among employees. Several companies
like Facebook and Amazon has taken initiative to introduce outdoor work space so that their
employees could get exposure to natural light. It has been observed that making workplace
greener has helped companies in making their workers productive. The sustainable environment
reduces the anxiety, fatigue, headache and other symptoms around 20% (The 5 Benefits Of Green
Spaces in the Workplace. 2019). A study conducted by University of Twente states that offices
which have plants in their indoor campus, their employees perform with more enthusiasm and
complain less about headaches.
It has also been observed that employees who works in sustainable environment has
potential to work together and promote positive relationships at workplace. This is because
people feel relax in the work space where there are plants which enables them to build strong
relationships with their co-workers. The sustainable environment open and collaborative
workplace environment (Exton and Totterdill, 2019). The sustainable workplace space that
people share which have come from different background makes them engage, fresh and inspired
while working in this greenery environment.
Greenery assists in making a workplace more creative and a free space for employees so
that they do not feel stuck in an enclosed area. In order to maintain employee’s well-being, many
companies have incorporated green spaces in their campus. The sustainable workplace
3

environment can not be only accomplished by planting or keeping plants but it could also be
achieved by various ways such as abundant light, timber, water views, artworks and others.
Showing concerns about the wellbeing of employees and providing them comfortable
workplace helps companies in developing good image in the society. Many organisations are
now discovering new ways to promote and execute ways to bring sustainability at work place. It
also makes them good in front of their clients as they feel that organisations are taking
responsibility towards conserving environment and also taking steps to reduce their carbon
footprints. Many big organisations such as Apple, Amazon and others have already taken
initiation and implemented this model of greenery in their offices which has helped them in
creating good image among customers and employees (The 5 Benefits Of Green Spaces in the
Workplace. 2019). Green spaces at work place provide an instant practical application as
greenery can naturally produce quality air, reduce humidity, and temperature. It has been
estimated that plants reduce temperature around 10 degrees which helps firms to save on
temperature regulations (The 5 Benefits Of Green Spaces in the Workplace. 2019). Companies
also reduce their carbon foot prints by various methods such as waste reduction, reducing use of
chemicals and water conservation.
It is very crucial to implement greenery spaces in the work place as the planet is already
facing consequences such as ozone depletion, poor air quality and other factors due to
urbanisation along with pollution caused by human activities. To reduce these impacts, it is very
essential to execute ways to promote greenery (Fitzgerald, 2018). Implementation of greenery at
work environment assists companies in providing long term advantages in the market and also
become a key element in retaining workers.
CONCLUSION
From the above conclusion it has become clear that companies must execute strategies
which helps them in making their workplace greener. It has been observed that organisations by
adopting various ways of making work environment sustainable, have increased their
profitability and reduce their cost. From the above discussion it has been evaluated that
sustainable workplace environment not only helps in making this planet green but also assist in
making employees productive and healthier. In the end, it could be said that business must
implement strategies and encourage their employees to put their efforts to make office
environment friendly.
4

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Exton, R. and Totterdill, P., 2019. Unleashing workplace innovation in Scotland. International
Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 16(3), pp.228-250.
Fitzgerald, S., 2018. System-level workplace dietary intervention cost
effective. PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News, 798, pp.30-10.
Kurniawidjaja, L.M. and Susilowati, I.H., 2018. Improving Healthy Behaviour in the
Workplace. KnE Life Sciences, pp.544-554.
O’Rourke, G.A., 2021. Workplace strategy: a new workplace model. Asia Pacific Journal of
Human Resources.
Rezapouraghdam, H., Alipour, H. and Arasli, H., 2019. Workplace spirituality and organization
sustainability: a theoretical perspective on hospitality employees’ sustainable
behavior. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 21(4), pp.1583-1601.
Winchenbach, A., Hanna, P. and Miller, G., 2019. Rethinking decent work: The value of dignity
in tourism employment. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(7), pp.1026-1043.
12 ways to make your office more environmentally friendly. 2021. Online Available Through:
<https://www.travelperk.com/blog/12-ways-to-make-your-office-more-
environmentally-friendly/>. /
The 5 Benefits Of Green Spaces in the Workplace. 2019. Online Available Through:
<https://kmc.solutions/blogs/the-5-benefits-of-green-spaces-in-the-workplace/>. /
5