Living and working in Colorful Colorado, business owners and office managers are no strangers to the idea of an environmentally sustainable break room. In fact, from paper recycling to energy-efficient equipment and appliances to composting coffee grounds, Colorado Springs businesses are dedicated to preserving the planet.
If you still need to adopt the concept of an environmentally sustainable break room, we have good news for you. With a few simple changes and upgrades, we can all reduce waste, conserve energy, and positively contribute to our planet’s health. This article will provide seven practical tips that are easy to implement.
Reduce Energy Consumption
Southern Colorado businesses can promote an environmentally sustainable break room by opting for energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and equipment. Switching to LED lighting can reduce energy consumption and provides better illumination.
Additionally, investing in Energy Star-rated appliances and equipment, such as refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee ma/chines, can help lower energy usage. Implementing automatic sensors or timers for lighting and appliances can further enhance energy efficiency, ensuring that power is only on when necessary.
By upgrading to energy-efficient solutions, Front Range businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy costs in the long run.
Introduce Plants for a More Environmentally Sustainable Break Room
Introducing plants into the workplace, in general, and particularly in the break room, can enhance sustainability while promoting a healthier work environment.
Plants have a positive effect on indoor air quality by reducing pollutants and contribute to a calming and stress-reducing atmosphere. In a busy office, consider incorporating low-maintenance, air-purifying plants, such as spider plants, pothos, and peace lilies, to foster a greener and more environmentally sustainable break room without a lot of upkeep.
Including plants in the break room decor can inspire a connection with nature and encourage employees’ sense of environmental responsibility, aligning with the company’s sustainability goals.
Embrace Reusable Over Disposable If Possible
One of the easiest ways to create an environmentally sustainable break room is to use reusable coffee cups, mugs, washable dishes, and utensils, which can significantly minimize the environmental impact of single-use items.
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While embracing reusable crockery is ideal, this is not always feasible for some Colorado businesses. For instance, businesses with waiting rooms or serving the public may need disposable options for practical or health-related reasons.
However, these companies can still promote sustainable practices. Eco-friendly options, such as biodegradable or compostable paper products, reduce overall waste output, contributing to a more sustainable and eco-conscious workplace culture.
Sustainable Coffee and Tea Solutions
Colorado businesses can enhance an environmentally sustainable break room by adopting eco-friendly coffee and tea solutions. Businesses can look for certifications like Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, or UTZ when selecting coffee, tea and other break room supplies.
How does this choice promote sustainability? These specialty coffee producers often prioritize environmental practices, such as encouraging biodiversity, using natural pest control, and implementing circular water and waste management systems.
These sustainable practices typically improve the taste of the products —that is a win-win, in our opinion!
Additionally, offering plant-based milk alternatives such as oat, almond, and soy-based creamers and sweeteners can contribute to a more environmentally conscious and overall healthier break room culture.
Repurposing Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are not a waste product in an environmentally sustainable break room. Instead, they are repurposed in various ways. Here are some creative ideas:
- Garden Fertilizer: Coffee grounds can be used as a natural fertilizer for those plants mentioned above, especially for acid-loving plants like roses, azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries. Furthermore, coffee grounds add organic material to the soil, improve drainage, and help aerate the soil, promoting healthier plant growth.
- Compost Addition: Adding coffee grounds to a compost pile can enhance its nutrient content. The grounds are rich in nitrogen, which speeds up the composting process and helps create nutrient-rich compost for gardening and landscaping.
- Odor Neutralizer: Used coffee grounds can be placed in a bowl or wrapped in a sachet to absorb and neutralize odors in refrigerators, freezers, or other areas where unwanted smells can occur.
- Cleaning Scrub: The abrasive texture of coffee grounds makes them practical for scrubbing and cleaning surfaces, such as cookware, sinks, and countertops. They can help remove stubborn stains and grease, adding a pleasant coffee aroma.
- Insect Repellent: Sprinkling coffee grounds around outdoor areas or garden beds can help deter pests like ants, snails, and slugs, acting as a natural barrier to protect plants.
With the recent concern over forever chemicals in the news, any use and re-use of natural compounds reduces the potential for contamination of our drinking water and air quality and is well worth exploring.
Related: Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water – Should You Be Concerned?
Make Recycling Part of Your Company Culture
Another way Colorado Springs business owners and office managers can also create an environmentally sustainable break room is by placing clearly labeled recycling bins for paper, plastic, glass, and metal waste.
By thus encouraging employees to separate and dispose of recyclable materials properly and providing educational resources on recycling practices, you encourage a sense of pride and participation in sustainable practices. You showcase to your current and future employees your company’s commitment to sustainability, aligning with the values of eco-conscious individuals, enhancing your company’s reputation and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient community.
Partner With Colorado Pure All Your Environmentally Sustainable Break Room Needs
Partnering with Colorado Pure makes creating an environmentally sustainable break room easy. Our dedication to Colorado’s great outdoors starts with our office coffee delivery services.
Because Colorado Pure is a family-owned Colorado Springs company, we know how vital it is to support not only the environment but also our local economy. We employ local drivers on our convenient and reliable delivery routes, and all our trucks run on clean diesel, which ensures a smaller carbon footprint.
But our dedication to beautiful Southern Colorado does not stop there. We have everything you need to create an eco-friendly workplace, including a wide range of state-of-the-art and energy-efficient coffee machines, ice dispensers, purified water dispensers, air purification systems, and other break room solutions.
Contact us today for a free break room consultation, and let us help you create a sustainable and eco-friendly workplace.
