Environmental protection and sustainability are playing an increasingly important role in our society. In order to preserve the future, we must find ways and means of saving resources and energy. The market for products and services that are environmentally friendly and sustainable is growing. Customers' consumer behavior is also geared towards this. Companies - from start-ups to corporations - are therefore more than ever called upon to pay attention to sustainable production and to find solutions for more sustainable business practices.
We want to enable a more modern economy and make our contribution to a sustainable future for everyone. As a company, we bear responsibility for the sustainable thinking and actions of our employees and the use of environmentally friendly resources. Even small changes in our day-to-day work have a major impact on more environmentally conscious behavior and contribute to a better and more sustainable future, which also offers future generations a chance for a healthier life.
For this reason, we have already introduced measures that are quick and easy to implement. In our new series, we show you tips that we have used to make our nexnet office more sustainable and that you can apply to your office.
Sustainable thinking starts in the office. Many people work in service professions in the office and want ideas and concepts that are progressive and promote recognizable positive changes and mental health.
Tip 1: Separating waste in the office is environmentally friendly and sustainable
Every office produces waste every day, whether it's paper or printer cartridges at work or leftover food and packaging during lunch breaks. But separating waste makes your office more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Therefore, inform your team about waste separation in the office. After all, correct waste disposal will only work if everyone works together. In this way, important raw materials can be better recycled by the waste management system. You and your team are thus actively contributing to more environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices.
We have also come up with a color system for waste separation in our office (at nexnet) and introduced additional labels. Since then, waste separation has become a matter of course for our colleagues. Without much effort, we are making a further contribution to a more sustainable future.
Minimize waste generation
It is almost impossible to avoid producing waste in everyday office life. But employees and employers can work together to reduce daily waste production to a minimum.
A lot of packaging waste is generated, particularly through the consumption of food. As in many other companies, coffee is a particularly popular drink at nexnet, where a lot of packaging is used and ends up in the environment. We therefore pay particular attention to this and use a fully automatic coffee machine. If you also want to save on coffee waste, you should avoid using capsule machines in your office wherever possible. This is because they produce many tons of waste every year, which is a heavy burden on our environment. At nexnet, employees can drink their beverages, such as coffee and tea, from glasses and cups. We do not use plastic cups, which pollute the environment.
In this way, waste generation in the office can be reduced and everyday office life becomes more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Summary of tip 1:
- Different garbage cans for waste separation
- Label waste garbage cans, or use different colored ones
- Inform team about waste separation
- Minimizing waste generation together
- Drinks from glasses and cups instead of plastic cups
- Do without capsule machines for coffee
- Using fully automatic coffee machines
Changes towards sustainability are easier to make if you start in small steps. Waste separation in the office is one such step that can be introduced in any company. Our tip 2 shows you how this can be implemented.
Tip 2: Office plants improve the working atmosphere and productivity
nexnet relies on plants in the office. Many of us like to put a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant on our desk. But how does this contribute to sustainability? Nature has a positive effect on people. The sight of plants reduces stress and improves people's mental health. Not only do we find plants pretty, but we also feel better and happier when we have nature around us.
This factor is also very important for office design. Plants create a more pleasant atmosphere in the office. In addition, various types of plants can contribute to air purification and thus sustainably improve the office climate. At nexnet, we also use a variety of plants in our office design. This creates a pleasant workplace and improves our indoor climate.
In a study by a British research team from Cardiff University, employees who had plants in their office stated that they were more mentally satisfied. The results of the study confirmed this assessment and the research team was able to prove that productivity increased by an average of 15 percent. From this, it can be deduced that the plants made the employees physically, mentally and emotionally better prepared for work.
Other studies have also shown that a green office increases employee concentration and productivity. In the long term, office plants don't cost much, look good and have a positive impact on employees and the indoor climate. Companies should therefore invest in an office design with plants.
Summary of tip 2:
- Nature has a positive effect on people
- Plants in the office improve productivity
- Plants create a pleasant atmosphere
- Plants contribute to air purification
Paper consumption in the office is also an important issue. We explain why in our tip 3.
A lot of paper is often used in everyday office life. This is neither sustainable nor environmentally friendly. That's why we need to rethink this too. But how can paper be saved? In our third tip, we show how paper consumption in the office can be reduced.
Tip 3: Save paper in the office
Working in the office also involves processing emails. Hundreds of emails can accumulate in the digital mailbox every day. Some of them contain important information, which is why they are printed out, filed and archived in many companies. In response to a question from the Green Party, the German Bundestag stated that per capita consumption of "printing, press and office paper" was between 90 and 120 kilograms between 1990 and 2018. A high figure in relation to the planet's dwindling resources. Is that necessary?
The emails and the documents they contain are already digital. It is therefore much better to create a digital folder structure and archive them digitally. This saves a large amount of paper and is more environmentally friendly. Digital document storage is becoming more important, especially when working from home. This way, documents can also be commented on and collaboratively edited by team members.
