Creating a Sustainable Office:
Where to Start on Going Green
The importance of sustainability at the workplace is commonly talked about, but when it comes to actually implementing the necessary steps to creating an eco-friendly office, it's easy to get overwhelmed! Our team put together a list of practical tips for creating a greener office, some of which you can start implementing today! Remember, it's never too late to start and every step counts, no matter how small.
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Make the Most of Natural Light
Many offices have more access to natural daylight, but the current floorplan, furniture and workspace arrangement doesn't allow the maximization of its potential. The use of natural light is not only an energy saver, but also a serious wellness booster. Studies show that exposure to daylight balances out our circadian rhythm and assists in boosting our mood. One way to expose team members to more daylight is to set workstations to be no more than twice the height of the window from the perimeter. Space division is one of the number one ways that light becomes obstructed in the office. If you're looking to divide your space, we highly recommend glass wall and door systems in place of standard, light-obstructing walls.
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Say Goodbye to Plastic Whenever Possible
Many offices today continue to rely heavily on plastic. Swapping out single-use plastic cups or cutlery for water bottles and silverware is a great place to start! It's easy easy to get into the habit of bringing your own water bottle to work. Influencing your team members to do the same can be as simple as setting an example and being consistent!
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Use Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Do you know what's in your cleaning products? Many office cleaning companies use products that contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to our bodies as well as the environment. Consider asking your cleaning service about which products they use and swapping them out for greener alternatives where possible. Even if you are unable to change the products used by your cleaning service, you still have control over which cleaning products you keep at workstations and around the office for casual day-to-day cleans.
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Integrate Sustainable Office Furniture
This step may seem the most intimidating...and of course that's why we saved it for last :)
When it comes to green office furniture, education is the most important part so that you can make informed decisions about which products you purchase for your workplace.
According to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), up to 8.5 million tons, or 17 billion pounds, of office furniture ends up in U.S. landfills every year. Sustainable furniture, while not always perfect, has a much longer lifespan and is often composed of recycled materials to repurposed pieces of furniture.
Our partner Kimball has been proactively adopting and developing sustainability practices for over 40 years and are committed to not only meeting current environmental and social standards, but also setting new ones. Read more about their commitment to sustainability here.
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Sustainable Furniture Favorites |
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Nuez Lounge BIO
Here's a lounge chair that takes sustainability to a new level. The shell of Nuez Lounge Bio is made from thermopolymer ECO of natural origin which is 100% biodegradable and compostable. Designed for active waiting spaces, lobbies, collaborative areas, or public and private relaxation spaces Contact Us
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Liberty Ocean - Human Scale
A task chair made with nearly two pounds of recycled fishing net. Discarded fishing nets are a common form of ocean plastic that is incredibly harmful to the surrounding ecosystems and the marine animals that inhabit there. Humanscale has gone above and beyond by creating a Net Positive impact with Liberty Ocean—a cutting-edge, ergonomically designed task chair made from recycled fishing net and non-toxic materials. We love seeing this kind of effort from our furniture manufacturers. Looking for sustainable solutions for your office? Contact Us
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The Core of B Corp
The B Corp Certification Panel Discussion at Kay Chesterfield, Inc. in Oakland took us on a deep dive into what B Corp is really about: a true commitment to doing better through community and accountability. Sustainability is certainly a key consideration. Did you know that 70-80% of what the furniture industry produces goes to landfill every year? B Corp efforts include but are not limited to sustainability, encompassing: employee wages, benefits, code of conduct for vendor partnerships, etc.
At the end of the day, it’s all about the people and shifting focus from shareholders to stakeholders. This means adjusting practices and getting serious about how we can better support team members, vendors, clients and of course…the Earth!
Thank you to Kay Chesterfield, Inc. and all panelists for this motivating and refreshing discussion, Be. Workplace Design is committed to integrating what we’ve learned!
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Our San Francisco Office has been very busy lately! Here we provide convenient, technology-based design services to assist clients and partners with creative and innovative space planning & furnishing solutions. Our seasoned team will continue providing reliable and effective services from both the Concord Office and now the San Francisco Studio. We are excited to serve you at this new location and look forward to seeing you there! |
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We're passionate about creating custom workspaces.
We create custom workspaces for clients of every size, in virtually every industry. From idea to installation, we help transform your workspace into what it should Be. Interested in our services? Contact us!
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Looking for more? Connect with us on LinkedIn for more articles, more conversation, just more us.
General inquiries:
Phone: 866.473.3222
Sales and referrals:
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Be. Workplace Design | ph: 866.473.3222 | fx: 925.771.1579
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