Create an Eco-Friendly Workspace

With 58% of our adult lives spent at work and U.S. air pollution on the rise, making our workplaces environmentally friendly is more important than ever before. Luckily, there are plenty of easy-to-implement opportunities to make your workspace green.

As consumers and employees, we hold power to show companies and corporations how much we care about our impact on the Earth. How? Through the purchasing and lifestyle choices we make during our day to day lives.

It is up to us to make enough adjustments in our way of life, not just at home but also at work to reduce pollution, landfills, and chemical waste. Luckily, there are straightforward ways to help out the cause, which are listed below.

Please note, since workplaces are so varied, some suggestions will apply to you more than others, but overall, they are all adaptable to fit most job sites. Feel free to mix and match to find what works best for you at work.

When possible, use recycled paper products for printing, for toilet and facial tissue, paper plates, and paper towels. As opposed to using paper or styrofoam cups, or even worse drinking water from plastic bottles, instead opt for a reusable ceramic or stainless steel travel mug to drink from while commuting and working.

Speaking of traveling, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American takes 4.35 hours a week to get back and forth to work. If everyone chooses to drive themselves in and not walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation like the metro, bus, or subway, reducing pollution is nearly impossible. Kindly consider an alternative means if possible.

But before you head out for work, you have to get ready. Unfortunately, most garment and cosmetics industries rely on chemicals to produce their products. If you can, buy upcycled clothes from a second-hand shop and use natural makeup, deodorant, soap, and hair care products when preparing for your next shift.

Also, be mindful of what you grab to eat before, during, and after work. Foods deemed convenient can be harmful to the environment since they are made in factories and packaged in non-biodegradable materials. Taking a piece of fruit and some nuts along with you to snack on is better for you and way better for our planet.

Not everyone works in an office, but if you do, there are multiple ways to try to leave only footprints. For instance, opt for rechargeable batteries in your mouse, decorate your space with live plants (not artificial), try LED lights or your open blinds for lighting options, use environmentally safe cleaning solutions if you can, or get your new desk and chair from a used office furniture warehouse.

Hopefully, by now, you have gained helpful knowledge about how to make your workspace more environmentally friendly. If we all take little steps to lessen our adverse effects on the planet, we can make the Earth a much healthier place for the upcoming generations of not only people but all living things.