In this article, Research Consultant Harry Thomson explores the benefits of cultivating sustainability within organisations.
It was noted in a recent Forbes article that ‘an organisation’s sustainability record will attract and retain talent.’ Forbes highlighted that many large-scale organisations have started to create annual sustainability reports with Alphabet, ‘committing its $5.57 billion Sustainability Bond to support environmentally and socially responsible projects such as clean energy, transportation, and circular economy design.’
While we are not all multi-billion turnover organisations, that does not mean that there is nothing we can do within our organisations that can increase sustainability for our benefit now and in the future. At Livingston James, we updated our environmental policy at the end of 2022 as part of a larger policy review, and we set up an Environmental Impact steering committee. The committee meets bi-annually to enhance our environmental strategy and improve our decision-making in relation to our environmental impact, setting targets and driving forward change in our business.
In this article, I will look at measurable approaches that can be made, including ones we have made ourselves, and how they can impact the environment and your organisation’s appearance to the outside world.
Energy Efficiency
Switch to LED Lighting:
Replacing incandescent or fluorescent lights with LED bulbs is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce energy consumption. LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer, resulting in lower electricity bills and reduced waste.
Implement Smart Thermostats:
Smart thermostats can optimise heating and cooling systems by learning usage patterns and adjusting temperatures accordingly. This not only enhances comfort but also significantly cuts down on energy use.
Waste Reduction
Go Paperless:
Encouraging a paperless environment reduces paper waste and saves money on printing costs by utilising digital tools for documentation, communication, and data storage. Livingston James operates a paper-free policy day-to-day at our offices, but some documents are required to be hand signed (including legal documents), and clients will often request printed copies of CVs and interview sheets for panel presentations.
At the start of 2023, we therefore swapped our rental of old Konika printers for Epson’s new Precision-Core heat-free technology printers. These use 83% less energy than laser printers as they do not use energy to warm up. They have no fuse to heat, and therefore consume considerably less power. They also produce less waste with up to 96% less consumables than laser printers.
With the new printers, our annual carbon generation from printing has been estimated to have reduced by 83.9% (kg), and we also print double-sided where appropriate to further reduce our waste.
Equally, if you are still using paper hand towels, look into upgrading to an energy-efficient hand dryer. (Worth doing some research on the best hand dryers -no one wants a soggy handshake!) Last year we installed energy efficient hand dryers in our offices to reduce our paper towel waste, which has reduced our bathroom waste collection considerably.
Implement Recycling Programs:
Set up recycling bins around the office and educate employees on proper recycling practices. Partner with local recycling services to ensure that paper, plastic and electrical waste, such as old laptops or phones, are disposed of correctly.
Sustainable Sourcing
Use Eco-Friendly Office Supplies:
Opt for office supplies made from recycled or sustainable materials (we use recycled paper in our printers); this includes everything from recycled paper and pens made from biodegradable materials to eco-friendly cleaning products.
Source Locally:
Whenever possible, source products and services locally to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation. This also supports local economies and can often result in fresher, higher-quality products.
Water Conservation
Install Low-Flow Fixtures:
Replace traditional faucets, toilets, and showerheads with low-flow models to significantly reduce water usage without compromising performance.
Fix Leaks Promptly:
Even small leaks can waste a considerable amount of water over time. Conduct regular inspections and ensure that any leaks are repaired promptly.
Sustainable Transportation
Encourage Carpooling and Public Transport:
Promote carpooling and the use of public transportation among employees. Offering incentives such as subsidised transit passes or preferred parking for ‘car-poolers’ can encourage this behaviour. At Livingston James, a large proportion of our interviews and briefing meetings are now conducted online, but we continue to see the value of face-to-face interactions. Therefore, when in-person meetings are preferred or deemed necessary, our consultants will use public transport, particularly trains, as their first point of call.
If a car is required to reach a more remote area or client site, we will always carshare where possible. We operate a hybrid working model, so with reduced office commuting days for our employees, fewer candidates and clients travelling out to meet at our offices, and less travel between cities in general, we have considerably reduced our carbon emissions caused by travel / transport.
Invest in Bicycle Facilities:
Provide secure bicycle parking and shower facilities to encourage employees to cycle to work. This not only reduces carbon emissions but can also promote a healthier lifestyle – as experienced by some of our consultants who opt for this method of transport!
