Real sustainable practices in corporate education

How to support eco-development in business
In the previous article, we briefly discussed how to make education more sustainable and protect our environment from harmful pollution.

Today we are introducing our real personal tips on how to become more eco-friendly and make improvements in your educational business.
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Purpose

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Sustainability tips

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Purpose
In Edburo we love to implement sustainable practices. For example, we work remotely and develop materials only in an online format, which helps us to decrease paper consumption and GHG emissions as well as reach more people in education. Having experience working in different big companies in the past, our team is happy to share what we discovered.

These steps could be easily implemented in your processes, especially if you work in corporate education. What is even more, could bring a positive impact on mother nature. As long as work takes a sufficient place in our lives it is important to make steps towards more sustainable consumption and production.
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Sustainability tips
| Example 1
If you currently have an educational program about agile methodologies or other models that rely on physical project boards with different colored stickers for tasks and employees, we advise you to consider transitioning to online solutions such as Trello, Jira, or Confluence. Not only do these solutions offer an easier and more efficient way to manage your projects, but they also allow for real-time collaboration and updates from anywhere in the world.

Alternatively, you could also consider purchasing an interactive whiteboard, which is touch-sensitive and allows for easy manipulation of project elements. This eliminates the need for handwriting, which can sometimes be illegible, especially if written by someone else. Furthermore, adopting these solutions can also help you reduce paper usage, thereby contributing to a more sustainable environment.

Trello example

Source: https://blog.trello.com/essential-trello-boards-for-every-business
| Example 2
When you have big corporate training meetings or you are introducing your product to the partners offline, it is an important thing to serve them water and snacks, such as juices, water, snacks, and other refreshments. While this provides convenience for them, it also results in a significant amount of plastic waste generated from disposable water bottles and other single-use containers. However, there are various ways in which you can reduce this plastic consumption while still maintaining a fully-stocked kitchen.

One solution is to replace plastic water bottles with reusable ones that are personalized with your company logo. By doing so, you can reduce the amount of plastic waste generated and promote your brand through personalized bottles.

Additionally, installing water boilers throughout the place can provide an easy and eco-friendly alternative to disposable water bottles.

Implementing these changes can also have a positive impact on your corporate culture and HR brand. By promoting environmentally conscious practices, you can showcase your company as a responsible and sustainable organization that is committed to reducing its environmental footprint.

If you do not have the resources to implement these changes, there are still options available to reduce your plastic waste. For instance, you can easily collect and recycle plastic bottle caps and empty bottles separately. This simple practice can make a significant impact on reducing the amount of plastic waste generated, and can also promote a culture of sustainability within your company.
| Example 3
We can judge online education, but we cannot deny that it is more eco than commuting to work every week.

Here we go about fuel consumption. First of all, letting your colleagues make their course or training tasks remotely from home not only cuts down on fuel usage but also provides a more flexible work-life balance. If they still need to come to you to make some work offline, you may advise them to utilize public transportation or car-sharing services is a great way to reduce individual fuel consumption while still getting to where you need to go.


In addition to these transportation options, there are many other ways to do good for the environment while reducing fuel consumption. For example, participating in volunteer activities such as blood donation can help reduce the carbon footprint of medical transportation. Many companies now offer on-site blood donation services, making it easy to donate without even leaving the office.

Another way to help reduce fuel consumption is by participating in animal fundraising efforts. By supporting organizations that provide food for animals, we not only reduce the carbon footprint of individual animal owners, but we also help to ensure that animals are well-fed and healthy. By pooling our resources and acting collectively, we can make a big difference in reducing fuel consumption and helping the environment.

| Example 4
We already told you about drinks and bottles. We also should not avoid food. During our busy work, especially with training implemented, it is essential to provide employees with meals. Doing homework after working hours might be difficult to prepare meals for the next day.

As a solution, one could consider organizing a cafeteria within the workplace or catering for time-limited training. This would not only provide employees with a convenient and efficient option to obtain meals but also foster a sense of community and interaction among colleagues.

Alternatively, if ordering food is the preferred option, it is important to be mindful of the environmental impact. Encouraging the use of recyclable containers and properly disposing of waste can go a long way in reducing the negative effects on our planet. In addition, it is important to consider the nutritional value of the food being ordered, and ensure that it is in line with a healthy and balanced diet.

| Example 5
Promoting your HR brand is an excellent way to make your company known to new employees that you are training. You can do this by offering branded mugs to your staff. This not only helps you to move away from plastic cups and contribute to sustainability, but it also creates a sense of pride and belonging for your employees.

Additionally, investing in branded merchandise can increase the visibility of your company, especially if your employees use these items outside of work. It is also a great way to show appreciation to your employees, which can improve overall job satisfaction and progress in education.

Finally, branded merchandise can be a cost-effective and long-lasting form of advertising that can help your business stand out in a crowded market.


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These are the only small pieces of advice we shared with you. But the biggest one is — to involve your employees in eco-processes. If it is hard for you to create another eco-idea, just create a box (preferably, an interactive one), where people could share their ideas and you can turn them into reality. These suggestions offer a great opportunity to do this on any scale. And keep in mind that all big steps require small ones.
AUTHOR
Learning project manager
Diana Kapusta