Sustainable Remote Work Practices

An important new paper in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences https://lnkd.in/gsqxBUiA This calculates the impact of WFH frequency from 0 to 5 days a week on carbon emissions. It combines commuting, non-commuting travel (e.g. driving to buy lunch if you WFH), office energy, home energy and ICT energy. It finds moving to 2 days a week reduces carbon use by 11%, 4 days by 29% and 5 days a week by a staggering 58%. This mainly from by less commuting and closing offices. We know commuting is energy intensive, but only after reading this did I realize offices are also huge energy users. For firms this highlights how a supportive WFH policy can deliver progress on climate objectives. Indeed, these effects are so large that WFH policies are likely to be one of the most powerful tools for companies trying to reduce their carbon footprint.

Tomorrow is Digital Cleanup Day and many people still have no idea what it is. 🙈   I’ve been a Digital Sustainability Consultant for several years now and it’s a big passion of mine to help educate people around the impact of your digital footprint on the environment.    You may not realise, but things you’re doing every single day is harming the environment. 😢 Here are some ridiculous stats to put things into context: 🌎 90% of all data is never accessed 3 months after it is stored. 🌎 91% of web pages get no traffic from Google. 🌎 One email emits, on average, 4g of CO2 = the carbon footprint of a light bulb turned on for 6 minutes! So, the question is, do you REALLY need to send that extra email? Are you OOO replies to show off that you’re on holiday that necessary? Are your website pages that no one visits needed on the server? 🤔   Here’s what you can do tomorrow to help reduce your digital carbon footprint:    💡 Clean your email inbox and unsubscribe from newsletters you don’t want 💡 Remove apps/photos/videos etc you don’t use from your phone 💡 Do a website audit, delete unused pages and speed it up! 💡 Delete files from your computer & free up space   The best bit? All of these things actually help: 🔥  Declutter your life 🔥  Speed up your website 🔥  Improve your productivity A lot of people dismiss digital sustainability because they think it doesn\t have much of an impact compared to cars/planes etc., but the average business user emits the same amount of carbon through emails as they do driving 200 miles in their car. 🤯 So… are you going to take action tomorrow?! #sustainability #websites #productivity #ecofriendly #entrepreneurship

How much digital clutter are you holding onto and at what cost? ➤ It’s easy to overlook the carbon footprint of our digital lives. Sending emails, sharing photos, and saving files may seem harmless, but they produce CO₂, contributing to global warming. Small actions like sending fewer emails or clearing out old files can make a surprising impact. As a sustainability professional, I’ve started paying closer attention to my digital habits. ✔️I think twice before hitting “send,” compress attachments whenever possible, and unsubscribe from newsletters I no longer read. It’s not just about decluttering it’s about reducing unnecessary energy use. 💎 Did you know that a single email can generate up to 50 grams of CO₂? 💎 Multiply that by the billions sent daily, and the environmental toll adds up. 💎 According to a study by Shift Project, digital technologies now account for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions that’s nearly double the aviation industry! ➤ Here’s what I recommend: 1-Pause before you send. ⤷Could a phone call or an online collaboration tool replace that email chain? 2-Lighten your digital load. ⤷Use hyperlinks instead of bulky attachments and compress file sizes when sharing. 3-Delete the unnecessary. ⤷Old photos, documents, and apps take up space and energy. 4-Streamline subscriptions. ⤷Unsubscribe from emails that no longer serve you. 🚨 We don’t often think of deleting emails or files as climate action, but it’s a simple, accessible step everyone can take. Imagine the collective impact if each of us reduced our digital waste by just 10%. Today, I challenge you: how many emails, photos, or files will you delete? Let’s start small, but aim big. What’s your favourite tip for reducing your digital footprint?

Remote work is a gift - but let's be real: it can wreck your health if you're not intentional. Two years ago, my routine was embarrassing: Wake up → laptop in bed → work on couch → order delivery → back to laptop → sleep I gained weight, lost energy, and felt constantly "on" but never actually productive. Working from home quietly creates: → Almost no movement → Poor posture (hello, couch slump) → Way longer workdays → Isolation & zero casual interactions → Skipped meals or eating like a distracted raccoon → Feeling "always on" but never fully present But the good news? You can fix a lot of this with small, repeatable habits. Here's what's completely changed my remote work life: 1️⃣ Create daily rituals → Morning walk before opening Slack (game-changer) → Post-lunch stretch (even 5 minutes helps) → Walking 1:1s instead of video calls when possible 2️⃣ Schedule human moments → Call a friend mid-morning just to laugh → Casual huddle with teammates about non-work topics → Grab coffee outside 3️⃣ Set real work hours → Just because there's no commute doesn't mean you owe the company 10–11 hours → Protect your end time like it's your most important meeting 4️⃣ Invest in your environment → Good chair, external keyboard, natural light → Create separation between "work zone" and "rest zone" - even in a small apartment 5️⃣ Move like it's your job → 5-min stretch between meetings (block these!) → Take your next brainstorm outside → Treat movement as productivity, not a distraction Remote work can be sustainable, creative, even energizing - but only if you design your day like it matters. Remote work doesn't have to slowly drain you. It can actually give you more energy than office work ever did. 👇 What's one thing you do to stay healthy(ish) while working remotely? Always looking for new tips.

