The corporate world is becoming more aware of its impact on the environment and many businesses are making a significant effort to become more sustainable. Office design is a great opportunity to review and reduce your business’ carbon footprint - particularly within the all-important washroom areas.
An essential part of the office building, washrooms are often overlooked when it comes to sustainability, however, they use almost all the earth’s key resources - namely water (for handwashing and toilet facilities), trees (for toilet roll and hand drying) and electricity (harnessed from natural sources).
Although redesigning your office washroom to become more eco-friendly may seem like a daunting task, there are plenty of simple things you can do to make your office washroom more sustainable and limit the use of those important natural resources.
Here are our top tips to get you started.
1. Reducing water wastage
One way to make your office washroom more environmentally friendly is to be cautious of your water usage - specifically, making a conscious effort to reduce water wastage.
Replacing manual washroom taps is a great place to start. Sensor-activated taps (otherwise known as self-closing taps) only dispense water once movement is detected and for a short amount of time. This eliminates the risk of accidental flooding or taps being left on for too long.
As well as reducing water wastage, automatic taps are also more hygienic. Their zero-touch design means fewer germs and bacteria will be spread around the office - creating a happier, healthier workplace. Sensor-activation technology can also be used for toilet flushes, hand dryers and soap dispensers.
Another way to reduce water wastage in the washroom is to install low-volume toilet cisterns. Low volume toilet cisterns hold and flush less water than conventional toilets - again, saving both money and water in the long run.
2. Eco-friendly lighting
Intelligent lighting is another option for those concerned about the environmental impact of their washroom.
When light bulbs are performing poorly, they run the risk of emitting more energy through unintentional heat loss, as opposed to light. Investing in motion-activated lights is a smart, sustainable move - washroom users no longer need to switch lights on and off, meaning less electricity is wasted. The lights will only turn on once somebody enters the room. They take the responsibility away from the user, reducing both office electricity bills and their impact on the environment.
If you’re keen to go one step further, utilising natural light as much as possible in your washroom is another way to improve office sustainability. A combination of natural light and eco-friendly lighting will create a well-lit and eco-friendly washroom that brightens up your employee’s experience and does its part to save the planet at the same time.
3. Using recycled products
When it comes to protecting the environment, reusing, and recycling where possible is a must. Making small, simple changes can make a huge difference - for example, using recycled toilet paper. Recycled toilet paper is made from 100% recycled paper and is usually manufactured within the UK to reduce carbon emissions. It’s often less expensive than traditional toilet rolls and modern recycling and manufacturing methods are now able to create the same quality product as non-recycled paper. It’s a great environmentally friendly alternative to standard toilet paper and an easy switch.
4. Using sustainably sourced building materials
Whether you’re completely renovating your office or simply redecorating, it can be a great opportunity to make more eco-conscious design decisions. It’s important to consider how sustainable your chosen washroom materials are - from how they’re sourced to how long they’re designed to last.
At Maxwood Washrooms, we offer a range of eco-friendly washroom accessories and materials and are always striving for sustainability. We only source wood-based materials from suppliers who are accredited by The Forest Stewardship Council - an international non-profit organisation that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.
Waste may be an inevitable by-product of most manufacture and installation; however, we make an active effort to recycle during all phases of the process. Many of the materials that we offer, that can be used within a washroom setting, can be recycled or repurposed. We ensure all packaging used in the delivery and transportation of our products is returned to our plant and recycled too.
Opting to use recyclable or sustainably sourced materials and products in your office washroom is a fantastic step to creating an environmentally conscious workplace that your employees will love. We all have a responsibility to protect the environment; both from home and at work and believe that by making smart eco-friendly decisions we can have a great impact on the health of the planet.
If you’re interested in learning more about creating a sustainable, eco-friendly office washroom, contact us. We’re available via email at inspired@maxwoodwashrooms.com, or alternatively, give us a call at 020 3657 7615.