5 simple habits to reduce your carbon footprint at work
Do you want to reduce your carbon footprint at work but don’t know where to start? Here are 5 simple habits to implement more sustainable work practices, whether you’re working from home or not.
1. Work on a laptop
Laptops are way more energy-efficient than desktop computers. They can run a long time off battery power and they are generally designed to be more energy-efficient than desktops.
Of course, energy consumption varies between models, screen sizes, brightness of the screen and your usage habits. But laptops generally use less electricity than desktops.
2. Clean your inbox daily
Everything we do on the internet has a carbon footprint, including our emails.
Storing and sending emails uses energy from servers and data centers. Cleaning your inbox daily will help you reduce your digital carbon footprint.
And remember to unsubscribe to the newsletters you don’t read instead of just deleting them the minute you’re receiving the email.
3. Choose a more sustainable font
When printing, use a lighter-weight, narrower font. You’ll use less ink and allow more text fit on a page.
The 3 most common eco-fonts are Century Gothic, Courier and Garamond. I personally use Garamond when I need to proofread my translations on paper.
4. Bring reusables for your food and drinks
If you want to reduce your carbon footprint at work, think about bringing your own reusable coffee mug (just bring one you have at home). You could also prepare your own lunch and snacks.
If you are a huge tea-lover like me, use loose tea leaves instead of single-use tea bags. Not only will you reduce your waste, but you’ll get a higher-quality tea as well.
5. Be mindful of paper consumption
It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: only print when you absolutely have to. And when you do, print double-sided. I personally save all the useless letters I receive and print on the back of those letters instead of throwing them out right away.
And if you’re not working on confidential documents, remember to throw them in your recycling bin when you’re done using them.
More and more companies are encouraging their employees to have sustainable work practices. And even if you work in a place that doesn’t have sustainability at heart, you can implement your own personal habits. And who knows? You might inspire your colleagues!
💡 What are your tips to be more sustainable at work? I’d love to have your input!