Green Policies and Culture
Develop a Green Policy:
Create a clear and concise green policy outlining your company’s commitment to environmental sustainability. This should include specific goals, strategies, and actions employees can take to contribute to these efforts.
Educate and Involve Employees:
Regularly educate employees about the importance of sustainability and how they can contribute. Organise workshops, seminars, and ‘green challenges’ to foster a culture of environmental responsibility. Our Environmental Impact steering committee ensures our policies are understood by all employees, and that we continue to drive forward new eco initiatives.
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Ban Single-Use Plastics:
Eliminate single-use plastics such as straws, cutlery, and cups in the workplace. Encourage employees to use reusable alternatives by providing them with company-branded reusable bottles and bags.
Provide Alternatives:
Install water refill stations and provide reusable dishware in the break room. This reduces plastic waste and promotes a culture of reuse.
Conclusion
At Livingston James, we recognise that environmental impact is a huge and ever-evolving topic of interest for businesses. We are conscious that we can’t change everything overnight, but we need to continue to tackle specific elements bit by bit in order to reduce our impact on the environment in the long term.
Adopting environmentally sustainable practices does not have to be expensive or complicated. Small, cost-effective measures made collectively make a significant impact on your organisation’s environmental footprint. By prioritising sustainability, organisations not only contribute to the wellbeing of the planet but also enhance their brand image and benefit from cost savings in the long run. Start with these simple steps and watch as your organisation grows greener and more efficient.
In today’s ever-growing environmentally conscious society, it has become apparent that the sustainability priorities of businesses are currently playing a part in candidates’ decision-making when changing roles. We believe it will continue to be a crucial area of development for companies going forward, so why not get ahead of the curve now?
It is worth noting that there are plenty of other actions that can be taken to increase the environmental sustainability of your company; the actions discussed in this article should act as a starting point. So, the question is, what is your organisation doing to become more sustainable?
For a confidential discussion on your talent attraction and retention strategies / requirements, please contact Harry Thomson: [email protected].
Small Actions, Big Impact: Creating a Sustainable Workplace
In this article, Research Consultant Harry Thomson explores the benefits of cultivating sustainability within organisations.
It was noted in a recent Forbes article that ‘an organisation’s sustainability record will attract and retain talent.’ Forbes highlighted that many large-scale organisations have started to create annual sustainability reports with Alphabet, ‘committing its $5.57 billion Sustainability Bond to support environmentally and socially responsible projects such as clean energy, transportation, and circular economy design.’
While we are not all multi-billion turnover organisations, that does not mean that there is nothing we can do within our organisations that can increase sustainability for our benefit now and in the future. At Livingston James, we updated our environmental policy at the end of 2022 as part of a larger policy review, and we set up an Environmental Impact steering committee. The committee meets bi-annually to enhance our environmental strategy and improve our decision-making in relation to our environmental impact, setting targets and driving forward change in our business.
In this article, I will look at measurable approaches that can be made, including ones we have made ourselves, and how they can impact the environment and your organisation’s appearance to the outside world.
Energy Efficiency
Switch to LED Lighting:
Replacing incandescent or fluorescent lights with LED bulbs is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce energy consumption. LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer, resulting in lower electricity bills and reduced waste.
Implement Smart Thermostats:
Smart thermostats can optimise heating and cooling systems by learning usage patterns and adjusting temperatures accordingly. This not only enhances comfort but also significantly cuts down on energy use.
Waste Reduction
Go Paperless:
Encouraging a paperless environment reduces paper waste and saves money on printing costs by utilising digital tools for documentation, communication, and data storage. Livingston James operates a paper-free policy day-to-day at our offices, but some documents are required to be hand signed (including legal documents), and clients will often request printed copies of CVs and interview sheets for panel presentations.
At the start of 2023, we therefore swapped our rental of old Konika printers for Epson’s new Precision-Core heat-free technology printers. These use 83% less energy than laser printers as they do not use energy to warm up. They have no fuse to heat, and therefore consume considerably less power. They also produce less waste with up to 96% less consumables than laser printers.
With the new printers, our annual carbon generation from printing has been estimated to have reduced by 83.9% (kg), and we also print double-sided where appropriate to further reduce our waste.
