As the world discusses various ways to address climate change, many businesses are encouraged to participate in this endeavor. Business leaders from varied spaces are now taking this to a whole new level and implementing eco-friendly practices to help in the quest to save Mother Nature.
Healthy workplace environments are the new trend that could potentially ease not only some of the environmental problems we face today, but also solve some of the existing issues faced by your employees. Here are some simple business practices that can help cater better to the health, well-being, and safety of your employees.
Practice the 3 Rs
Reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever you can. People use several tons of plastic worldwide, and only a small portion of this will be recycled. For example, did you know that one office worker could potentially use 500 plastic coffee cups in a year? If you multiply that by the number of employees you have, that will give you a rough estimate of the number of plastic cups your business consumes in a year. So, rather than using plastic cups, buy washable mugs or drinking glasses instead. This will help save your business save while at the same time reducing plastic trash. You can also install segregation bins in the workplace and then send your recyclables to aluminum can recycling KC facilities for processing.
Provide private transport for employees
The gas emissions coming from vehicles, in part, are responsible for the air pollution problem we have today. Air pollution becomes more problematic with every additional truck, bus, or car on the road. Take note that there are millions of cars on the road every day because people use them for daily commute.
Air pollution not only negatively impacts the environment. It further creates problems for your workers as well. One of the ways you can address this is by providing a private carpool transport vehicle for your employees. The carpool transport service will also offer additional safety for your solo commuters.
Add plants in the workplace
Instead of using plastic ornaments, why not consider having live plants inside the office? Plants will provide a fresh supply of oxygen while keeping some of the dangerous air toxins at bay. Plants are also said to contribute to improved emotional well-being and help prevent mental fatigue. Ornamental plants also serve as great decor pieces for closed spaces.
Use sustainable cleaning products
Some cleaning products we use today contain harmful chemicals that can be bad for the environment. On top of this, they can also be bad for the health of your workers. Instead of the commercial counterpart, use eco-friendly substitutes. For example, bleach, which causes respiratory problems, can be substituted with products that contain hydrogen peroxide. Glass cleaner, on the other hand, can be replaced by vinegar. The simple act of substituting some cleaning agents with better alternatives can prevent some simple health hazards at work.
Conclusion
Healthier workplaces contribute to efficient and happy employees. This will not cost you much. All it takes is to practice simple habits such as making the workplace cleaner by implementing the 3 R’s or providing carpool services to employees.