How Remote Collaboration Can Benefit the Planet It has long been argued that hybrid work lessens our environmental impact. Now, more research than ever supports this theory.
Image: Supplied
#HybridWorking - It has long been argued that hybrid work lessens our environmental impact. Now, more research than ever supports this theory.
IWG, the world's largest provider of hybrid working solutions, including brands such as Spaces and Regus, surveyed more than 500 leaders and facilities managers at businesses that have adopted hybrid working policies. The findings revealed that average energy consumption in those companies has fallen by 19% since the introduction of hybrid working policies. These policies benefit both the environment and the companies' bottom lines by simply optimising office space usage and providing teams with access to flexible workspaces, which are a key component of the hybrid work model.
“The shift to hybrid work, which blends remote, limited head office time, and flexible office-based work closer to home, has brought numerous benefits for employees and employers. However, often the positive environmental impact is overlooked; , nonetheless, hybrid work can significantly benefit the planet by reducing the need for daily commuting and embracing digital collaboration tools”, says Joanne Bushell, MD, Regus, South Africa
Hybrid working—and the pandemic that accelerated its rise—has brought about major changes to how people perceive their own lives and the world around them. This, along with an unpredictable political and economic climate, has shown people what really matters to them and what they expect from businesses.
Notably, public perception towards businesses has changed, with the rise of hybrid working exemplifying one of those changes. Workers expect more from their employers, and customers expect more from the companies they buy from.
Businesses who have adapted to remote roles during the pandemic and intend to maintain a hybrid way of working are realising that they no longer require expansive, energy-consuming traditional office spaces that remain underused for significant portions of the week.
Regus has played a pivitol role in helping businesses shift to the hybrid model has had a direct positive impact on major environmental concerns. For example, it has guided organisations to shift from their larger, traditional office settings to advanced, eco-friendly shared workspaces, which leads to energy savings on heating, cooling, and lighting.
Smaller, regional flexible workspaces boast higher occupancy rates and, consequently, lower emissions per employee. An earlier survey showed that only one in five would commute more than 30 minutes daily, while 60 per cent want to work within 15 minutes of home.
Not only does hybrid work encourage more sustainable practices, but many of the buildings facilitating the movement are leading the way in green initiatives.
Here are some key benefits of hybrid working for the planet:
Mark Dixon, Regus CEO, stated: "The global shift to hybrid working is not only bringing strong productivity and financial advantages to companies and work-life balance improvements to employees but significant environmental benefits too. This latest research confirms that businesses adopting the hybrid model have reduced energy usage significantly."
“The environmental benefits of hybrid working do not end there. By simply empowering people to work close to where they live, enabling them to split their time between a local workplace and home, earlier research by Arup has shown that this model has the potential to reduce a worker’s work-related carbon emissions by 90%.”
Hybrid work can potentially deliver significant environmental benefits, ranging from reduced carbon emissions and energy consumption to lower waste generation and resource conservation. By embracing remote collaboration and encouraging sustainable practices, companies can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for all.
Related Topics: