Improving Your SME Sustainability Credentials

For the modern SME, embracing sustainability practices isn’t just a trend but an essential strategy for enhancing both morale and your business’ bottom line. For small businesses operating within their own workspaces such as serviced offices, adopting a sustainable office environment provides a unique opportunity to reduce environmental impact while simultaneously cutting costs.

Cutting waste and integrating energy-efficient appliances are simple, practical steps that can be effortlessly incorporated into daily operations, whilst sourcing supplies from local vendors and promoting a culture of social responsibility can significantly improve your company’s reputation and appeal to the growing demographic of environmentally conscious consumers.

The biggest corporations will have entire departments dedicated to their sustainability credentials, often falling under the wider environmental, social and governance (ESG) umbrella. But that doesn’t mean that eco-conscious working should be the preserve of giant multinationals, and we all have a responsibility to set and exceed goals for sustainable living and working. Here are just a few practical ideas for actively promoting workplace sustainability.

Sustainable Office Strategies

Going Genuinely Paperless

Transitioning to a paperless system is one of the most impactful sustainability practices any business can undertake. It may sound obvious but by minimising paper usage, companies can reduce waste, lower costs and enhance productivity. However it’s often held up as an ideal as opposed to being a genuine diligently observed day to day working practice.

If you’re not already digitising documents and using cloud-based storage solutions, ask yourself why not. The clutter of physical paperwork can be a huge barrier to productivity and often makes record keeping more cumbersome than it needs to be. Even in industries with stringent rules on physical data records, there are almost always ways to cut back.

Could you be doing more to encourage employees to share files electronically and utilise e-signature software to eliminate the need for printed contracts? Again, it sounds obvious, but is this a company wide policy that’s being adhered to? Often the mantra of “but that’s how we’ve always done it” can lead to bad practices such as routinely creating physical printouts where there was never any real need. When as much as 70% of total office waste is paper, this is a very easy place to look first when it comes to upping your sustainability game!

Of course if you are in a paper reliant world, adopting recycled paper for any necessary printing tasks should be a priority policy, along with ensuring this is recycled again. Waste paper in a regular bin should be causing more than just tuts of disapproval! Ultimately the transition to a truly paperless system should be a straightforward, cost-effective first step towards adopting sustainable business practices.

Utilising Energy-efficient Equipment

Integrating energy-efficient appliances into your office is a practical approach to reduce energy consumption and lower operational costs. By assessing current equipment and identifying items with high energy use you can begin to make succession plans for that equipment! Replacing outdated computers, printers and lighting with more energy-efficient models can have a big impact on your energy usage, and that should be a priority even if your bills are all inclusive.

As an example, LED lighting uses substantially less electricity compared to traditional bulbs and whilst historically there was some backlash against the perceived lack of warmth from LED lighting these concerns have long since been addressed. Even if you aren’t in control of the ceiling lights in your office (and if you aren’t but you think they’re inefficient it’s worth bring it up with your space provider) you can still use energy efficient bulbs in desk and floor lamps around your office.

Additionally, consider installing smart power strips that minimise “phantom” energy usage by ensuring devices are completely turned off when not in use. Modern PCs, monitors and other equipment inevitably have low power saving modes when they’re idle but nothing beats being completely switched off.

If you have additional power hungry apparatus in use in your office such as laminators or 3D printers, regularly maintaining and servicing this equipment can further enhance efficiency, prolonging the lifespan of machines you rely upon and reducing the need for frequent replacements. Don’t forget you’re not just saving energy and saving money, you’re also appealing to a clientele that values eco-conscious efforts.

Encouraging Employee Sustainability Practices

Fostering a culture of sustainability within your team sounds nice on paper but it’s easier said than done. There’s no set and forget policy that will just ensure your office sticks to sustainable best practices. You need to work on it over time and therefore it pays to start small by promoting simple practices such as recycling and reducing single-use plastics in the workplace, because you don’t want to run before you can walk.

Consider providing clearly labelled recycling bins that match the business recycling offering in your area (not all professional recycling services are created equal) and encourage employees to make use of reusable water bottles and coffee cups. This can also represent a great opportunity for sharing branded merchandise, as long as it’s of a high enough quality that encourages your employees and customers to actually use regularly. Cheap plastic water bottles, no, but a branded sustainable steel water bottle is precisely the type of keepsake that can enjoy a long and productive lifespan!

You might also like to organise workshops or training sessions on sustainability practices to increase awareness and engagement. Establishing a “green team” within the organisation can help oversee these initiatives and encourage participation, as well as bestowing extra responsibility on those who may seek to benefit from it. This team can set measurable sustainability goals, track progress and celebrate achievements to maintain enthusiasm and motivation around the company. They might even look to promote environmentally friendly commuting options, such as carpooling or cycling to work, to further minimise the team’s carbon footprint (more on this below).

By embedding these practices into daily operations, employees become active participants in reducing the business’s environmental impact, helping to enhance your overall environmental responsibility goals and boosting the overall morale within the workplace.

Benefits of a Sustainable Office

Boosting Morale with Indoor Plants

The humble office plant is so much more than mere window dressing. Plants not only improve air quality by absorbing toxins and releasing oxygen but also have a positive impact on employee well-being and morale. The presence of greenery can reduce stress, increase productivity and foster a more tranquil atmosphere.

Selecting low-maintenance plants such as succulents, spider plants or peace lilies, which thrive indoors and require minimal care, are ideal for the modern workplace, as long as you remember to occasionally water them. Placing plants strategically around the office, such as on desks or in communal areas, encourages a connection with nature and can make the workspace more inviting.

This natural element complements sustainability practices by promoting a healthier indoor environment. Moreover, employee involvement in the selection and care of office plants can enhance engagement and teamwork. By integrating greenery, you’re not only promoting a sustainable office but also create a more pleasant and motivating atmosphere for your team. Take a look at our previous post on affordable office transformation ideas for more on making the most of plants in your workplace.

Reducing Commuting Carbon Emissions

Reducing the carbon emissions associated with commuting can be a huge step towards helping your business meet sustainability goals. Encouraging remote and hybrid work or flexible hours can greatly minimise the need for daily travel, thereby cutting down on emissions from drivers. For employees who are coming in to the office, promoting public transportation, carpooling or cycling can be effective alternatives to driving alone.

Could you incentivise ride sharing for your staff or provide secure bike storage in order to support these commute optimisation efforts? You might even want to issue company challenges to motivate employees to explore sustainable commuting options. Providing information on local public transport options and routes can further assist staff in making eco-friendly choices, particularly if you can be flexible in allowing staff to make the most of local services (e.g. don’t insist staff stay til 5:30 if a convenient train departs at 5:20).

Though as a business you may not feel responsible for the carbon emissions of your employees, you can still play a part in helping to reduce them, and such initiatives should be applauded. It’s not just about making your business look responsible, it’s about actually being responsible, as well as helping to build engagement with your employees who will often appreciate the effort to actively promote environmental sustainability.

Practical Steps for Small Businesses

Setting Measurable Sustainability Goals

Establishing your sustainability goals is a crucial first step for any business businesses aiming to reduce its environmental impact. You can hire specialist external contractors or perform an assessment of current practices yourself to identify areas needing improvement, such as energy consumption, waste management and supply chain sustainability. With this baseline, setting realistic targets that align with your business objectives and resources should be easier. For instance, you might want to aim to reduce energy usage by a specific percentage or transition to using a certain amount of recycled materials within a set timeframe.

Document these goals and develop a clear action plan with assigned responsibilities and deadlines. Regularly monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed to stay on track. Sharing these goals and achievements with stakeholders not only keeps the team motivated but also enhances transparency and accountability. Again, this is a great way to involve your wider team, particularly if you’re utilising dedicated “green champions” in the workplace (see below) much like with the use of fire wardens, first aiders and health and safety specialists.

Sourcing from Local, Eco-friendly Suppliers

Whether it’s office stationary and supplies or essential materials used in production, choosing to source from local, eco-friendly providers is a strategic step for small businesses aiming to enhance their sustainability credentials. By partnering with nearby suppliers, you can naturally reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. What’s more local vendors often offer fresher, higher-quality products, and services that align with environmental principles.

When selecting suppliers, you could prioritise those that use sustainable materials, practice ethical production methods and adhere to fair labour standards. This not only supports the local economy but also ensures that your supply chain reflects your commitment to sustainability practices. Furthermore, building relationships with these suppliers can lead to collaborative opportunities for joint sustainability initiatives down the line.

Communicating your preference for eco-friendly options might also encourage those businesses you work with to adopt greener practices. By integrating these considerations into purchasing decisions, small businesses can reinforce their commitment to reducing environmental impact, while also appealing to consumers who value socially responsible business practices.

Encouraging “Green Champions” for Oversight

The most effective way to oversee and promote sustainability initiatives is to have people actively invested in seeing results. Whatever you may choose to call them (and we admit, “green champions” is maybe a bit naff) these individuals act as advocates for environmental responsibility, helping to drive change from within the team. Task your sustainability specialists with monitoring energy usage, managing recycling programmes and suggesting improvements for office sustainability practices.

Green champions can also organise educational sessions to raise awareness about sustainable practices among employees, thereby fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. Regular meetings to discuss progress and share ideas can keep momentum going and ensure everyone is aligned with the sustainability goals. Additionally, recognising and rewarding the efforts of your oversight team can motivate others to get involved.

By empowering employees to take ownership of these initiatives, small businesses can create a more engaged workforce dedicated to reducing environmental impact. This approach not only enhances the organisation’s sustainability credentials but also helps build a cohesive team committed to achieving common environmental objectives.

When it comes to sustainable business practices for SMEs the key is to think big but start small. Energy efficiency and cost savings are just the beginning. Your long term small business sustainability and net zero journey to reduce carbon emissions, tackle climate change and build a greener future will pay dividend not just in positive brand association, but in ultimately making the world in which we live and work a nicer place.

Would you like to be part of a more sustainable working environment? Why not speak to JetSpace about current availability in our well equipped serviced offices in Brighton and Shoreham?