If documents still need to be printed, they should be printed on recycled paper. Nowadays there are various types of paper available, such as grass or seed paper. These are good alternatives to conventional wood fiber paper. They are more sustainable and environmentally friendly to produce. And in many cases, several pages can be printed on one. This saves additional paper. The front and back of the paper can also be printed.
At nexnet, we rely on the digital alternative. We store documents in digital archives and make them accessible to employees via a clear folder structure. This means that important information can also be accessed from the home office and processed with the teams. We also process, sign and archive contracts digitally. This saves paper, letter costs and time. This allows us to make our day-to-day work more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Summary of tip 3:
- Consider beforehand whether the document really needs to be in paper form
- Use a digital folder structure for editing and archiving documents
- Use recycled paper for printing important documents
- Print on both sides of paper
To create an office that radiates sustainability and environmental awareness and where your employees feel comfortable, you can do even more! In our tip 4, we show you how you can achieve this with the right office equipment.
Tip 4: Design sustainable office equipment
If you are planning to renew the furnishings in your office, then you should not take the old furniture to the waste compactor straight away. Many pieces of office furniture are still in good condition and can be donated. This will help people who are looking for affordable furniture and charities are also happy to receive such donations. What's more, reusing furniture conserves our planet's important resources.
Use sustainable and recyclable furniture
When refurnishing your office, you can then consider whether you want to use recyclable options such as pallet furniture or cardboard furniture. There is now a large market for ecologically produced office equipment. Whether office chairs, desks or shelving systems - you will find a sustainable alternative for the design of your office. Office equipment also includes kitchen and bathroom utensils. You can also find ecologically manufactured products here.
When we moved into the new office, we took over a large part of our previous office equipment as it was still in good condition. And when we bought new furniture, we deliberately opted for sustainable furniture.
Use light and ecological paints and varnishes
You can also get an advantage for your office with the color of the office furniture. This is because light colors maximize the natural effect of light. In this way, you can save electricity for lighting.
You should look for natural varnishes and paints for your office equipment. You can even find ecological options for furniture upholstery. In this way, you protect the environment. Natural furnishings also have a positive effect on the well-being and health of employees, as they do not have to inhale any unpleasant chemical substances, as is often the case with painting work and new furniture in the office.
Summary of tip 4:
- Donate old office furniture instead of throwing it away
- Light furniture for a brighter office
- Modern, recyclable furniture made from pallets or cardboard furniture
- Use natural varnishes and paints
You and your team can already contribute to sustainability on the way to the office. We show you how to do this in our tip 5.
A major sustainability goal of the United Nations is to reduce CO2 emissions into the environment. However, the high number of car and motorcycle drivers is an increasing problem, especially in large cities, as traffic jams are unavoidable due to the high volume of traffic and numerous exhaust fumes pollute the air. In addition to a 45% high accident rate among car drivers in Berlin in 2020, people also suffer from the noise caused by cars and the daily struggle to find a parking space.
A better way to get around in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way is by bike, for example." A bike or e-bike is a more sustainable way to get to the office and is also good for your health.
Tip 5: Cycle to work
Cycling is a good and sustainable alternative to driving a car. Especially if you live in a city and your office is close by. A bike is cheaper than a car and cycling is good for your health.
Companies should encourage their employees to cycle. This is because employees who cycle to work save considerable amounts of CO2 emissions. Cyclists are also more energetic, which has a positive effect on the job. A company bike is therefore a good investment in sustainable and more efficient working. At nexnet, employees can also purchase a company bike through the company. And we support colleagues in this healthy and environmentally friendly way of getting around with a monthly employer subsidy of €7.50 per bike for a period of 36 months.
Summary of tip 5:
Cycling in the city is a good alternative to driving and there are many advantages:
- It saves money
- You are doing something for your health
- You contribute to environmental protection
- Riding a bike is fun
In order to make a successful contribution to sustainability, it is another important step to focus on the circular economy in everyday office life too. In our sixth tip, we explain what it's all about.
Tip 6: Focus on the circular economy in the office too
The circular economy is based on a combination of 3 principles: Reduce, Reuse, Repair. This means that the absolute use of resources is reduced, the product life cycle is extended and the products are reused.
This concept can also be applied in the office. For example, companies can provide their employees with refurbished service cell phones or other refurbished devices. This reduces e-waste in the office and extends the life of electronic devices. Refurbished devices are used electronic products that have been professionally refurbished, repaired and reconditioned to ensure high quality and performance. By using these devices, employees help to reduce the need for new electronic products and minimize the environmental footprint for themselves and the company.
Cooperation with refurbished service providers
In addition, at the end of their useful life, company cell phones can be returned to specialized refurbished service providers. These companies take the devices back, refurbish them and put them back on sale. In this way, the life cycle of the products is extended once again and resources are used efficiently.
We at nexnet also use refurbished company cell phones for our employees. More about the benefits for nexnet employees.
