How to design a sustainable office that works for you

When you’re taking the first tentative steps towards a sustainable office, an eco-friendly office design needs to be tailored to you and your operations. In this article, we’ll be exploring how to achieve an office space that supports performance, motivation and the comfort of employees, while still meeting your company’s sustainability goals. 

Why pursue sustainable office design? 

Sustainability is a big buzzword at the moment – and for good reason. 

With the ecological crisis developing year by year, sustainable practices are being heralded as a futureproof way to live and work. Many clients and applicants are now actively seeking to join and work with companies that have solid green credentials. 

Not only that, but sustainable office design also assists with meeting the WELL Building Standard ™, helping to support a happy, healthy and high-performing workforce. 

Let’s look at some of these advantages in more detail. 

The benefits of sustainable office design

Sustainable office design is beneficial on many levels: 

• As sustainability becomes an increasingly important trait in the working world, it enables you to futureproof your office to meet these global concerns. 
• Taking a green approach to design means you do your bit for the environment while also inspiring your workforce to do the same. 
• Many design elements that encourage sustainability can also enhance air and light quality, as well as meeting the aesthetic and ergonomic standards expected of a comfortable office, as laid out in WELL Building Standard ™. This means that sustainable design can also help you meet wellness and productivity targets, too. 
• Components such as energy-efficient lighting and insulation can also contribute to lower office running costs, achieving better sustainability along with lower monetary outgoings. 
• Sustainable design is the perfect balance between serving the present needs of your workforce without compromising the future of the planet. This ethos is not only admirable, but it’s also attractive to future applicants and potential customers. 

But it’s one thing aspiring to sustainable design and it’s another thing making it happen. And that’s where bespoke office fit-out plays its vital part. 

How to design a sustainable office that works for you 

Achieving a workspace that is considerate to the environment, and to staff, requires the services of a professional turnkey fit-out company, such as Arc Business Interiors. 

Here are just a few ways that we help you to design a sustainable office: 

• As a concept-to-completion office design, fit-out and refurbishment specialist, we can ensure that every design detail is customised to your goals. Every company’s objectives will be different, and that’s where our highly adaptable service comes in. Thanks to our process of close collaboration with clients, along with 2D and 3D mapping, we make sure that you can visualise and realise your goals right from the planning stage. 
• Selecting recycled and recyclable materials for carpets, furniture and decoration is a superb way to futureproof your office and reduce your impact on the environment. As part of this we carefully select materials and ensure that as little waste is diverted to landfill as possible.  
• We have extensive industry links here at Arc, and so can assist with procuring materials and technology from green companies to ensure your business consumption chain is as eco-friendly as it can be. 
• Incorporating elements of biophilic design, such as indoor plants, is not only in keeping with an eco-centric ethos, it can also improve ventilation, air quality and mood for employees. 
• Energy-efficient lighting is another element that not only reduces resources used, but can also cut back on energy costs, a big concern for many of us.
• Insulation and natural ventilation are also other ways of reducing energy usage, supporting sustainability and meeting budgetary goals. 
• Finally, a sustainable office is only successful if the workplace culture supports it. So transforming the space into something that will inspire people and facilitate change is something that expert design can play a really key part in. This can mean anything from ensuring that your space can support recycling initiatives, to integrating natural and recyclable materials for an eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing appearance. 

In summary, it doesn’t matter if you’re taking small steps or big leaps, we’re just happy to support you on the journey towards sustainability. 

Here at Arc Business Interiors, we are a concept-to-completion office fit-out company that creates bespoke workplaces that are designed around you. Starting with 2D and 3D concepts all the way to the final fit out, we’re dedicated to realising your sustainable vision. Please get in touch to discuss your ideas with our advisors.