The traditional office is not known for its environmental stewardship. However, as the way we work changes, we find ourselves presented with an opportunity to ensure that the next workspace model - whatever that may look like - does a better job than its predecessor.
Here at Patch, we're excited to be one of those intent on defining this new model. We're building a new category of neighbourhood work club and cultural venue and as we do so, we're thinking carefully about how this can be something positive for both people and the planet.
Whilst we're a long way from having all the answers, we feel confident that spaces like Patch can play a vital role in environmental sustainability. A big part of this comes down to resource sharing - from water, paper and electricity to knowledge itself - and with this mindset, we've compiled a list of ideas for those embarking on a similar journey. We hope it proves useful.
Make ‘green’ commuting easy
We believe that working near home is the future.
In bringing high quality workspaces within walking and cycling distance, we change the definition of 'the commute'. With this comes huge health and environmental benefits, which workspaces can encourage further by fitting bike racks, promoting a culture of carpooling amongst members, or even installing electric car charging points.
Consider light and space
Natural daylight is not only a free renewable resource but also has well-documented health benefits, so invite it in at every opportunity with large windows, an open plan layout, and glass partitions when additional privacy is needed.
Where artificial light is a must, opt for energy-efficient LED bulbs which use 80% less energy than halogen bulbs and last up to five times longer, or install motion timers to ensure that lights aren’t left on when areas are not in use.
Smart power strips and plug-in timers
'Vampire power' is the energy drained when devices are plugged in and absorbing power but not actively being used.
Along with encouraging people to switch off devices at the source before they leave, workspaces can reduce vampire power by installing smart power strips and plug-in timers. Smart power strips assess electricity usage and automatically switch off power to devices they detect to be in standby mode, such as printers or second screens, whilst plug-in timers allow you to shut down power to sockets from your mobile phone. This can be a useful addition to spaces that operate with specific opening hours, allowing you to fully power down whole sections or even floors of a building outside of working hours.
Green cleaning products
Many conventional cleaning products biodegrade slowly or into more toxic and bio-accumulative chemicals that pollute waterways, whilst certain chemicals can also irritate skin, eyes, or throats.
Eco-friendly cleaning products do not contain any of these chemicals, instead relying on all natural formulas to deliver equally-as-effective results. You can navigate the vast (and often vague) world of product marketing by looking out for key words and phrases, such as biodegradable, non-toxic, 100% natural, and free from phosphates, dyes, hypochlorite, and chlorine, whilst packaging should be made from recycled and recyclable materials. You can also look out for trustworthy eco-labels such as EU EcoLabel or EcoCert.
Go paperless
A paperless working environment seeks to eliminate reliance on physical documents. Whilst a totally paper-free approach may not be achievable in every workspace, you can work to at least reduce usage with regular reminders of the advantages of Cloud services, encouraging double-sided printing, and stocking printers with recycled paper
Create space for plants
The benefit of a workspace filled with plants goes beyond aesthetics. Certain studies have also linked them to improved air quality and health benefits for workers, due to their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and filter toxins as they photosynthesise.
On top of that, they help to reduce noise levels by absorbing sound waves rather than reflecting them, and have been linked to increased productivity, according to a study by Exeter University.
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Reduce water usage
Keep water usage to a minimum by installing water-efficient taps with an aerator or flow restrictor, and low-flow toilets. Mixer taps such as a Billi tap can also help save water by allowing you to quickly reach a desired temperature, and are surprisingly energy-efficient, using only 898 W/per hour compared to a kettle’s 3500 W/per hour.
Dishwashers are another useful addition to a space, with even the least water-efficient dishwasher still only using half the amount of water compared to washing by hand, according to a study by Which.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Swap out single-use products like paper towels and plastic cutlery for hand-dryers and reusable utensils, and wherever possible, look for refillable products like coffee, teabags, sugar and snacks.
Make recycling easy by placing recycling bins in visible locations with clear messaging. Whilst the majority of people want to play their part in reducing their environmental impact, confusion over how to do this effectively can sometimes lead to inadvertent contamination.
Commit to audits and certifications
Certifications such as B Corp are growing in popularity as businesses look to improve their social and environmental performance.
Committing to these globally-recognised certifications and audits demands a thorough analysis of all aspects of your ESG performance, from energy usage and supply chain practices to employee benefits and charitable giving. Whilst it can be a long process, as we're discovering here at Patch, it's proven invaluable in exposing blindspot that might otherwise have been overlooked.
Raise awareness and build a network
One of the most valuable tools for creating an environmentally-conscious workspace is simply to talk about it, whether in newsletters and social media posts or seminars and workshops.
As public buildings in the UK dwindle, co-working spaces are becoming important neutral spaces for individuals and businesses to meet, explore, and debate ideas. By creating a culture of open conversation and shared learning around sustainability-related topics, we play a role in bringing together new networks intent on solving a common goal, as well as generating interest from other users of the space through exposure to these conversations.
Here at Patch, we're committed to incorporating as many of the above into our spaces as possible. In our first site in Chelmsford, we've installed bike racks, use LED-lamps and motion timers, source refillable products and only stock reusable cutlery and crockery. The space is home to plants, dishwashers, Billi taps and numerous recycling bins, all cleaned with eco-friendly products, and we're looking into introducing smart power strips in the new year.
We're also in the process of applying to become a B Corporation, as well as three months into 'Patch Seasons', a six-month cultural programme dedicated to exploring how we can live and work more sustainably. Working with both new and familiar networks to deliver this, we've learnt a huge amount and have been so pleased to see the community it has brought together.
As we grow from one to several sites in 2023, we look forward to seeing how we can improve upon our current offering. If you have ideas, please let us know! Conversation and collaboration are at the core of what we're building, and we're aware of how much we still have to learn when it comes to environmental stewardship.
We hope to work together with all those in the industry and users of our space to build a greener future of work!