Blog: Ville Taipale, VP, Customer Supply Management, Martela
As consumers, we have been used to considering responsibility factors for a long time now. In recent years, responsibility has also gained more significance in the area of workplace development. In fact, forward-looking companies consider a responsible workplace to be an important aspect of their corporate responsibility and they utilise the expertise of their partners to move in the right direction. At Martela, this is reflected e.g. in the criteria of public sector tenders as well as in project goals of many workplace development projects.
So, how do I develop my workplace in a responsible way? Here are five tips!
- Think of workplace development as a continuous model – not as individual projectsWhen developing a workplace using a lifecycle model, it is possible to consider responsibility in every single stage of workplace development, from planning and furnishing and interior design solutions to the implementation, use and optimisation of spaces. A comprehensive model creates far more added value than impromptu projects by ensuring that spaces are always suitable for their needs.
- Involve the personnel
The best working and learning environments are created based on the goals and values of each organisation, considering the needs of end users. User-centric workplace planning ensures a working environment that supports operations, which boosts working efficiency and creates wellbeing. When users are involved in the specification of needs, significant improvements later on can often be avoided. - Only buy what you need, choose quality and support the circular economy
When spaces are dimensioned to meet the company’s needs from the very beginning, unnecessary purchases can be avoided. This is the foundation for an environmentally friendly approach where companies purchase only what they need. High-quality furniture stands the test of time and heavy use in public spaces. Sustainability is an important part of the entire product lifecycle, from design and material selection to logistics and recycling of the product's components. A responsible partner will provide information on the responsibility of the entire production and supply chain: the environmental impacts of products and their production chain, products’ environmental labels and manufacturing processes’ environmental certificates.
When furnishing a new space it is worth considering whether it is possible to use old furniture, either as it is or after it has been refurbished. Recycled furniture can also be a good alternative when furnishing new spaces. Recycling good condition furniture that is no longer needed so that it can be used by others is a responsible thing to do. - Optimise the use of space and functionality regularly
The maintenance and optimisation of spaces have a significant role in responsible workplace development. Regular measurement of the use of space and development based on data will improve space utilisation and save money. The needed changes may not necessarily be extensive, but they may have a major impact on productivity, the wellbeing of personnel and responsible workplace development. - Consider a service model instead of owning products
It is not always easy to predict the situation of your organisation and the number of employees in advance. Despite any changes that take place a workplace must always support the needs of the organisation. Did you know that you can purchase your workplace or learning environment as a service? This type of service model makes it possible to rapidly react to changes, makes it easier to predict costs and reduces the pressure of ownership. It also enables an environmentally friendly way of optimising space utilisation and creates a positive employee experience.
You can find more information on responsibility at Martela in our latest Sustainability Report.
Learn about our service models: Workplace as a Service and Learning environment as a Service.
