Sustainable Office Design

4 Tips for Sustainable Office Design

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Sustainability is no longer just a passing trend—it’s a global imperative. With initiatives like net-zero targets and wildlife conservation efforts aimed at preserving the planet for future generations, businesses are realising the role they can play in this movement. Given the significant amount of time employees spend in the office each week, sustainable office design offers an opportunity to align environmental responsibility with improved staff well-being and productivity.

Moreover, creating a sustainable workspace leaves a lasting impression on clients, showcasing your company’s commitment to innovation and eco-conscious values. From green walls to low-carbon materials, discover how incorporating sustainability can elevate your office design while benefiting the planet.

Sustainable Office Design Tip #1: Eco-Friendly Materials

Perhaps the most obvious and simple way of making a more environmentally-friendly office is to consider the materials you use on every level.

This includes using paints with low volatile organic compounds, recycled glass, reclaimed wood, and carpeting made from recycled plastics. These materials help reduce the carbon footprint of your office while maintaining style and functionality.

Alternatively, simply opting for fewer resources is the most sustainable way to go! Individual work booths for example not only reduce collaboration but use up unnecessary resources.

Where possible, it’s also best to acquire as much of your office furniture and resources from local businesses as you can. That makes it easy to support local businesses and the planet side-by-side!

Sustainable Office Design Tip #2: Multifunctional Furniture

Multifunctional office furniture is becoming increasingly popular, not just as a way to save space and remove clutter across a desk perhaps, but often thanks to its innovative, eye-catching designs. Choosing furniture that can serve multiple purposes not only saves space but also resources. Consider the following:

  • Sit-stand desks: These encourage movement and adaptability.
  • Modular sofas: Can be reconfigured for different needs and spaces.
  • Nesting tables: Easy to stack and store when not in use, they provide flexibility in meeting rooms or common areas.

Using eco-friendly, locally-produced variations of these will save you space, time, and money by rendering it unnecessary to buy individual furniture for single uses.

Sustainable Office Design Tip #3: Energy Efficiency

Incorporate energy-efficient appliances and fixtures to reduce your office’s energy consumption.

Especially if your office is part of a larger building, you may simply not have the option to use renewable energy as your primary power source. Despite this, LED lighting, energy star-rated appliances, and smart thermostats can significantly lower your power bills and carbon footprint on a low budget.

You’ll also want to consider the layout of your office. Maximising the potential of natural lighting will reduce the need for artificial lights currently driving up your energy bills.

Sustainable Office Design Tip #4: Biophilic Design

Biophilia is the emergent concept that aims to improve the connections between humans and the natural environment by incorporating elements of nature into the office design.

This can significantly boost employee well-being and productivity, especially when spending longer hours in the office or during darker, colder winter months. This includes installing living green walls, integrating plant life throughout the office, and maximising views of the outdoors. Natural elements are key to creating a tranquil and stimulating work environment.

The Benefits

Holistically, sustainable office design has proven to deliver an abundance of benefits!

  • Reduced Environmental Impact: Eco-friendly practices help conserve resources and reduce waste.
  • Cost Efficiency: Energy-efficient solutions can significantly decrease utility bills.
  • Enhanced Employee Well-being: Natural light and biophilic elements can increase productivity and reduce stress.
  • Positive Corporate Image: Commitment to sustainability can strengthen brand reputation and appeal to like-minded clients and talent.
  • Future-proof Investment: Adapting to sustainability prepares your business for future environmental regulations and standards.

Want to learn more about sustainable office design? See more about our latest work in our case studies

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MillerKnoll is a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in. We design for the good of humankind, shaping a future that’s more sustainable, caring, and beautiful for all people and our planet. Our collective takes a purpose-driven approach to designing modern, insight-led solutions with the ability to deliver globally.

Bluespace are extremely proud to have been selected as one of MillerKnoll  dealers in the UK. The design possibilities that working with MillerKnoll are exponential – MillerKnoll’s collective of leading design brands is the most comprehensive portfolio of furniture products and accessories in the industry.