Manager Tips: Boost Your Team’s Commitment to Sustainability

Keeping our planet healthy takes all of us working together. By encouraging employees to think globally and act locally, we can take small steps toward big change.

Here are some positive ways you can boost your team’s commitment to sustainability.

1. Bring plants into your office — whether at home or onsite. All plants absorb carbon dioxide, so the more plants we grow, the more carbon dioxide is absorbed.
2. Ditch the disposables and switch to reusable. Encourage team members working onsite to bring their own mugs, bowls, water bottles and utensils. Set a good example by packing your lunch in containers that can be rinsed and reused.
3. Challenge your team to avoid printing. If you must print, make sure it’s double-sided to reduce the amount of paper you’re using and the carbon dioxide that goes into paper production.
4. Remind employees to turn their computers to sleep mode at the end of the day to conserve energy. Even better, set your computer to automatically enter a power-saving mode after a short amount of idle time.
5. Encourage employees to use cleaner forms of transportation, like walking or biking, to cut down on carbon emissions. Use public transportation or carpool when going longer distances.
6. Start an office composting program and compost coffee grounds and other food waste. A recent study found that composting organic waste can reduce more than 50% of greenhouse gas emissions. Compost also acts as a sponge to soak up emissions currently in the atmosphere and limit their impact on the environment.
7. Recognize someone on your team through the Kudos program for their sustainability efforts at the office or at home. To access Kudos, visit WellBeingAtAECOM.com and click on the Global Benefits menu at the top of your screen.