Sustainable office ideas that actually work (and that your team will actually like).

Want a greener workplace but not sure where to start? Good news: Sustainability in the office doesn’t require a total overhaul or a massive budget. With a few smart shifts in behavior, products, and policies, your team can create a cleaner, healthier, and more efficient workspace.

Below are 29 eco-friendly office ideas—each designed to reduce waste, save energy, and make your office a more sustainable, feel-good place to be.

1. Go Paperless Wherever Possible

Still printing emails? It’s time. Embracing digital tools like cloud storage, e-signatures, and collaborative docs dramatically cuts down on unnecessary paper waste. Reducing paper is one of the simplest and most effective sustainable office practices, especially for teams committed to greening the office long-term.

2. Unplug Electronics at the End of the Day

Even when devices are powered off, they often continue drawing power. That “phantom energy” adds up. Encourage your team to unplug monitors, chargers, and unused electronics at night. It's an easy and cost-effective sustainability tip for work that lowers both emissions and your energy bill.

3. Choose Aquablu

Plastic bottles, delivery crates, and overflowing bins? Not a good look for an eco-friendly office. Aquablu’s REFILL+ water dispenser replaces all that with a sleek, smart, sustainable hydration station. No single-use waste, just filtered, still, and sparkling water, infused with natural flavors employees love. This is what office sustainability should taste like. Plus, it’s better for you and delicious (if I say so myself).

4. Install Smart Power Strips

Smart strips automatically cut power to idle devices, helping reduce phantom energy drain. This tech tweak is a clever way to support sustainability in the workplace without asking employees to remember yet another thing.

5. Bring Your Own Bottle

One of the easiest upgrades for your eco-friendly office? A reusable bottle. Bonus points if it’s the Aquablu one. For meetings, swap plastic pitchers for glass carafes filled straight from your dispenser. It’s a small shift that signals big things: green office practices, shared rituals, and hydration that doesn’t come at the planet’s expense.

6. Buy Pantry Items in Bulk

Stocking sugar, tea, or snacks? Buy in bulk and store in reusable containers instead of opting for individually wrapped packets. It’s cheaper, cleaner, and a clever way to reduce packaging waste in your eco office kitchen setup.

7. Make Sustainability Part of Onboarding

Day one is the best time to set expectations. Include your sustainable office practices in onboarding materials, like how to recycle properly, use the Aquablu dispenser, or join the green team. Culture change starts early.

8. Replace Paper Towels with Microfiber Cloths

Still tearing through paper towels for every little coffee spill or splash? Time to upgrade. A stack of washable microfiber cloths in the kitchen or bathroom does the job better, and without sending a small forest to landfill every week. It’s an easy, everyday win for your eco office (and your cleaning budget).

9. Label Bins Clearly for Recycling, Trash, and Compost

Wishcycling (putting things in the wrong bin and hoping they get recycled) is a real issue. Clear labels, color coding, and photo guides help reinforce proper sorting. This is a low-lift, high-impact, sustainable office idea, and it works.

10. Let Natural Light Do the Work

Pull back the blinds. Opening up your office to natural daylight reduces your reliance on artificial lighting and improves mood and focus. It’s one of the simplest ways to support sustainability in the workplace, and bonus: it makes your space look better too.

11. Share Your Sustainability Wins

Hit a goal? Celebrate it. Sharing progress, like energy savings, waste reductions, or the amount of plastic bottles saved, helps reinforce that your sustainability in the office isn’t just a statement; it’s a shared journey. Plus, it inspires others to get involved.

Did you know? Aquablu's impact report shows you how many plastic bottles you've saved by switching from unsustainable to sustainable tech-enabled hydration.

12. Adjust the Thermostat Seasonally

You don’t need to refrigerate the team to keep them productive. Setting thermostats to 22–24°C in summer and lowering them a few degrees in winter reduces energy use and supports smarter office sustainability ideas.

13. Decorate With Plants

Want a simple way to add more green to your green office? Bring in plants. Not only do they purify the air, but they also boost well-being and productivity. Opt for low-maintenance options like snake plants or pothos.

