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Small actions can make a big difference - Sustainability in the workplace
Most businesses acknowledge that incorporating sustainability practices is critical for their operations, finances, and relationship with the community and their employees.
Choose energy-efficient equipment, lights, and appliances. E.g., swap out your traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving options like CLF and LED lighting.
Research conducted on the benefits of sustainability in the workplace found the benefits include financial. Practices like energy conservation increase savings in the utility bills. The study also concluded that employee retention, productivity, and overall engagement all increase within the workplace.
Review current equipment in the business. Can it be engineered to save money- e.g., adding doors to display fridge or is it more cost-effective to change the unit that has been tested for its energy rating
For an organisation to be truly sustainable, it requires everyone to be committed to the cause – from the owner/manager to employees. It only takes small actions to start the sustainability movement. It should implement as a two-tier action 1. Through operational processes/ implementation 2. Employee engagement
Operational processes/ implementation Be sustainable in everyday retail practices There are several actions you can take in your day-to-day operations to promote sustainable retail. Some of these include:
mga.asn.au | February 2021 | Edition 1
Even the simple act of having regular maintenance on equipment to check its operation, or seals etc. assists with energy-saving Minimise paper usage There are so many areas that can and have reduced paper use. With the technology available, businesses are well on their way in paper reduction. Examples of this include;
• electronic payslips • electronic rosters • ordering online with suppliers • social media for marketing and advertising
• training by using e-learning Are there any other areas on the floor or in the office that paper could be reduced? Such as;
• notices to employees- could the
business use messaging apps (moderated of course) to inform
employees of updates
• induction handbooks- to be available online
• invoices moved to be electronic(also being implemented)
• food Safety logs/compliance
documentation to be moved electronically – this can be done through simple documents that can be saved on the centralised systemor there is a range of companies that offer software solutions to meet all sorts of budgets
• receipt paper- is there an
environmentally friendly solution? Such as digital receipts
Other areas for businesses could review for sustainability could be; • Waste streams
• Maintenance in cleanliness,
equipment, and safe operational workspace
• Using Eco-friendly chemicals in the work environment
• Packaging Alternative (suppliers and customers)
• Digital bulletin screen in the staff
common area. If this cannot be the case- laminate posters so they last longer