Summary of tip 6
- Repair, refurbish and reuse used devices
- Reduce expenditure on new purchases of electronic devices
- Cooperation with refurbished service providers
- Using resources efficiently
It is not only the circular economy that can help to make everyday office life more sustainable. Energy supply can also be made more environmentally friendly using sustainable methods. In our tip 7, we explain what PV systems and heat pumps have to do with this.
Tip 7: Equip office buildings with PV systems on roofs and heat pumps
By installing photovoltaic systems (PV systems) and heat pumps, office buildings can contribute to environmental protection and sustainability.
For companies that own an office building, switching to renewable energy can be a great advantage. This is because it underlines the company's commitment to the fight against climate change. PV systems are used to generate clean, sustainable energy from sunlight on the roofs of company buildings. This energy is not only used for the company's own consumption, but is also fed into the public power grid, which helps to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
The grasblau office building, where we at nexnet have our office, also has PV systems installed on the roof.
Optimum heat and cold regulation of the office building using heat pumps
In addition, a company can invest in heat pumps for office buildings to optimize its heating and cooling systems. Heat pumps use natural heat from the ambient air, groundwater or the earth to heat or cool buildings. Compared to conventional heating systems, heat pumps significantly reduce energy consumption and therefore help to reduce CO2 emissions.
Summary Tip 7
- Installing PV systems on the roof
- Sustainable energy from sunlight
- Heat pumps for office buildings
- Improved heat and cold regulation
If you are unable to install PV systems or heat pumps, there is another alternative to supply your office more sustainably, namely green electricity. We explain what this means in our tip 8.
Tip 8: Supply the office with green electricity
Green electricity, which is generated from renewable energy sources such as sun, wind and water, offers various advantages for companies. It is therefore an important step to supply the office with green electricity.
One advantage is that the use of green electricity actively contributes to protecting the environment, as it reduces the CO2 footprint. Another advantage is that the company shows its willingness to innovate when it relies on renewable energies, which is viewed positively by customers. And investing in clean technologies can have a positive impact on competitiveness in the long term.
The nexnet office in the grasblau building is supplied with 100% green electricity. With this measure, we want to make a further contribution to becoming more sustainable.
Summary Tip 8
- Energy supply with green electricity
- Positive evaluation from customers and employees
- Competitive advantage
Awareness of sustainability and environmental protection should not be limited to the office alone. If you want your employees to get involved in the topic, you should support them in the area of CO2-neutral mobility. We explain how to do this in our tip 9.
Tip 9: CO2-neutral mobility for employees
To help employees get to the office more sustainably, companies can implement a range of measures to promote CO2-neutral transportation.
One key initiative is the introduction of a job ticket for all employees. This enables employees to use public transport such as buses, trains and streetcars to get to work. Using public transport not only reduces CO2 emissions, but also relieves traffic congestion and improves the parking situation.
Public transportation is well developed in most large cities and offers many ways to get from A to B quickly. A monthly pass is cheaper than gasoline, car insurance and taxes. And traveling by public transport is more environmentally friendly. nexnet supports employees by subsidizing tickets for public transport in Berlin and for the Deutschlandticket.
We at nexnet offer our employees such a job ticket.
In addition, some companies can promote electric mobility among employees by providing free charging facilities for electric cars. Such a service is not only intended to promote the use of environmentally friendly cars, but also to expand the infrastructure for electric vehicles and reduce employees' range anxiety.
Alternative if you don't have an electric car
Another idea for a more sustainable commute is to form a carpool. If your colleagues live nearby, then sharing the journey is better in many ways. For example, the cost of fuel can be shared and you can also have a good conversation on the journey.
Summary of tip 9
- Job ticket for employees
- Charging options for electric cars
- Form carpools
Measures like these contribute to a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Our tenth tip has a further positive effect on the lives of people and animals.
Tip 10: Expand insect-friendly plant areas in the office building
In cities in particular, it is important to provide areas for the cultivation of insect-friendly plants wherever possible. Office buildings and other company premises can thus become a refuge for endangered insect species.
The expansion of green spaces not only promotes biodiversity, but also improves the health of the ecosystem. Insects play a crucial role in pollinating plants and regulating pests. By creating a habitat that is suitable for insects, companies are helping to preserve biodiversity and strengthen the balance of nature.
Alternative to insect-friendly green spaces
The decision to create insect-friendly green spaces around the office building is of course not feasible for every office. But even small aids such as flower boxes on balconies, insect hotels or green spaces on the roof or around the office building can make a contribution to sustainability and environmental protection.
grasblau is committed to a sustainable green design for the office building, from which we at nexnet also benefit. After all, green spaces have a long-term positive effect on people and animals.
All nexnet employees also received a portable insect hotel. This can be placed on balconies, flower boxes and in gardens and helps numerous insects. A small contribution that has a positive impact on the lives of animals and people.
Summary Tip 10
- Create an insect-friendly green space
- Installing flower boxes on the balcony
- Hanging up a nesting aid and insect hotel
