The 10 steps we made to make our agency more sustainable - and so can you
Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
As a relatively young company, some of our processes are still in development. Nevertheless, right from the start, we endeavored to make sustainability one of our key values. We think being a sustainable company starts with the practices in daily office life and routines. And there are many ways each of us can contribute in order to do their respective share. So if you are thinking right now “It is time for my company to become more sustainable - but where should I start?” it’s your lucky day! Here are 10 tips for you to ease your way into a green company lifestyle:
Education is key! Some time ago our teammates took part at this year's (digital) Climate Summit, which was all about becoming a climate neutral company. The key learnings were:
It is not about short term changes or simply compensating all your CO2 emissions but rather about changing your internal processes to get long-term improvements.
Take a look at other companies, what are they doing? Can you learn something from them and maybe implement it yourself?
Reduce, reuse, recycle: there are many ways to implement the “three R’s” in your company structure, some of them you will find you below.
Separate your trash people! It does sound easy BUT: many offices do not separate organic waste from non-recyclable waste. Often, the simple reason this happens is because people are not sure what belongs in which type of trash can. To make it easier for your teammates, put stickers with the right label on them, so there’s not even the chance to mix it up! While we’re at it, you can even post a picture example for those who don’t actively practice it at home.
Business trips are one thing we think every company can still improve! Honestly, you know how it is: For speed and efficiency, when a business trip pops up, the first thing that comes to mind for cross country travel, flying. But today, there are many train connections that are almost as fast as flying (of course, getting to and from the airport included). Last year, we went on a trip to Breslau with the whole team and took the train there - and we had a blast! So before you are booking your flight, look up the train connections! Or, take the next step and ask yourself: is it even necessary to be there physically? 2020 showed us how flexible we are, maybe you can hold the meeting virtually?
Think before you print! What a few years ago seemed impossible to achieve, is now an easy step for all of us. Try to reduce printing emails, presentations, agendas or whatever it might be to an absolute minimum and rather use digital alternatives like Miro - a digital whiteboard that replaces big chunks of paper or sticky notes.
Check your snack and drink supply! It’s almost obligatory to provide at least some snacks for your employees. Providers of local and organic fruit and vegetable baskets are therefore popping up like mushrooms. Working together with one of them, will not only support local businesses but also put a smile on the face of your employees. Some Berlin startups we recommend:
Obergudt: Fruits, Vegetables but also butter or bread in one box. From your local shops and farms directly to the office.
Coffee Circle: A more sustainable coffee alternative that supports farmers and ensures fair conditions.
Sirplus: Fighting food waste one box at a time.
Also something to be aware of: sustainable household products such as cleaning agents, recycled toilet paper etc. are another important step in the right direction and not only useful at home.Team events can serve a good cause! On the occasion of 2020’s world environment day, we thought of a little team event that is not only the perfect way to keep our neighbourhood clean but also strengthens the team spirit. The team thus went on a walk with a mission and collected the trash from the streets around our office (believe us - you don’t want to know what we found). We had so much fun and were so proud of the sparkling clean result that we decided to make it a monthly event. After all it’s an easy 60min activity to chat with colleagues and walk through the neighborhood. So get some gloves, a garbage bag and gripping pliers and give it a try! And if you want to combine sports with collecting trash Plogging could be your next thing!
Green-electricity is the only way to go! These days in particular many companies have a relatively high energy consumption as we are surrounded by technology. Everybody who switches to a green electricity provider sends a clear signal against coal and nuclear power. And: demand defines the supply! If more and more electricity customers opt for green electricity, the proportion of fossil and nuclear energy sources will decrease. And, with less fossil fuels being used, CO² emissions are also reduced. You see, if you do not have a green provider yet, it is about time for you to make the change! And we are doing the same - we just moved to a new office where we chose our provider like this.
Pick gifts carefully (even if they seem small)! Presents for your customers and clients are always well received. Mind you: quality before quantity! Instead of looking for the cheapest alternative which often are not the most sustainable ones, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to spread your environmental beliefs outside of the office. Last year, we went for some Laika straws made from stainless steel including the recipe for our famous “Joyful Laika” drink - an absolute winner! So before you buy plastic gimmicks get creative and ask yourself what others could really need.
CO2 compensation is not as tricky as we thought! Now you did all these things, but there are still some fixed processes which sound impossible for you to change? That does not mean you can’t do more: did you know that it is perfectly easy to compensate for inevitable emissions? Platforms like Prima Klima or Atmosfair are here to take care of this problem! Not only do they calculate your carbon footprint, they also provide compensation opportunities. For example, with projects like planting your own company forest!
Go circular! Hardware or e-waste creates a huge amount of global electronic waste. The many parts and raw materials used in the products make them difficult to recycle. Companies like Flex IT try to tackle exactly this point by extending the life cycle of products in various ways, recovering value and postponing new production as long as possible. Or, buy second hand with others - there are many to pick from: with platforms like Refurbed or Rebuy it has never been this easy to buy used electronics. You even get at least one year warranty after purchase in the majority of cases.
With these tips and a few small changes to start, you can reduce your companys’ environmental footprint in several ways. It doesn’t matter whether you are a small or a big company, we all can do something to affect positive change in our environment. Of course, you don’t have to do all of them at once but if you never start, nothing will change. Take for example Laika - we are far from perfect, but we accepted the challenge, started to change the small things above and stay willing to learn. Now we are curious to hear from you - what are your tips, hacks and learnings when it comes to more sustainability at work? Let us know via newsletter@laika.de