Not surprisingly, Hybrid Working has gained immense popularity across the globe in the past three years. Beyond the benefits of increased flexibility and improved work-life balance for employees, hybrid working also presents significant opportunities for organisations to enhance sustainability and deliver efficiencies. There is a hugely positive correlation between Hybrid Working and sustainability and chances are that your organisation isn’t capturing many of these valuable metrics and feeding them through to your sustainability plan. As well as contributing to a sustainable future, these efficiencies are delivering on the bottom line. From the obvious, to the not-so-obvious, here are 5 ways hybrid working can drive your sustainability goals:
Reduction in Commuting
One of the most obvious advantages of Hybrid Working is the substantial reduction in commuting. Depending on your company’s specific hybrid working policy, by moving to this model of work, your employees are commuting on average 40% to 60% less than they did previously. This reduction not only saves valuable time for employees, but also contributes to a significant decline in carbon emissions associated with transportation. If your company is using tech tools like Capella’s Platform for Hybrid Working, and making it easy for employees to see who is working where, when, and coordinate ride shares, companies can even further reduce their carbon footprint.
Energy Consumption
Space heat represents the largest energy demand and is the main driver for environmental impact. Not surprising then that Hybrid Working models can yield substantial energy savings for European organisations. Being able to “shut down” underutilized areas of the office, without impacting business operations, companies reduce energy consumption, cleaning costs and waste, and drive benefits both to the environment and your bottom line.
Paperless Operations
This is one that is often forgotten. Hybrid working encourages a shift towards paperless operations, fostering a more sustainable work environment. The decreased reliance on printed documents not only reduces waste but also helps conserve natural resources and minimises the energy intensive paper production process.
Reduce Food Waste
Enhanced Employee Productivity
Hybrid Working has often been linked to increased employee productivity, leading to greater overall efficiency within organisations. Employees consistently report heightened productivity related to hybrid working with 36% siting increased focus working from home. And if staff are set up correctly in their home office, you can add another 25% bump to remote employees’ productivity as well! This increased productivity can be attributed to various factors, including reduced distractions, increased focus, and a better work-life balance, ultimately resulting in improved efficiency across the organisation. And the less time it takes to accomplish the same task, the kinder the impact to the environment over time.
A lot of research has been carried out, and many different opinions are in the public realm about how Hybrid Working can create efficiencies within organisations. The positive link between Hybrid Working and sustainability is becoming increasingly evident within European organisations, with the Irish Government sector is leading the way. By embracing Hybrid Working models, companies can achieve remarkable efficiencies while contributing to a more sustainable future.
The examples mentioned above provide compelling evidence for the potential benefits of Hybrid Working in reducing commuting, energy consumption, paper and food waste, and enhancing overall productivity. As workplace leaders. It is crucial to recognise the transformative power of Hybrid Working and strive towards implementing sustainable practices that benefit both the organisation and the environment. Talk to Capella today to unlock the full potential of sustainability within your Hybrid Workplace.