14. Celebrate Without Single-Use Waste

Birthdays, project wins, and holidays can all be celebrated sustainably. Use reusable decor, compostable serveware, or opt for experiences over stuff. Green office practices shouldn’t stop when the cake arrives.

15. Host a Greener Commuting Challenge

Want to make green in the office feel fun? Create a week-long challenge to see who can bike, walk, or carpool most days. Offer eco-friendly prizes or a team lunch for the winners. It builds awareness and drives real behavior change.

16. Use Natural, Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

Choosing biodegradable, plant-based cleaners is better for indoor air quality and the environment. It’s a no-brainer for any team trying to create a green office that feels fresh and safe.

17. Keep the Fridge Clean and Efficient

A cluttered, frosty fridge doesn’t just smell bad, it burns more energy. Set a calendar reminder for monthly clean-outs and educate your team on proper food storage. This micro-habit is secretly a big win for sustainability in the workplace.

18. Recycle or Donate Old Electronics

Have old keyboards, monitors, or cables lying around? Arrange regular e-waste pickups or donation days. Recycling electronics conserves materials and reduces toxic landfill waste — an important part of any eco office strategy.

19. Install Motion-Activated Lighting

Motion-sensor lighting is a clever way to cut energy waste in areas that don’t need to stay lit 24/7. Think hallways, storage rooms, bathrooms, and supply closets; spaces with sporadic foot traffic that are easy to forget. It’s one of those green office ideas that quietly supports sustainability in the workplace with zero effort once installed.

20. Opt for Recycled or Plantable Business Cards

Networking still happens. If your team hands out business cards, make them from recycled or seed paper. It’s a tangible way to align even the smallest brand touchpoints with your eco-friendly office values.

21. Start a Green Team or Sustainability Task Force

Don’t go it alone. Form a small cross-functional team to champion sustainability initiatives in the workplace. They can brainstorm ideas, manage progress, and keep the mission visible throughout the year.

22. Fix Leaky Faucets Immediately

One drip per second wastes over 3,000 gallons of water a year. If you’re working on how to create a green workspace, start with the plumbing. Report leaks and consider using the runoff for watering plants while waiting for a fix.

23. Support Greener Commuting Options

Provide a bike rack, subsidize public transport, or start a carpool buddy system. Commuting is often a major part of a company’s carbon footprint, so making it easier to ride, walk, or share lifts helps your sustainability in the office go beyond the four walls.

24. Switch to LED Bulbs

LEDs use up to 75% less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs. It’s one of the easiest upgrades for creating a sustainable office with less waste and lower energy bills.

25. Use Reusable Plates, Cups, and Utensils

Offices go through mountains of disposable plates and plastic cutlery, especially during team lunches or events. Keeping a shared set of real dishes and silverware is an easy, low-effort way to embed green office practices into your daily routine.

26. Set Devices to Power Saver Mode

Most electronics have built-in eco settings, and you should make sure they’re turned on. Power-saving modes help reduce energy use during idle times. It’s a simple sustainability tip for work that requires no behavior change, just better defaults.

27. Store Leftovers in Reusable Containers

Every office lunch leaves behind extras. Instead of tossing it all, use labeled containers in the fridge to encourage a second round of eating. It’s a small act that reflects big sustainable office practices.

28. Source Snacks Locally (and Sustainably)

Supporting local food vendors who use minimal packaging and organic produce adds up. It shortens supply chains, supports your community, and reinforces your commitment to office greening efforts in a way your team can actually taste.

29. (Re)Choose Aquablu

Look, we already told you once (see #3) about the REFILL+, but we’re saying it again because it’s that good. If you want a hydration setup that feels premium, cuts plastic, and doesn’t just sit in the corner gathering dust, this is the one. Offices that install Aquablu don’t go back. Neither do their bottles.

Time to walk the talk.
You don’t need to do all 29 things at once. Start with a few. Build momentum. Share wins. And if you’re looking for one upgrade that instantly improves health, happiness, and your sustainable office scorecard?

You know what to do. Download the Aquablu brochure and give your team the hydration they deserve.