Studio 42 Workspaces   •  August 28, 2019

In recent years, the damaging effects of pollution and plastic rubbish on the environment have come to light, showcasing the need for change. Many changes have been made by society as a whole, like banning single use plastic bags and plastic straws, and many individuals are now opting for more reusable options instead. While this may seem like a small change, every little step makes a difference.

Rubberdesk recently released an Eco Friendly Office Guide showing some of the ways they are doing their part for the environment, including: recycling used batteries, correctly disposing of ink cartridges and the use of LED light bulbs.

If you are trying to be more eco friendly in your personal life and want to transition this to your office space as well, you definitely can! Below are 6 easy things we do here at Studio 42 that make a big difference and that you can implement in your office space too.

Biodegradable Coffee Pods

Coffee in an office is an absolute must. With everyone’s love for coffee, the amount of coffees made everyday adds up quickly, and lots of coffee means lots of coffee pods. By using biodegradable coffee pods, you can enjoy your cup of joe while know you are doing your part for the environment.

At Studio 42, we use Urban Brew pods, which are both recyclable and biodegradable. While other plastic pods can take up to 500 years to break down, Urban Brew’s coffee pods have a similar breakdown time as an orange peel, taking only 2 years and they will not leave any harmful residues! Not to mention that they also send you a chocolate waffle cone with each order which can be used as a cup for your coffee. Yum!

Cotton Business Cards

Business cards are one of the most basic necessities for every company. However, traditional business cards are made from normal paper which supports unsustainable logging practices and can be damaging to the environment.

Moo recognises this and provides companies with the option to purchase business cards that are made from 100% recycled t-shirt cut-offs! By purchasing from them, you will receive a business card that is customised to your business, looks great, helps put a dint in damage caused by fast-fashion and does no harm to the environment. A win-win situation!

Provide Real Kitchen Utensils

Due to their non-biodegradable nature, plastic disposable versions of kitchen utensils (e.g. plastic cutlery, plastic plates, single use cups) are a common contributor to a number of environmental issues such as waterway pollution, wildlife endangerment and landfill waste.

By providing those in your office with real kitchen utensils, people will be encouraged to stop using plastic disposable versions. Reusable options also have a longer durability life compared to plastic alternatives, and most offices (including Studio 42) offer this to businesses,  so practically no effort is needed to have a positive impact on the environment!

Indoor Plants

Plants have become a popular trend lately, and with good reason. Other than looking great and livening up your office space, plants also have air purification properties. They have been found to improve air quality by removing toxins and pollutants. They do so through the same process that is used for photosynthesis, by absorbing pollutants through pores on their leaves. This allows the plants to convert light energy into chemical energy and promotes growth.

If you are wanting to incorporate plants into your office but are worried about their upkeep, plant hire companies are a great option. Here at Studio 42, we use Frenchams Plant Hire, which allows us to have beautiful, healthy plants all throughout our venue!

Solar Panels

An increasing number of individuals are opting to install solar panels on their homes in order to save on their energy costs and benefit the environment. Why not extend this to the office? Installing solar panels enables the creation of clean, affordable and renewable energy from the sun, reducing carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. This means a cleaner and healthier environment inside the office and outside!

Studio 42 knows the great environmental benefits solar panels provide as we have a whopping 80 solar panels installed on our inner-city roof! These can be seen in the aerial shot below.

Recycled Printing Paper

With a variety of different individuals in an office space, it is not unusual for the office printer to be used on a daily basis. By using recycled printing paper, you’re able to do your part for the environment, without having to compromise quality. Reflex and Planet Ark are a few of our favourites here at Studio 42, and both offer the crisp bright white paper colour that we’re all after.

If you’re willing to go that one step further, a paperless office is another great option. With the development of new technology over the years, most tasks that were once done on paper are now able to be done online, saving the time and costs associated with manual documents, while also benefiting the environment. There are even companies out there that specialise in delivering you with paper free document management solutions.

Whatever change your office is able to make, be it small or large, is important and greatly benefits the environment. Together, we can provide more eco friendly office spaces!