How Coworking Spaces Are Tackling Waste
Going green’s the new trend for coworking spaces. | Photo by Samule Sun on Unsplash
Coworking spaces are the latest trend in the business universe because they give users the opportunity to enjoy a flexible work environment. The coworking industry has been growing rapidly in the last few years, so now you can choose between different sorts of premises ranging from conventional to sophisticated.
But as the market continues to evolve, coworking spaces are adding new features in order to attract more freelancers and other professionals in search of a cozy office. This is how we got to environmentally friendly coworking spaces. It’s a growing trend and some searchers even consider it an important factor when determining the quality of a coworking space.
What makes it such a game-changing feature?
Practical Ways to Manage Waste In Coworking Spaces
Did you know that the entire world produced more than 8 billion metric tons of plastic? It is only one aspect of the biggest environmental problems, but there is a whole bunch of other issues that jeopardize air and water quality and cause climate changes, deforestation, soil degradation, and many more.
Shane Jones, the environment blogger at Bestessaytips and Essayshark, says pollution is not the kind of problem anyone can solve single-handedly: “It takes a joint effort of entire communities to minimize the effects of pollution, which is why our professional essay writers tend to work in environmentally conscious coworking spaces.”
Now, the real question is how coworking spaces can manage waste more effectively and contribute to a higher goal. Although it may seem blurry, the truth is there are many different ways to do it.
Avoiding single-use plastic
The first solution is rather obvious as coworking facilities tend to avoid single-use plastic (or any kind of plastic for that matter). Most people don’t think about it, but plastic stuff is everywhere around us – from plastic cups, bottles, and bags all the way to dishes and packages.
Coworking communities use other alternatives such as glass products: mugs, bowls, containers, and so on. People in the space are challenged to use one cup call day to control the use of the dishwasher. People can forsake the plastic forks or utensils when they get take out because the space will provide metal ones.
Not using paper
Eco-friendly freelancers are used to replacing good old “pen and paper” technique with digital means of communication and note-taking. After all, the year is 2019 and there is no need to create additional waste when you can simply use electronic devices, tools, and apps.
We understand that it’s sometimes necessary to use paper for actions such as invoicing, but 90% of paper waste can be prevented. Sustainable coworking spaces do it by limiting printer usage and encouraging digital communication. If paper is not absolutely critical to the success of someone’s business, it can be replaced quite quickly.
Sorting waste properly
Waste management is not exactly rocket science, but it does require all due attention. Green coworking offices focus on waste sorting in a way that guarantees quick and easy recycling. They often put waste containers which are bright, highly noticeable, clearly labelled, and easy to use.
There are lots of waste categories to consider here, but most coworking communities concentrate on the most common types: paper, plastic, electrical equipment, and biodegradable waste. This can change depending on the nature of a coworking environment.
Buying second-hand furniture
A surprisingly large percentage of people don’t understand that reusing old products is yet another way to recycle. Modern coworking spaces, however, know it very well and so they choose to buy second-hand furniture instead of brand new products.
Don’t think this makes eco-friendly coworking offices less comfortable or beautiful. On the contrary, second-hand furniture often gives these premises a delicate notion of traditional and vintage styles, so coworking places end up looking much more attractive and user-friendly than hyper-modern plastic rooms and offices.
Smart lighting
Coworking spaces with environmentally friendly policies also pay attention to another important issue. Namely, they want to reduce energy waste by introducing smart lighting solutions to their facilities. If you are not familiar with smart technologies, let’s just say they represent intelligent devices that can automatically detect changes in the nearby environment.
In the case of smart lighting, it means that light bulbs have sensors which identify movement and adjust lighting accordingly. What’s the logic behind this system?
Instead of turning on the lights in the entire building or floor, coworking spaces can now do it more cleverly. Light bulbs switch off when no one’s around, which helps coworking communities to minimize energy consumption. It’s a very elegant way to reduce energy waste while shrinking electricity bills.
Treating the food more carefully
Another way to tackle waste is to treat food and beverages more carefully. For instance, coworking spaces analyze food consumption among clients and determine which types of snacks can be eliminated from the menu.
Graham Bell, a healthcare expert at writing help, says there is also the option of adapting portions: “Why would you serve more than coworkers can actually eat? The solution is to resize portions and allow people to return and ask for more. Besides that, food surplus is not thrown away but rather redirected to charities or similar organizations.”
Raising awareness about environmental issues
This is the last eco-friendly tactic in coworking spaces, but it is certainly not the least significant. There are ways to keep coworkers informed about environmental issues and get them acquainted with the green strategy.
It’s a change that requires a fair share of time for full implementation, but coworking groups are likely to embrace it faster than other professionals. Everyone should know how to treat waste, how to reduce it, and how to sort it. It is already a good beginning, while the rest of the process should run more or less smoothly.
Going Green
Waste management is probably not the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about coworking spaces, but it is a significant concept that keeps getting more influential. After all, pollution is the enemy of every living creature and we all need to do whatever we can to minimize its effects.
Modern coworking spaces are tackling waste issues and contributing to environmentally friendly goals. Do you think it’s a good way to go and would you prefer working in a green environment? Share your thoughts with us in comments – we will be glad to discuss this topic even further!
Tiffany Harper is a talented writer from New York, an extremely active woman, and a real leader. She began her career as a journalist and later proceeded it as an educational writer and editor. Now she works as the main consultant and editor with best paper writing services and thesis writing service, mostly in the technology digital marketing area. Please do not hesitate to contact her on Twitter.