11 tips to be more eco-friendly at work

Respect for the environment is something that is, rightfully, becoming more and more present in all facets of our lives. Many organizations have environmental values ​​and want to take action but don't know where to start or lack inspiration.

When you have a shared workspace, setting up initiatives can encourage employees to respect a more eco-friendly work environment.

The 3R rule can be useful, it is a strategy for managing end-of-life products and resulting waste aimed at:

• Reduce the amount of single-use products used;
• Reuse products or some of their parts to avoid waste;
• Recycle raw materials^.1

^{In this article, we give you some tips to inspire you at work.}

Tips to help reduce your eco-footprint at work

1. Reduce your consumption of single-use products

Products such as paper, ink, garbage bags, etc. are disposable and create waste. It is always best to try to reduce their use or opt for ecological versions. For example, using a platform that manages your clients records allows you to use less paper and ink.

Other options include refilling your ink cartridges instead of buying new ones, limiting the number of business cards printed, using recycled paper, or buying biodegradable trash bags.

2. Buy devices with low energy consumption

It also helps you save on electricity! Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid purchasing devices that require the use of batteries. For example, it's quite easy to opt for a wireless keyboard that charges with solar power rather than batteries.

When using an alternative charge to batteries is not possible, you can choose reusable batteries and purchase long-lasting bulbs to save energy. You can also look for the energy star symbol, it assures you that the product saves “energy through efficient design and power management options. They use less energy to perform regular tasks, and when not in use, automatically enter a low-power mode.”²

3. Use biodegradable products for cleaning

For office cleaning, if it is possible, use organic products so as not to leave harmful residues in the water. If a company takes care of your housekeeping, don't hesitate to ask them which products they use and suggest biodegradable products. You can also make your own household products from ingredients that you already have at home. See some recipes by clicking here.

4. Use reusable water bottles and coffee cups

A small, but important gesture. Reusable water bottles and coffee cups are a major contributor to pollution in Canada and around the world. In Canada alone, 2 billion bottles of water are used each year³, and in Quebec 1.5 billion non-recyclable cups of coffee are consumed per year⁴. Imagine the amount of trash that creates!

At GOrendezvous, we provide reusable coffee mugs with the company’s logo to new employees. When an employee comes into work with a disposable cup, they have to put $5 in a jar, the proceeds will be donated to an environmental cause. It is an effective way to hold accountability and ensure that we are all doing our part.