How to Green Your Workplace on a Budget

Looking to do business more sustainably at a sustainable cost? Try these low-cost tips.

Going green has many benefits for your business, but implementing the changes can be costly. Luckily, there are multiple ways your business can become more sustainable without breaking the bank and, in some cases, while spending less money. Check out these tips that can make your sustainable transition easy and debt-free.

Go paperless

Instead of spending money on paper and using electricity to keep multiple printers running, why not go digital? Cloud storage services and digital time-tracking software allow your employees to keep up with everyday processes easily, and you can finally cancel that expensive ink subscription. Less paper use also means fewer paper clips, staples and other small office supplies that may not seem expensive but can really add up over time.

If your business can't go completely paperless, encourage employees to use eco-friendly printing practices. These include only printing pages you need, reducing the font size and printing double-sided. Encourage office managers to purchase recycled content paper made by companies that support responsible forest management and recycle empty toner cartridges instead of throwing them out.

Light your space responsibly

Did you know that, on average, 11% of a U.S. business' energy budget goes toward lighting? Encouraging your employees to turn off lights when they leave a room — especially conference or breakout rooms only used for part of the workday — can save energy and money, freeing up part of that budget to go toward other areas.

Want to cut your lighting costs even more? Open shades and blinds during daylight hours and let natural light illuminate your building. This action saves energy and money and naturally boosts your employees' alertness and productivity during the workday.

Buy in Bulk

Many workplaces use single-serve items, such as packets of sugar, cream and salt. While these may seem like a smart choice for an office kitchen, they're more expensive and wasteful than simply buying these products in bulk.

Take creamer, for example. One employee may only want to use half of a single-serve container, while another uses one and a half. They won't share, though, so they've effectively used three creamers but only needed two. If they could've poured the exact amount they needed from a larger container, none would have been wasted.

Reduce, reuse and recycle

This sustainability effort may require the purchase of a new, labeled recycling or compost bin — if you don't already have one — but the environmental benefits are more than worth it. Recycling often costs less than solid waste disposal services, saving your company money on trash hauling.

Don't forget to educate employees about what can and can't be recycled. Though certain materials — such as plastic bottles and containers — are widely known to be recyclable, they must be rinsed first. Place easy-to-read graphic displays around your workplace that provide instructions on proper recycling. Consider starting a friendly competition to entice employees to dispose of their waste properly.

Now you know becoming more sustainable doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. Small changes can add up and make a big difference for the environment, the future of our planet and your bottom line.