5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Sustainability When You Work from Home

As the world grows more digitised, our understanding of the internet's impact on the planet is coming into focus.

Every email we send, every photo we upload, and every 'on camera' call contributes to our digital carbon footprint.

For remote workers, these actions form the bulk of our professional lives.

So, how do we minimise our impact and move towards a more sustainable way of working?

Here are FIVE easy things you can do right now...

Mindful eating

Planning your meals ahead of time can help to minimise food waste. Try to purchase only what you need for your planned meals and aim to use up leftovers.

You can also try composting organic waste to nourish your garden or house plants.

Why does this matter? Well, unless you compost, most wasted food ends up in landfills.

Once there, it decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas with 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.

Energy-efficient office equipment

Use energy-efficient devices and appliances. Look for the Energy Star label when purchasing office equipment.

Laptops are usually more energy-efficient than desktop computers. LED or CFL light bulbs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Turn off and unplug

Turn off your computer and unplug electronics when not in use. Even in sleep mode or when turned off, electronics can draw power if they remain plugged in.

A power strip or smart plugs can simplify the process of unplugging multiple devices.

Understand the environmental impact of digital activity

Our digital actions might seem intangible, but they have a very real impact on the environment.

Data centres, the physical home of 'the cloud', consume a vast amount of energy to power and cool their servers.

Digital technologies' collective energy usage surpasses that of the entire aviation industry.

This has severe implications for climate change, highlighting the urgency of reducing our digital carbon footprint.

Build power through movements

As individuals, our actions matter. But it's through collective action that we can drive substantial change.

Sharing your sustainability journey with others can help raise awareness of simple solutions and encourage positive behaviour change.

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Carbon Literacy® is a UN 'Top 100' Action Programme. Trusted by brands, investors and teams around the world.

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