Freyja Tasci, founder of Australia’s original beeswax wrap company Apiwraps, shares her five top tips on a more sustainable return to work – from packed lunches to reducing your digital footprint. 

Five tips for a greener return to work

Whether you’re back at work, working from home, or a hybrid combination of both, there are small changes we could all be making to reduce our environmental impact while in work mode.

What could you be doing to make your work life greener in 2022?

Freyja Tasci, founder of beeswax wrap company Apiwraps

1. How are you getting to work?

Instead of just mindlessly jumping in the car, think about what other options you might have.

Public transport is great for reducing your carbon footprint – and the more demand there is for it, the more will be offered. Using your time on the bus or train to catch up on podcasts, reading a good book or practicing mindfulness is a double win. Biking or walking to work are even better, and using an app like Solar Cyclist  means every kilometre you cover is making a positive impact.

2. Remember your reusable coffee cup

Making coffee-to-go from home might be the ultimate planet-saver, but if the reality has you lining up for a chat with the barista – make sure you’re not creating landfill while you’re at it.

Stash a spare keep cup in your desk and bag, so you’re always ready when you need that caffeine (or chai) boost.

3. Ditch the plastic

Eat sandwiches most days? An Apiwrap beeswax wrap and a metal lunch box will last at least a year. Into salads? A good container with a tight sealing lid is worth the investment. Go for high quality stainless steel drink bottles that will handle being dropped – it happens!

Investing in a few high quality, hard wearing items will mean you’re able to bring delicious homemade lunches to work, without the excess waste of single-use plastic wrap or buying salads in plastic boxes.

4. If you’re getting lunch out, eat in

Skip the lunch al’desko culture and find local eateries that offer lunch without the disposable containers and cutlery. Extra sustainability points if you meet up with a mentor or mentee to nurture sustainable growth ambitions at the same time.

Leaving your desk for lunch also means you’ll benefit from some fresh air, extra steps, and change of scenery – all great for boosting your creativity and ensuring a productive afternoon.

5. Go beyond paperless

Skipping the printing should be the go-to by now – we all know going paperless is the best option. But reducing our impact doesn’t stop there.

Next up is tidying your files – duplicate copies of files take up memory that needs to be backed up and maintained, consuming unnecessary energy and potentially time too. Same goes with excessive emails in your inbox. Take a moment to clear out your downloads file, and clear out old emails. While you’re at it, try to unsubscribe from emails which you receive but no longer read – it all helps to reduce our digital footprint.

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