🚨Return to Office Mandate – Revolutionary or Retro? 🚨 Everyone has seen the news that Andy Jassy at Amazon thinks being in the office five days a week is simply "better for business." Even after their own research last month found the majority of employees preferred flexible working! As someone with 20+ years in senior hiring for SaaS and digital roles, the vast majority of candidates I connect with are looking for a remote-first approach (with a some in-person client and colleague meetings). 🌍 But let’s not just take my word for it—here’s why remote policies aren’t just a "perk" but actually good for business: 💼 1. Productivity’s Secret Weapon A Stanford study found remote workers are 13% more productive than in-office workers. Fewer distractions, more flexibility, and, let’s be honest, no 2-hour commute! 🚗💨 🏢 2. Cost-Saving On average, companies save $11,000 per remote employee annually, according to Global Workplace Analytics. 💸 🌐 3. Talent Without Borders With 75% of remote workers willing to work outside their region, you’re not just fishing in a bigger talent pool—you’re fishing in ALL the oceans. 🐠🌍 😎 4. Happy Employees = Thriving Business 98% of workers say they’d love to work remotely for the rest of their careers. Add in a 74% boost in work-life satisfaction (according to Gallup!), So you are far more likely to retain your current employees as well as attract new ones 🏆 🌈 5. Diversity Wins, Always Remote work fuels inclusion and diversity. And here’s the kicker: McKinsey found diverse teams outperform non-diverse ones by 35%. That’s just good business. 💡 📈 6. Higher Profits 21% rise in profitability for companies adopting remote work before the pandemic, says Harvard Business Review. Enough said. 🤑 🌍 7. Eco-Friendly and Employee-Friendly Cut the commute, cut the carbon footprint—by 54 million tons annually, according to Global Workplace Analytics. Save the planet and keep your team happy!🌱 So, before you mandate that five-day return, ask yourself—are you really boosting the business? Or just boosting office chair sales? 🪑💼 Hiring leaders who get it (and want their candidates to get it too) Let’s  talk talent🚀 #RemoteWork #LeadershipHiring #SaaS #TechLeadership #HiringTrends #Productivity

Looks like Trump, the “President” and certain CEOs need the memo yet again: GHG emissions and their correlation to pre-Covid working patterns is NOT a joke… Shifting from a 5-day in-office week to: - 2 days at home reduces carbon use by 11% - 4 days at home reduces emissions by 29% - and 5 days at home, it’s a whopping 58%! This data comes from the National Academy of Sciences combines: - office energy - home energy and ICT energy - commuting and non-commuting travel (e.g. driving to run errands if you work remotely, etc.) Now, it’s naive and unproductive to assume that everyone can or should work from home… But when we bear witness to things like the fires in LA and arbitrary RTO mandates time and time again, it warrants a response. Speaking practically, here’s what we MUST do: - shift from top-down mandates to team-led agreements on office usage - increase sharing ratios for desk/office usage - get companies to embrace coworking as part of their workplace strategy Why??? Well…can you guess how much CO2 an unused desk emits into the atmosphere annually? 1 Ton! According to the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers each unused desk in an office equates to the creation of approximately one ton of unnecessary C02 every year (powering space that isn’t used). So, let’s lay out some data: - Size of US Office Market - 97 Billion Sq. Ft. (As of 2018 and estimated to grow to 126.4 Billion Sq. Ft. by 2050, Source: Google) - Average desk size - 50 Sq. Ft. per person (Source: Hubble) - Average Desk Utilization Rate - 60% (Source: Kadence) - Size of Knowledge Workforce US as of 2021 - 100 Million people (Source: Wonder (AskWonder.com) 🤔 Now let’s do some math: 100MM x 50 = 5B Sq. Ft. of (purely) desk space in the US 5B Sq. Ft. x 1 Ton CO2 = 5B Tons of C02 5B Sq. Ft. x 0.40% (desk utilization shortfall) = 2B Tons of WASTEFUL CO2 emissions This is some powerful math to consider… And it doesn’t account for the fact that post-pandemic office usage rates are MUCH worse. The workplace is more important than ever, but the traditional model is broken… Meaningful progress can be made by: - office landlords partnering with more flex space operators - companies improving their hybrid work operating platform (their tech stack) - undertaking (hard) change management to shift from top-down mandates to flexible approaches to hybrid There isn’t time to wait. Like literally. There isn’t. Time…

