How to Make Your Office More Sustainable

Thinking of sustainability as a design trend doesn’t quite capture how important it’s going to be for the industry moving forward. As we progress through this decade, the use of sustainable materials and processes is going to be absolutely vital to secure the long-term future of your company and, of course, the planet – so it pays to start thinking about these things right away.

Fostering the right culture

While changing the physical elements of your office is important if you’re wanting to create a more eco-friendly space – sustainability has to start with the office culture itself. That is, you need to make sure that processes such as recycling and reuse are entrenched in the day-to-day happenings of your company. 

Whether you choose to create recycling incentives for employees, or perhaps display recycling statistics on monitors throughout the office, there are a number of things that you can do to generate excitement around office sustainability. 

Your building 

If you want to improve your office’s sustainability rating, your building is a good place to start. For example, adding extra layers of insulation to your external walls and a natural ventilation system could help you reduce the need for air conditioning. Perhaps you need to increase the number of windows in your office to maximise solar gain. Even improving bike storage and accessibility will make your office’s Cycle to Work scheme that much more appealing, indirectly improving your office’s sustainability.

Here at Ashlar, we’re always looking for different ways to design more sustainable office spaces for our clients, which is why we invest in products like this: MX Display’s Eco One Wall. Completely PVC free and made entirely from recycled PET waste, this eco wall allows companies to easily display all kinds of different graphics and make a big statement, while still contributing to a more sustainable environment.

Lighting

Not only does lighting account for around 25% of an office’s energy bill, it also contributes significantly towards your office’s carbon footprint. With this in mind, it makes sense to opt for an LED smart lighting system. Using a network of sensors, a smart lighting system ensures that your office’s lights are used only when absolutely necessary, and energy-saving LEDs mean that the system will last for years and years to come.

Biophilia

If you’ve been reading our blog, then you’ll know all about how biophilic design is quickly becoming an integral part of any office. Not only do plants offer a new aesthetic dimension to your space, they have been proven to boost mood and productivity levels too.

What’s more, most visitors will naturally draw a link between a green office and a green company outlook, so you will be able to impress both clients and potential employees alike. 

Furniture

If you’re looking for a simple way to make your office more sustainable, switching your furniture is a good start. The right furniture for your office can really pull everything together aesthetically too, so it’s worth taking the time to find the pieces that you like. Whether you want carbon neutral carpets made from recycled fibres or refurbished chill-out sofas, there’s a wealth of options out there on the market. All you have to do is start looking!

However, if you still think you need some inspiration, take a look at some of products that we’re using here at Ashlar:

• Moka Felt: Nomique’s Moka Felt is a stylish tub chair that gives waste plastic a new lease of life. The shell, which is made from 60 recycled PET bottles, is both comfy and durable, making it the perfect addition to any office setup.
• Hemp Fine: Vepa’s Hemp Fine chair is the perfect choice for more rugged, natural office aesthetics, and the specs are great too. The shell is made entirely out of hemp and resin, resulting in a strong, durable and comfortable chair that’s completely recyclable and 100% plant based.

Waste management 

Improving the waste management processes in your office is a surefire way to becoming more sustainable. For example, you’ll want to make sure you have a clear colour scheme for your waste bins, and as many recycling points as possible throughout the office. 

Another positive step you can take is finding a reputable waste management company, as this will ensure that you have regular waste collection and that as much of your waste as possible is being diverted from landfill. 

If you want to learn more about how your office could become more sustainable, Ashlar can help. We’re a forward-thinking design and fit out company with a passion for sustainable, future-facing design. Interested? Call us for a chat, we’d love to hear about your next project.