5 Green Workplace Initiatives That Employees Actually Care About

Because nobody gets excited about another email saying “We recycle paper.”

Today’s employees want more than a paycheck—they want purpose. And when it comes to making the planet a little greener, it turns out people really want their company to walk the talk.

Whether your office is a high-rise or your team is scattered across laptops around the globe, these green initiatives can boost morale, cut waste, and help you actually do some good. Plus, they tie right into three big wins: ✅ Employee values, ✅ ESG goals, and ✅ Workplace motivation.

Let’s dive into 5 green initiatives that won’t just tick a box—they’ll actually get people talking (and caring).

1. Ditch the Plastic, Embrace the Refill Culture

What it is: Set up refill stations for hand soap, dishwashing liquid, coffee beans—yes, coffee beans—and ditch single-use plastic for the stuff your team uses daily.

Why employees care: Plastic-free isn’t just trendy. People are visibly tired of throwing away three plastic coffee cups a day. Give them a stylish mug with the company logo and watch the love roll in.

How it helps ESG goals: Reducing plastic waste hits both the "Environmental" and "Governance" pillars—plus, your annual ESG report will look that much shinier.

Added bonus: Host a “Mug Shot Monday” and get people to post their fave mugs on Slack or Teams. That’s engagement and sustainability in one cute photo.

2. Go Remote, Stay Green

What it is: Remote and hybrid work isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s a green strategy. Fewer commutes = fewer emissions. It’s that simple.

Why employees care: Let’s be honest: nobody misses rush hour. Employees feel more in control of their time and their carbon footprint. That’s a win-win.

How it helps ESG goals: Lower office energy consumption, fewer cars on the road, and less office waste all count toward environmental metrics.

Pro tip: Quantify the impact. Use a simple tool (like the EPA's Carbon Footprint Calculator) to show how much CO₂ your remote policy is saving annually. People love a feel-good number.

3. Green Tech = Clean Conscience

What it is: From switching to energy-efficient laptops to using green hosting providers for your website, tech choices matter. Even simple swaps—like defaulting to dark mode—can reduce energy usage.

Why employees care: They spend 8+ hours a day on tech. Knowing their tools are ethically and sustainably sourced adds meaning to that screen time.

How it helps ESG goals: Choosing hardware from companies committed to ethical sourcing and recycling adds weight to ESG tracking. Plus, software vendors are now releasing sustainability metrics too.

Fun idea: Hold a “Green App Day” where employees share low-carbon alternatives to apps they already use. (Spoiler: not all clouds are created equal.)

4. Plant Trees Instead of Giving Swag

What it is: Instead of handing out another branded stress ball or T-shirt, donate to a tree-planting initiative in your team’s name. Some services even let you track your trees!

Why employees care: A lot of people would rather see a forest grow than get another desk calendar. Especially Gen Z—they love the idea of giving back with actual impact.

How it helps ESG goals: Tree planting = carbon offsets. Whether you're aiming for net-zero or just want to clean up your supply chain footprint, trees are an easy win.

How to make it stick: Celebrate milestones! For every 10 trees planted, drop a message in your team’s channel with a cute tree emoji 🌲 and a fun fact.

5. Meatless Mondays (or Planet-Friendly Lunches)

What it is: Encourage one meatless lunch a week—or offer plant-based catering at events. Give it a fun name like “Green Bites” or “Planet Plates.”

Why employees care: More people are rethinking their diets, and even those who aren’t veggie love the idea of reducing their impact without giving up flavor.

How it helps ESG goals: Animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Cutting back on meat even once a week makes a measurable difference.

Keep it interesting: Share recipes in your internal newsletter or host a plant-based cook-off. Who knew cauliflower could be competitive?

The Bigger Picture: Aligning with Employee Values and Motivation

Here’s the deal—employees are watching. They care if your company aligns with their values, especially when it comes to sustainability. And they’re more likely to stay engaged when they feel their work is tied to a greater purpose.

And from an ESG perspective, these small changes feed into bigger goals. Green initiatives show up in your reporting, affect brand perception, and, yes—can even attract investors and top talent.

Wrap-Up: Be Green, Be Real

Employees don’t want perfection—they want progress. The key is to make sustainability part of the culture, not just a slide in your annual report. Start with one or two initiatives, get people involved, and grow from there.

Want to make it fun? Let teams pitch their own green ideas every quarter and vote on one to try. Sustainability doesn’t have to be serious all the time.

If you found this blog post helpful, please share it with your friends and colleagues. And if you have any other tips, share them in the comments below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Stalder is driven by the one thing he values most in life: joy. The joy in feeling like a kid again, the joy in fulfilling a sense of adventure, the joy in making a difference in peoples’ lives and the joy in helping others become the best versions of themselves. He uses the skills and expertise he's garnered throughout his career to bring joy to life—both for himself and for others.