An eco-friendly attitude doesn’t have to end with your opinion. You can show your support for environmental conservation in the way you dress, drive, eat and shop. You can make it part of your home and even part of your workspace with a little effort and the right direction.
Substituting conventional products for green alternatives is easy — and most of the time, it’s also affordable! There’s no need to invest thousands of dollars in a new electric car to prove that you care, but a small contribution here and there will add up to a big difference in your carbon footprint.
A great place to start is in your office — or, more specifically, the kitchen space in your office. We’ll walk you through five actionable tips to make that kitchen space clean, green and efficient for both your benefit and the benefit of your company.
Who knows — maybe you’ll get an employee to think twice about their energy consumption!
1. Start Small With a Water-Efficient Faucet
It’s not often that we think about the amount of water we use every day, but the numbers are staggering. With 50 to 100 employees all using the same sink to clean their Tupperware, rinse out mugs and wash produce, the collective expenditure reaches mind-boggling proportions.
Fortunately, you can attach some cheap tech to your faucet to lower the flow rate and reduce your usage. You have a broad range of options when choosing a brand, and a high-efficiency aerator will net you hundreds of gallons of water saved, as well as decrease the cost of your office’s utility bill.
2. Beautify Your Kitchen Space With Flora
The inclusion of nature in the workspace can breathe new life into an otherwise dull setting. If your kitchen space enjoys exposure to a source of natural light, a modest garden can act as a great, eco-friendly addition. If your kitchen doesn’t receive natural light, some plants don’t require it!
Peacock plants, cast-iron plants and different varieties of succulents will enhance your office kitchen and start a conversation about the many methods of environmental conservation. You could even use coffee grounds on some plants, repurposing the waste in your filter to enrich the soil.
3. Make Alternative Cleaning Solutions
A tidy kitchen reflects a successful workplace, but the basic supplies you or your employees use to wipe down the microwave or clean the spots from the countertop can contain chemicals that have the potential to harm both the environment and you if mishandled. But, don’t fear!
Throwing together an all-purpose cleaner takes only three inexpensive ingredients — white vinegar, baking soda and lemon essential oil. Mix these together following a recipe you find online, fill a spray bottle and you’ll have a cheaper, non-toxic alternative to brand-name cleaning products.
4. Bring Your Own Plates and Cutlery
The paper plates, plastic utensils and other trash from hungry employees often end up in a landfill. We’ve all been guilty of discarding waste without considering all the implications. However, the solution to curbing excessive waste is as simple as reusable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery.
It may take a little while for the trend to catch on, but if you start bringing your own reusable tableware and stock it in unused cabinet space, your employees will see just how convenient it is to make the switch. Or, you can try something as simple as instituting a change in policy.
5. Clean the Fridge on a Regular Basis
It’s an intimidating prospect for some, but proper fridge maintenance can significantly reduce an office’s environmental impact. Put on your gloves and get to cleaning. Then, let the fridge defrost. Scouring a refrigerator can improve both its efficiency and longevity, saving costs down the road.
Poor maintenance is a drain, with a typical refrigerator accounting for around 13 percent of the user’s energy bill. Wiping coils free of frost reduces this number, and there’s a science behind it. Caked coils suffer from restricted airflow, and a refrigerator will gradually have to draw more power to maintain the same temperature.
Go Save the Planet!
Or, at the very least, contribute to its health. Take the advice here and apply it to the kitchen in your office to make it a happy, eco-friendly space. You might be surprised to learn your employees had a similar attitude toward environmental conservation but never chose to act on it.
Remember — everything you do has an effect on the world, so make sure it’s a positive one.
Featured Image By Runner1928 CC BY-SA 4.0 , from Wikimedia Commons
Thanks for the tips! There’s a few of these I can implement to my space straight away.
I wish you could speak to the people I work with. The kitchen is about as eco-friendly as uranium lying on the beach. Good tips though, it’s a nice start. We could all pull together and turn our office kitchens green within a week. Oh well…