Eco-consumers are increasing the demand for sustainability in the commercial sector. Companies are responding to the market’s alterations by increasing the eco-friendliness of their practices. Employers are improving ecological conditions by developing sustainable communal spaces.

The areas can cater to employees, employers and visitors, supporting the community and environment. Before evaluating the ways companies can develop eco-friendly spaces, we must assess their benefits.

The Need for Sustainability and Community

Employers can show their employees they value their health and wellbeing by improving the air quality in community spaces. Lowering greenhouse gas emissions in and around the office can protect the environment and workers’ health. When emissions invade the environment, they alter the atmosphere’s natural composition.

Organically, the planet absorbs solar radiation, creates heat, warms the surface, recollects excess energy and emits it to space. Greenhouse gases overproduce heat and trap additional energy in the environment. Over time, emissions effects increase the global temperature, degrading the ecosystem.

When workers inhale emissions, toxins can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect neurological stability. Long-term exposure drives neuroinflammation, creating mental health challenges. Air pollutants can cause permanent damage to the neurological system, reducing general wellbeing and efficient immune responses.

Emissions also increase the risk of asthma in many individuals, reducing respiratory health and safety. The nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides and other atmospheric elements in polluted air increase an employee’s risk of lung cancer. When employers develop eco-conscious community workspaces, they improve workers’ health and enhance productivity in the office.

Communal spaces also boost creativity, create flexibility, enhance networking opportunities and improve morale. Employers may develop eco-friendly community areas in the office using these four tips.

1. Ditch the Single-Use Plastic

A 500-milliliter plastic water bottle releases 82.8 grams of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. When companies place the bottles in vending machines and the refrigerator of their community spaces, they acquire a portion of their carbon footprints. Plastic products also create post-consumer waste through poor waste management practices.

After an individual uses a plastic container, they either throw it away or recycle it. When it reaches a landfill, it creates surface pollution or reaches the ocean and degrades into microplastics. Marine species misidentify microplastics as food, ingesting them and developing fatal health complications.

During the recycling process, professionals meltdown and reshape bottles and other containers. The practice also generates emissions, further degrading the atmosphere. Companies can increase the sustainability of communal spaces by removing all single-use plastics.

Employers can promote reusable water bottle uses, installing a purified dispenser. Many reusable water bottle companies insulate their products, helping employees access ice-cold water for hours at their desks. Plastic-free workspaces also promote eco-conscious choices outside of the office.

2. Install Energy Efficient Appliances

Companies can also replace outdated appliances, like refrigerators and stoves, with energy-efficient versions. Over time, the efficiency of devices degrades, creating higher emissions and utility costs. The energy use of refrigerators dropped by nearly 1500 kilowatt-hours per year from 1974 to 2008.

Energy conservation continues improving, enhancing the sustainability of communal spaces. Adding Energy Star-rated appliances in your workplace could significantly shrink your company’s carbon footprint. They also require little to no maintenance, helping employees access eco-friendly benefits without changing their routine.

3. Use Smart Devices

Businesses can also install smart devices, increasing the energy efficiency of a building. Smart thermostats significantly decrease the emissions related to a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. They access real-time weather reports through a Wi-Fi connection, adjusting indoor temperatures for energy reduction.

The devices also use motion detection sensors, turning a system off in a vacant building. When companies place smart thermostats in communal spaces, they can increase their employees’ comfort and decrease environmental degradation.

4. Add Plants

Employers can improve employees’ moods and decrease air pollution by adding plants to their communal spaces. As vegetation grows, it feeds on carbon dioxide and other air pollutants. Plants naturally absorb emissions and convert them into pure oxygen.

Adding greenery to a workspace can reduce the adverse health effects associated with air pollution. They also bring an aspect of nature inside, invoking calmness and joy.

Where to Start? 

When you begin developing an eco-friendly communal space in the office, it is essential to involve all employees. You must acknowledge all workers’ needs and address their concerns before creating the space. A community area brings people together, and you can ensure its welcoming aesthetic by allowing each staff member to design a portion.