In this blog, we will understand sustainability and its application to creating sustainable shared workspaces.

The Urgency of Sustainable Coworking Spaces

As we face a potential climate crisis, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued reports that provide both alarming warnings and a breath of hope for solutions. The decisions we make today will have a significant impact on future generations. According to the IPCC, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40–70% by 2050 if we adopt the right policies, infrastructure and technology. An eco-friendly coworking space can help us deal with such urgency and address the needs of the hour.

The Coworking Advantage: Inherent Potential for Sustainability

A coworking space naturally embeds sustainable practices since it shares resources and fosters collaborative working. This not only reduces operational costs but also cuts down on unnecessary waste. It is time for sustainable coworking spaces to take the lead in embracing environmental consciousness as a core value and helping enterprises reduce their waste.

Ways to Create Sustainable Coworking Spaces:

Energy Efficiency: Coworking spaces can adopt energy-efficient practices such as using energy-efficient lighting solutions and encouraging responsible power management among members.

Sustainable Materials: Furnishing with eco-friendly furniture made from sustainable materials reduces the demand for new resources, contributing to the establishment of eco-friendly coworking spaces.

Waste Reduction and Recycling: Composting programmes can be implemented by establishing recycling stations throughout the space to create sustainable shared workspaces.

Water Conservation: Prioritising water-saving devices and promoting responsible water usage can significantly reduce water consumption. From washrooms to cafeterias, there can be measures to conserve water.

Transportation and Green Commuting: Promoting sustainable commuting options through strategically choosing locations with convenient access to public transportation and offering amenities like bike racks can contribute to creating eco-friendly coworking spaces.

Environmental Education and Engagement: Hosting workshops, training sessions, and engaging competitions can raise awareness about sustainability among members.

Green Collaborations: Coworking spaces can collaborate with sustainable brands and support local environmental initiatives.

Celebrating Eco-Success: Pursuing green certifications, recognising and celebrating individual and collective efforts, and sharing progress reports contribute to building a culture of sustainable coworking spaces.

Conclusion: Towards a Sustainable Coworking Ecosystem

In conclusion, coworking spaces can take the lead in promoting sustainability. Embracing eco-friendly practices aligns with global environmental goals and appeals to a growing community of eco-conscious professionals and businesses. We at COWRKS are constantly adapting to the changing landscape of the modern workplace, integrating sustainability into our coworking spaces and trust us, it is not only a choice but also a responsibility and a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Coworking spaces that prioritise sustainability play a significant role in promoting environmental responsibility worldwide. We aim to encourage enterprises to adopt green coworking spaces, which will inspire a wave of innovation towards a healthier planet throughout the business landscape.

Discover how COWRKS can help you save costs and contribute to a sustainable future with our innovative solutions.

Commuting has always played a major role in an employee’s wellbeing, quality of work and job satisfaction. Working professionals have moved on from job positions and employment opportunities because of reasons relating to transit to work.  At this time, the question on everyone’s mind is how we can make the travel experience safer and more accessible. Collective effort must be made by employers allowing their teams to work flexible work hours and distributed office options should be provided to employees who choose to travel to work.  

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TO BE THE WAY FORWARD 

 The post pandemic scenario has opened multiple avenues for the governing body and company administration to come up with sustainable avenues for ridership.  Carpooling or car sharing was a popular choice of commute prior to the lockdown and now has found its way back to being the preferred mode of travel. App based aggregator like Quick ride and Bla Bla car has stepped up and increased their sanitisation and hygiene protocol after seeing a huge demand for safe vehicles in the market. To incentivise employees to carpool, companies are offering either monetary compensation packages or hiring vehicles for employees to use. 

 Driving a car does not always have a positive impact on the body. From chronic illness to numbing body pain doctors have related multiple causes of illness to driving a car for longer durations. With the decrease in motor density on the roads people are now choosing to walk to work. Given most companies have decentralised their workspace or moved towards a satellite office arrangement and are offering flexible work timings walking to work is a healthier and sustainable option. 

Biking or cycling is also an active mode of transportation that is being quickly adopted by the public. If one cannot afford to buy a bike option such as Yulu bikes and Bounce are a perfect solution!

CLEANER AND SAFER PUBLIC TRANSIT  

A recent survey that was conducted by JLL  found that 29% of the participants were frequent users of public transport prior to this unprecedented time. While it is considered a risk, companies and policy makers must understand that the majority of the population still depends on public transport to travel.   

With efficient sanitisation of buses, metro’s and other modes of public transport, vehicles are much cleaner than before which points in the right direction towards a return to offices. Going digital with payments and capping the seating capacity in the vehicles are other changes that are being made to accommodate a safe return. 

In the long run, for people to return to work safely, the right combination of employer-led policies, public sector policies and infrastructure investments are required to lead to better and more enjoyable commutes, which would, in turn, encourage more people to use public transport. 

At CoWrks, we have carefully picked ride and rental brand partners and mindfully curated packages to assist organisations and businesses commute to work safe and hassle-free:

Post-COVID commuting has been painted a dark and murky picture. For some commuting to work has taken a back seat, but for others who thrive on working in a large community will definitely take the step forward. 

As humans, it is in our DNA to adapt to the situation at hand. We innovate and come up with multiple ways to tackle a problem and to find suitable solutions. Though travelling to work is still feared by many, we see many deciding to brave the storm and it is sure to have a positive ripple effect on many in the months to come.

 Have more interesting ways to leverage travel to the office? Write to us at communication@cowrks.com

They share a common purpose

Successful communities share a unifying purpose. Groups of people rally around issues, causes and beliefs that then form a common ground upon which they are built. To move individuals from being acquaintances to more meaningful relationships, they must have shared goals. We’ve noticed that our community shares a passion for the creative thinking. Whether it’s building a product, fashion or tech, our folks are using innovation at every turn and in every decision. They know that great businesses aren’t built in isolation, therefore they often encourage and inspire one another to make their dreams come to life. It is this shared love for creating collaboratively that drives our community and binds them together. We build on this shared purpose and give them an environment where their shared goals are always up front and center. Our artwork and design reflect and reinforce these values of the millennial workforce – hustling hard, seeking inspiration, working collaboratively, never settling, and more.    

They form shared rituals and experiences

While members share the entrepreneurial spirit, perhaps the mark of successful communities is a firm sense of belonging. This sense of camaraderie is generated by frequent interactions that go on to build culture. We’re breaking away from conformity but at the heart of it all, we’re kindling the underrated old-school value of sharing. Regular activities like potlucks, barbecues, movie screenings, and meet & greet events lead to the formation of shared rituals that promote the sharing of interests, preferences and eventually lead to idea-sharing.  

They are well-connected

In order to build lasting connections, members must engage in more than just transactional interactions. Our spaces are built to ensure that there is ample opportunity for coworkers to exchange more than pleasantries. Whether it’s our fuel bar – where members have conversations over snacks and coffee or the lounge – where our comfortable, relaxed spaces spark ideas, we’ve woven collaborative spaces intelligently within our offices to stimulate organic networking. Moreover, in an age where members are connected online, we’ve created our own private social networking app that helps transcend our physical community into the digital realm. Members promote their product, share personal updates and comment on news stories, which leads to the formation of stronger bonds.    

Building a strong community isn’t easy but it’s well worth the effort. We’re invested in creating an environment where meaningful relationships can flourish. Come and see our community in action – take a tour of our incredible spaces today: