The pandemic has led to a significant level of unemployment, so if you’re still working you should count yourself very lucky. Now would actually be a great time to think about your efficiency and how you could potentially reduce waste at work, therefore helping your employer save money during this difficult time. It will also allow you, as a business, to be kinder to the environment, which is also important. In fact, research has found that people are happier to spend their money if the company is eco-friendly. Here are some simple things you can do to become less wasteful at work.

At the end of each day, be sure to switch off all of your equipment so that it doesn’t waste electricity. We are all guilty of putting our computers in standby mode or leaving our laptops plugged in to charge overnight, but it’s important to switch them off because not only is it not very eco-friendly, it also boosts utility bills. The same applies for things like the lighting and the office printer. Don’t be afraid to remind your colleagues to switch off too.

In fact, when it comes to the printer, there are probably lots of ways you can reduce waste as a business. It might be worth getting in touch with a managed print service who can help monitor companywide print use and put a plan in place to help reduce waste. You should also consider reducing font size so that you don’t require as much paper and ink. If possible, email documents to colleagues rather than printing them out.

Essentially, the idea is to be more mindful of your behaviour in the office. Can you bring a refillable bottle in to work rather than using the plastic cups at the dispenser? Do you recycle? Do you use black and white ink instead of colour when printing? Do you use scraps of paper for your notes, instead of post-it notes?

Speak to your employer about your endeavour to make the office a less wasteful environment. They will likely appreciate your attempts at helping them save money and may encourage the rest of your colleagues to follow suit. What’s more, it will help them to understand your commitment to the company.