Office & Factory Floor

Whether you break for a long or short period over Christmas, consider these efficiencies to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint over the festive season:

• Power down your PCs/lap-tops nightly. Assign a green champion to rally everyone to do this and spot check around the office to name and shame those who don't. Make sure this is adhered to before you break for Christmas, and encourage it again in 2026!
• Ensure the printers go into standby mode when not in use and power down at close of business every evening.
• On the factory floor, if you use compressed air, check for air leaks in December to ensure you're not over using. Sub meter any high energy use machines and power them down nightly or when not in use. Consider timers if they take time to warm up before use.
• If you're closing for more than a few days, turn off the heating/cooling if you can across offices and factory floor.   

Packaging

Packaging creates a huge amount of waste during Christmas. Make a conscious effort to reduce packaging in all aspects of your business and personal life to reduce your environmental footprint:

• Ditch the Plastic: Eliminate single-use plastic packaging in the office. If ordering food, use the cutlery from the canteen, the ketchup from the fridge and the plates from the kitchen. Make sure you tell your food provider. If necessary opt for recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials.
• Wrapping: Firstly consider if it needs wrapping at all. Re-use what you already have, decorating newspapers & a large roll of recycled brown paper can be a good alternative to using a less recyclable wrapping paper.
• Minimalist Design: Use appropriately sized packaging for supply of goods to reduce material waste and shipping volume.
• Re-use: Encourage customers to reuse gift bags, boxes and paper or simply using durable, high-quality materials they'll want to keep and give a second life.

Gifting and Products

Becoming a more sustainable business is really about changing the way you think about consumption. It involves shifting from a mindset of single-use and convenience towards one that values longevity, durability, and repairability. Once you get into this mindset, you'll begin to love your well used items and want them to last forever.

When gifting to staff, educating your staff on gifting at home or if you're in the retail industry, businesses can lead by offering sustainable product options:

• Green Gifts: Offer a selection of environmentally friendly products, such as items made from recycled materials, locally produced goods, or products with a low carbon footprint.
• Gifting experiences: Research overwhelmingly shows experiences bring more lasting happiness than possessions. Gift your loved ones lunch out or spa day with you or donate to an environmental charity of the their choice.
• Source Ethically: If you do purchase as part of your business, ensure your supply chain is transparent and ethical. Look for fair-trade certifications and work with suppliers who share your commitment to sustainability.

Engagement

Engage employees, customers and suppliers to get your message out.

• Ensure they understand the basics of a sustainable business - waste, energy and resource use by giving a basic Sustainabilty 101 training.

• Food waste is the biggest emitter of methane, which is a gas 25 times more warming than carbon dioxide so if you do anything right do your food waste at home and in work. Many businesses do waste segregation in their offices and factories only to combine it all again before collection! Check you're not one of these!
• Educate and Involve: Encourage employees to share their ideas for a greener workplace at Christmas. Lead by example and educate staff on recycling protocols and energy-saving measures.
• Tell everyone about it: Share your sustainable practices with your network through your website and social media. This will help spread the message on sustainbility and gain you long term brand loyalty.