If you’re passionate about sustainability and want to bring eco-friendly changes to your office, this guide is for you!

Sustainability isn’t just for the home – your workplace can also play a big role in reducing environmental impact. From small behavioural changes to structural upgrades, there are many ways to make your workplace greener – without breaking the bank.

How to reduce waste at work

Soft plastics recycling

Services like Recycle Smart offer scheduled pickups for soft plastics, e-waste, batteries, and fabric, ensuring responsible recycling. If your office isn’t signed up, suggest it to your manager – it’s only $7.90 per week and even allows staff to bring in recyclables from home.

Composting

Encourage your workplace to introduce a compost bin with a local operator like Mallow Sustainability. If that’s not feasible, organise a staff roster where employees with compost systems at home take turns collecting organic waste.

Containers for change

Set up a bin for drink containers and donate the refund to charity. If your workplace doesn’t participate yet, highlight the benefits of reducing waste while supporting a good cause.

Swap single-use plastic for wet umbrella dryers

If your office still uses plastic umbrella bags on rainy days, suggest switching to wet umbrella dryers with absorbent fibre pads.

Use reusable cleaning materials

Encourage your office to replace disposable wipes and paper towels with reusable cloths and tea towels.

Propose a waste audit

Offer to help assess your office’s waste streams before and after sustainability measures are introduced. Data from an audit can support business cases for better waste management policies.

Encouraging sustainable habits in the office

Set up a reusable cup library

Suggest creating a communal collection of reusable cups for staff to borrow instead of using disposable takeaway cups.

Create a shopping bag pool

Bring in extra reusable bags from home and encourage others to do the same.

Promote public transport and carpooling

If your workplace isn’t already encouraging sustainable commuting, start a conversation about the benefits. Identify barriers (such as a lack of bike storage or end-of-trip facilities) and propose solutions.

Put up friendly reminders

Simple signs like “Turn off the lights” and “Switch off monitors when not in use” can help reinforce sustainable habits.

Saving energy at work

Suggest an energy audit

Bring up the idea of hiring an electrician to conduct an energy audit and identify areas for efficiency improvements.

Encourage LED lighting & sensors

If your office hasn’t switched to LEDs or installed movement sensors for lights, suggest these cost-saving and energy-efficient upgrades.

Reducing water use in the workplace

Install tap aerators

Recommend aerators for kitchen and bathroom taps to reduce water flow while maintaining pressure.

Upgrade to water-efficient fixtures

If your office is due for renovations, advocate for WELS-rated toilets and taps to save thousands of litres of water annually.

Use the dishwasher’s eco setting

If your workplace has a dishwasher, remind colleagues to use the eco mode to minimise water and energy consumption.

Building a green office culture

Start a Green Team

Gather like-minded colleagues and propose forming a sustainability committee to introduce and monitor green initiatives.

Create a green chat group

Set up a Slack or Teams chat for sharing sustainability tips, events, and resources with your coworkers.

Support sustainable procurement

Encourage your employer to prioritise eco-friendly suppliers for office supplies, catering, and business services.

Organise a clean-up event

Suggest registering for Clean Up Australia Day or another local environmental initiative to get your workplace involved in community sustainability efforts.

Host a green games challenge

Propose a month-long challenge where teams earn points for completing sustainable actions – friendly competition makes sustainability fun!

Recommend Carbon Literacy Training

Introduce your workplace to the Carbon Literacy Project, an internationally recognised training program that boosts sustainability awareness and helps achieve ESG goals. Brisbane Sustainability Agency can facilitate training sessions.

Run DIY sustainability workshops

If you or a coworker have a skill, consider hosting a lunch-break workshop on making sustainable products like lip balms, bath salts, or plant terrariums.

Even small changes can make a big impact. By introducing a few of these ideas at work, you can inspire a culture of sustainability in your office.

Have you successfully implemented sustainability initiatives at your workplace? Share your experiences with us!