Implementing Sustainable Practices in the Workplace for a Greener Future (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: What is sustainability? According to UCLA, sustainability is the integration of environmental health, social equity, and economic vitality. The overall goal of sustainability is meeting present-day needs while not depleting future resources. Here are eight sustainable practices you can lead in the workplace. Save energy by turning off lights when not in use. You can utilize motion-detecting sensors to turn lights on when needed, provide signage for employees to turn off lights when not in use, or have timed lights for office hours. If the business provides promotional materials or swag to vendors and employees, opt for recyclable tote bags or stainless steel tumblers with reusable straws. If your office is in a city, encourage public transportation or bikes for those that live nearby with secure places to place their bikes. Encourage more paperless opportunities. Instead of printing off agendas for meetings, try the documents with all attendees through email. Create volunteer opportunities for employees to go green. Various environmental causes need volunteers, including beach cleanups or restoration of local parks. Encourage a waste management vendor to create a recycling program for everyone at work to use. Eliminate all non-recyclable dishware, including coffee cups, and install an energy-efficient dishwasher. Provide eco-friendly snacks like apples, bananas, and oranges, rather than plastic-packaged bags of processed snacks. If harmful non-sustainable practices are in use, it's more than likely that we will all run out of sources like fossil fuels, damage the ecosystem for current species, and create irreparable damage to the atmosphere. While donating to environmental causes is beneficial and much appreciated, we must also adopt these practices to make a difference in our future. It's not too late to make changes for your future and future generations.