Green transition: from words to action in the workplace
What sustainability means in practice for employees
Sustainability means that we meet today's needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs. On a workplace it is about using energy materials and resources wisely — without compromising the quality of the work.
§Three bottom lines
Sustainability is often described in terms of three considerations that must be balanced: environmental social and economic. A solution is only truly sustainable if it works on all three — it must not harm the environment people or the company's long-term survival.
- 01Environmentally: less pollution, lower energy consumption, less waste
- 02Social: good working conditions, safety and responsible suppliers
- 03Economic: solutions that can pay off and last in the long run
§Climate and environment are not the same
Climate is mainly about emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 that affect global warming. Environment is broader and includes, for example, air and water pollution, chemicals, nature and biodiversity. An action can be good for one and less good for another, so it is important to look at the whole picture.
§What can each individual do?
- 01Sort waste correctly so materials can be recycled
- 02Turn off machines, lights and equipment not in use
- 03Avoid material waste through careful planning.
- 04Suggest more resource-efficient work methods
- 05Choose routes and transport that save fuel where possible
§Waste hierarchy
A good memory aid for handling materials and waste is the waste hierarchy which prioritizes action: first to prevent waste then to reuse then to recycle and only lastly to burn or dispose of. The higher up in the hierarchy you act the better for resources.
Green transition is not just a matter of technology and large investments. Daily behaviour and employee suggestions play a big role because they know the concrete workflows where resources are really used.