Maybe you’re planning a full corporate migration to a new office building. Or perhaps you’re working on a revitalization project for an existing space. This is an exciting new step for your growing company, but it also poses unique environmental challenges.
Relocating, revitalizing, or closing a corporate space generates a lot of energy and waste. If your enterprise is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, you need to think outside the box to control the environmental impact of your next move.
Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling.
Eliminate F-Waste
F-Waste is another word for furniture waste, and in terms of your corporate move, it consists of the old desks, storage equipment, and fixtures that don’t fit into your new designs.
Unwanted office furniture often ends up being a casualty of corporate relocations, closures, and revitalization projects. It’s tempting to throw these items out, but it’s the cause of a growing environmental problem — not to mention it’s a drain on your budget!
Conventional liquidation services can be particularly expensive, and they charge additional costs to cover landfill tipping, storage, and double handling fees. Even if you manage to sell some of your inventory, most of it will still make its way to a landfill.
Before arranging for the liquidation of your existing furniture, consider recycling your office furniture through a sustainable workplace furniture decommission service. These services handle your old office furniture and equipment in an environmentally responsible and socially conscious way.
They help you eliminate nearly all your f-waste by facilitating the resale, recycling, or in-kind donation of your old items. This re-use option can be achieved within existing decommission budgets and keeps any items you can’t sell away out of the landfill.
Find Eco-Friendly Replacements
Eventually, you’ll need to acquire new furniture — whether you’re outfitting an entirely new space or replacing used office furniture in an existing location. Whatever your plans are, make sure to look for sustainable office furniture and equipment.
This means shopping for a designer that follows renewable energy practices, uses sustainable and ethically sourced materials, and boasts responsible manufacturing processes.
Check for SEAL award winners to help you locate these sustainable options. Only companies that show measurable contributions to sustainable business practices may earn this award.
Look for LEED Certification
LEED — short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — is a globally recognized accreditation program that ensures a building meets high environmental standards.
It involves a top-down approach that ensures every step of the construction process creates a green building, from the initial design all the way to the eventual maintenance of a site. LEED is also available for existing buildings should site owners decide to retrofit them to meet updated green best practices.
Choosing an LEED-certified building comes with a lot of benefits for your corporation. New builds create less construction waste and result in more durable structures while existing locations will see reduced energy usage and lower operating costs.
Bottom Line
Planning a corporate move with sustainability in mind may be a challenge, but it is possible to achieve if you make it a priority and it doesn’t have to cost more. Donate office furniture, replace it with eco-friendly equipment, and consider how a LEED certification fits into your plans. These forward-thinking strategies help you reduce your carbon footprint and do more good wherever your move takes you.
Interesting related article: “What is Sustainable Growth?”