Equally, if you are still using paper hand towels, look into upgrading to an energy-efficient hand dryer. (Worth doing some research on the best hand dryers -no one wants a soggy handshake!) Last year we installed energy efficient hand dryers in our offices to reduce our paper towel waste, which has reduced our bathroom waste collection considerably.
Implement Recycling Programs:
Set up recycling bins around the office and educate employees on proper recycling practices. Partner with local recycling services to ensure that paper, plastic and electrical waste, such as old laptops or phones, are disposed of correctly.
Sustainable Sourcing
Use Eco-Friendly Office Supplies:
Opt for office supplies made from recycled or sustainable materials (we use recycled paper in our printers); this includes everything from recycled paper and pens made from biodegradable materials to eco-friendly cleaning products.
Source Locally:
Whenever possible, source products and services locally to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation. This also supports local economies and can often result in fresher, higher-quality products.
Water Conservation
Install Low-Flow Fixtures:
Replace traditional faucets, toilets, and showerheads with low-flow models to significantly reduce water usage without compromising performance.
Fix Leaks Promptly:
Even small leaks can waste a considerable amount of water over time. Conduct regular inspections and ensure that any leaks are repaired promptly.
Sustainable Transportation
Encourage Carpooling and Public Transport:
Promote carpooling and the use of public transportation among employees. Offering incentives such as subsidised transit passes or preferred parking for ‘car-poolers’ can encourage this behaviour. At Livingston James, a large proportion of our interviews and briefing meetings are now conducted online, but we continue to see the value of face-to-face interactions. Therefore, when in-person meetings are preferred or deemed necessary, our consultants will use public transport, particularly trains, as their first point of call.
If a car is required to reach a more remote area or client site, we will always carshare where possible. We operate a hybrid working model, so with reduced office commuting days for our employees, fewer candidates and clients travelling out to meet at our offices, and less travel between cities in general, we have considerably reduced our carbon emissions caused by travel / transport.
Invest in Bicycle Facilities:
Provide secure bicycle parking and shower facilities to encourage employees to cycle to work. This not only reduces carbon emissions but can also promote a healthier lifestyle – as experienced by some of our consultants who opt for this method of transport!
Green Policies and Culture
Develop a Green Policy:
Create a clear and concise green policy outlining your company’s commitment to environmental sustainability. This should include specific goals, strategies, and actions employees can take to contribute to these efforts.
Educate and Involve Employees:
Regularly educate employees about the importance of sustainability and how they can contribute. Organise workshops, seminars, and ‘green challenges’ to foster a culture of environmental responsibility. Our Environmental Impact steering committee ensures our policies are understood by all employees, and that we continue to drive forward new eco initiatives.
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Ban Single-Use Plastics:
Eliminate single-use plastics such as straws, cutlery, and cups in the workplace. Encourage employees to use reusable alternatives by providing them with company-branded reusable bottles and bags.
Provide Alternatives:
Install water refill stations and provide reusable dishware in the break room. This reduces plastic waste and promotes a culture of reuse.
Conclusion
At Livingston James, we recognise that environmental impact is a huge and ever-evolving topic of interest for businesses. We are conscious that we can’t change everything overnight, but we need to continue to tackle specific elements bit by bit in order to reduce our impact on the environment in the long term.
Adopting environmentally sustainable practices does not have to be expensive or complicated. Small, cost-effective measures made collectively make a significant impact on your organisation’s environmental footprint. By prioritising sustainability, organisations not only contribute to the wellbeing of the planet but also enhance their brand image and benefit from cost savings in the long run. Start with these simple steps and watch as your organisation grows greener and more efficient.
In today’s ever-growing environmentally conscious society, it has become apparent that the sustainability priorities of businesses are currently playing a part in candidates’ decision-making when changing roles. We believe it will continue to be a crucial area of development for companies going forward, so why not get ahead of the curve now?
It is worth noting that there are plenty of other actions that can be taken to increase the environmental sustainability of your company; the actions discussed in this article should act as a starting point. So, the question is, what is your organisation doing to become more sustainable?
For a confidential discussion on your talent attraction and retention strategies / requirements, please contact Harry Thomson: [email protected].
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