Some of us live in homes with dedicated office spaces, whereas others creatively turn nooks into compact working environments. No matter the size, there are ways to be more eco friendly when working from home.

The benefits of workplace sustainability are two-fold. On the one hand you are reducing your carbon footprint. Equally, going green can have positive impact on your health and, subsequently, your work.

Below, we highlight the ways in which you can create a green home office without spending a fortune and the benefit it can have on the planet and your wellbeing.

Reduce paper usage

According to Waste Watch, the amount of wastepaper taken to landfill every year could fill 103,448 double decker buses. Whilst your role will only account for a minute fraction of this, doing your bit for the environment can help the planet.

If you haven’t made the switch, trying taking notes electronically or use up any scrap paper before you make the change. If you cannot avoid using paper why not switch to recycled paper, and always make sure to print double sided when appropriate. It goes without saying that you should ideally be recycling any used paper too.

Utilise natural light

Many of us are accustomed to the bright lights of the office. However, making small changes at home can be beneficial for both your health and the environment.

Office lighting, particularly fluorescents, can result in headaches and migraines. Using as much natural light in your home office can reduce this strain, particularly when you are using a computer for the majority of the day.

From an environmental point of view, using daylight as much as possible means you will be using less electricity and reducing your energy consumption. You will likely notice a drop in your electricity bill too.

 

 

Don’t forget to switch off

We understand that using electrical equipment is a must for many jobs. However, there are energy efficient solutions available that you can adopt. For example, did you know that laptops take less power than desktop PCs? If you can be just as efficient on a laptop, switching from your usual setup can make a small but valuable impact on your eco friendly office endeavour.

If your job involves multiple electrical devices, or you aren’t quite ready to free yourself from your desktop PC, then how you use your tools can be equally as important. Not using the printer today? Switch it off. Packing up for the evening? Turn your devices off. It can be all to easy to let your computer go to screen saver or put items to ‘sleep’. However, did you know your carbon footprint grows bigger even when your devices are dormant? Even though they’re not in use the sleep mode still uses electricity to stay powered.

 

 

Opt for pre-loved furniture

If you’re in the midst of a home office renovation save yourself some money by ditching the popular furniture brands. Shop sustainably by sourcing second-hand desks and bookshelves from selling sites and pre-loved furniture stores. You can even create your own bespoke desks and storage units if you are a dab hand at DIY and have some wood or older furniture that need a new lease of life.

Alternatively, you could support an eco-friendly furniture brand. There are countless companies making office furniture and supplies out of renewable and sustainable materials such as cork, bamboo and reclaimed wood. Typically, these items come with a higher price tag than your mass-produced desks and shelves. However, you can be safe in the knowledge that you are not contributing to environmental issues when creating your home office.

Balancing sustainable living and work

Nobody said being environmentally conscious was easy, particularly when it comes to work. Sadly, electricity and paper usage cannot be avoided when you are going about your daily tasks. Whilst nobody can go green overnight, making conscious decision and choices regarding how you work and the products you use can will open your mind to different ways to be sustainable when working from home. Why not try implementing a couple of the ideas we have discussed above to get you started.

 

 

Did you know that Leitz have an entire Recycle range? Our eco friendly stationary range is the perfect addition to your green home office. Every item in the collection is 100% recyclable and also made from recycled material too. Our Recycle range takes the premium quality and durability our customers love whilst helping to protect the environment. Leitz are dedicated to having as little impact on the environment as possible and we hope this is a journey you will join us on too!