Environmentally Conscious Working from home tips

Hello! 

Welcome to our ‘Environmentally Conscious Purchase & Waste Policies’. You might be thinking “do I actually have to read this, what’s it actually for?” 

Well, at Creature & Co. we believe we have a responsibility to consider the impact our operations have on people and the planet, in everything from the way we commute, our office, through to our supply chain. That’s why we give the following guidance to help you make more socially and environmentally responsible decisions when purchasing and disposing of items for your home office. 

Purchasing Policy 

Before making any purchase, from computer hardware to food and drink, pirate costumes to giant hamster wheels (you never know!), it is the policy of Creature & Co. to: 

• Buy only what we need. Before purchasing something new, consider whether we can reuse, repair, borrow or hire something instead. 

• Choose products with a lower environmental impact. Where practical, look for products that are durable, reusable, repairable, energy and water efficient, made from recycled or responsibly sourced materials, and designed to create less waste. 

• Think about the whole life of the product. Consider how and where it was made, how far it needs to travel, how long it is likely to last and whether it can be reused or recycled at the end of its life. 

• Choose responsible suppliers. Where possible, give preference to businesses demonstrating good environmental and social practices, such as Living Wage employers, certified B Corps, Fairtrade producers and local businesses. 

• Consider the people involved. Avoid products and suppliers associated with unsafe working conditions, exploitation or modern slavery. 

• Deforestation free. Only purchase FSC or PEFC-certified paper and timber products and Fairtrade-certified products. 

We know the most sustainable option won’t always be available or practical. The aim is to make these considerations part of our everyday purchasing decisions. 

Waste & Disposal Policy 

When something is no longer needed, don’t automatically throw it away. Work through these options in order: 

1. Reuse: Could you or somebody else use it again? 
2. Return: Does the supplier or manufacturer offer a take-back scheme? 
3. Donate: Could it be donated or passed on? 
4. Recycle: Can it go in your usual recycling or is there a specialist recycling point nearby? 
5. Dispose safely: Hazardous items and electrical equipment must be disposed of through an appropriate collection or recycling service. 

Common items 

Batteries 
Never put batteries in general household waste. Take them to a battery recycling collection point. Find your nearest battery recycling point. 

Books 
Pass unwanted books on where possible, for example to a charity shop, community organisation or someone who can reuse them. Check your local recycling service for options for books that cannot be reused. 

Computers & IT equipment 
Make sure any personal or company information is securely removed before equipment is reused or recycled. Where appropriate, use an IT reuse or recycling organisation such as Computers 4 Charity, Computers for Charities or SocialBox.Biz. 

Printer cartridges & mobile phones 
Look for manufacturer or retailer take-back schemes or use a specialist recycling service such as Office Green. 

Digital Environmental Impact 

Our digital activity also uses energy and physical infrastructure. We don’t expect anyone to worry about every email they send, but there are some simple ways we can avoid unnecessary digital activity. 

Video calls & streaming 

Video calls can avoid the much greater impact of travelling to meetings, so we’re big fans of them and we generally like seeing everyone’s lovely faces! 

That said, video uses more data than audio alone. For large webinars or meetings where you’re mainly listening, consider switching your camera off when it isn’t adding anything to the conversation. 

For a quick one-to-one conversation, a phone or audio call may sometimes be all you need. 

Email & files 

A few simple habits can help reduce unnecessary data while also keeping our inboxes and shared drives tidier: 

• Avoid unnecessary emails and large attachments. 

• Link to files already stored in our shared drives rather than sending additional copies. 

• Avoid unnecessarily copying large groups of people into emails. 

• Unsubscribe from newsletters and notifications you don’t use. 

• Delete duplicate or obsolete files when you’re tidying shared storage. 

The goal isn’t to make every digital action carbon-free, it’s simply to use technology thoughtfully and avoid unnecessary consumption.