Examples of eco-support activity
Promoting green actions at the workplace is possible through small, daily choices.
Eco-actions at a workplace
The key objective of eco-support activity is to increase environmentally friendly actions and attitudes in the day-to-day life of work communities. When the whole work community commits to taking the environment into account in their everyday choices, environmental benefits can be achieved by saving natural resources and reducing the operation’s negative impacts on the environment, for example. This page has a collection of examples of everyday choices that can be made to promote environmentally friendly operations.
The situation assessment (available only in Finnish) conducted at the start of the eco-support activity will also have a comprehensive list of eco-friendly measures that can be taken at a workplace. You can use the assessment to identify areas for improvement in your workplace and to draw up the action plan (available only in Finnish) for the eco-support activities.
Examples of eco-support
Improving energy efficiency is a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of energy production.
- Keep the temperature in your workplace at a reasonable level.
- Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
- Make the most of natural light.
- Keep the front of the radiators clear and keep the radiators clean of dust.
- Find out about the energy-saving settings on the appliances and use them.
One key environmental goal is to reduce waste – and the best way to do this is to avoid unnecessary consumption. Improving the sorting process is also essential for the environment.
- Reduce paper consumption.
- Make sure your workplace has sorting instructions.
- Collect rubbish from nature.
- Organise swap meet days at your workplace.
- Make use of recycled materials in arts and crafts.
Choices related to food are very important, as around a third of consumers’ environmental impact comes from the food they consume.
- Reduce the amount of meat you eat.
- Don’t throw food away.
- Favour vegetables that are in season.
- Choose organic and local food.
- Avoid eating endangered species of fish.
- Organise food waste weighing in your workplace.
- Improve food waste sorting guidelines in your workplace.
- Participate in a vegan challenge as a work community.
Sustainable modes of transport are a key way to reduce an individual’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Promote the introduction of a commuter ticket in your workplace.
- Promote the introduction of safe and functional bicycle parking at your workplace.
- Propose carpooling at your workplace.
Environmental education makes it possible to teach environmentally friendly practices and attitudes to future generations.
- Organise a litter picking outing with your pupils/clients.
- Organise an event for battling invasive alien species with your pupils/clients.
- Organise a trip to nature for your pupils/clients.
- Get a basket for collecting empty bottles and cans at the school; these can be returned to the store for the deposit and the money can be given to the student association.
- Involve pupils/clients in developing environmental practices in the workplace. Working together will create opportunities to address the different environmental themes in a range of different ways.
Procurement plays a key role in reducing the environmental impact of a workplace. The production, use and disposal of goods consume natural resources and energy, and also generate emissions and waste, so smart procurements will pay off.
- Buy high-quality, multi-purpose and long-lasting products, and only buy what you need.
- Choose eco-efficient products.
- Use eco-labelled products.
Are you interested in the activities?
Find out more about the eco-support network and join us in activities that benefit the environment!