25+ countries, 4 productivity best practices that work. I didn't go remote to hustle 24/7 across timezones. But there's this myth that remote work meant being always-on to prove your worth. Many see late nights as the cost of timezone freedom. Yet, through working remotely from different places and leading distributed teams, I've seen what actually makes remote work sustainable: - Without burnout - Without endless check-ins - Without late-night messages So, here're the best practices that made it work , and what I've learned: 1️⃣ Energy mapping over time blocking ⇢ Track energy patterns for 14 days.   Found my peak hours is 7-9AM, not 11PM. ⇢ Schedule complex work during high-focus hours.   Calendar colour blocks help to see impact vs. low-value. --- 2️⃣ Intentional availability ⇢ Set "decision boundaries."   Clear rules for what moves forward without you. ⇢ Create a team FAQ playbook.   No more "waiting for response" bottlenecks. --- 3️⃣ Flow-state sessions ⇢ Follow "touch it once."   Complete tasks fully before moving on. ⇢ Use the 5/25 method. 25mins of focus, 5mins breaks. Saved my sanity & protected deep work. --- 4️⃣ Output visibility, not online status ⇢ Share impact metrics weekly.   Focus on outcomes, not activities or screen time. ⇢ Build a "status work" dashboard.   I use a simple Notion board. Here's what I've also learned: The best remote teams don't force everyone into the same work style. They build systems that respect how people work best. While some people thrive with structured routines, others need flexibility within guardrails. Both can succeed. The important thing is designing ways of working and systems that honor both your unique cognitive rhythms and sustainably maintain team cohesion. ✨ What part of your remote work routine needs a reset?

*Beyond the Cloud: Surprising Truths About Our Digital Carbon Footprint* Here are some of the key takehomes from a workshop I led for a client this week for Digital Clean Up Day. Teams wanted to understand the relationship between technology and sustainability. Here's what we explored: *The Digital Paradox Digital tech helps reduce emissions. Think smart meters and virtual meetings or cloud computing and automation. However, digital usage also requires energy, with associated carbon emissions. Currently about 2% of our total global energy footprint—and this is growing with AI adoption. What Can We Do? While systemic change requires corporate action and policy shifts, we can make meaningful changes within our own sphere of influence. Here are 4 key areas: *Our Digital Footprint Our daily digital lives involve countless digital actions. Emails (333 billion sent every day), streaming, and storage all use energy, but in context, the individual impact is relatively small. For the same carbon emissions of one short haul flight...you can send 2 million emails. What can we do? Conduct a cloud clear-up! Only use the storage you need. Photos, videos and emails sitting in the cloud occupy data-centre space. Removing unnecessary digital clutter reduces this. *Device Manufacturing The carbon embedded in manufacturing devices can be significant, depending on size (like TVs) and complexity (like desktop computers). The average UK household has 11 devices each, and the carbon footprint of devices in a typical home can be a tonne of carbon. What can we do? Extend device lifetimes through repair, buy refurbished products, and reduce upgrade frequency. The most sustainable device is the one you already own! *Energy Consumption Devices vary significantly in power requirements. Mobile phones are small and energy efficient, with most impact coming from their manufacturing. Laptops and gaming consoles need more power due to size and processing capabilities. Even low-energy devices like routers add up when running continuously. *E-Waste Management When we discard electronics, we're losing valuable rare earth materials that are difficult to source. Additionally, toxic components can leach from landfills into water systems, creating environmental hazards. Recycling is key, and companies like Magic Magpie and Backmarket are great for refurbished electronics to increase re-use and reduce waste. This week’s client workshop for Digital Clean Up Day sparked great discussions including 'what is the single biggest thing I can do in my own life'. A good place to start is to get all those old devises out of the cupboard and get them wiped clean and recycled, and reduce the number of new devices you buy too – which is good for our wallet, and the planet! What is your favourite digital clean up tip? #DigitalSustainability #DigitalCleanUpDay #TechForGood #ESG #GreenTech #CircularEconomy #EWaste #SustainableTech #ClimateAction

Ever struggled with maintaining work-life balance in a remote work setting? Here’s how I found equilibrium: Set clear boundaries between work hours and personal time. Created a dedicated workspace to separate work from home life. Practiced self-discipline to stick to work schedules and breaks. Engaged in regular self-care to avoid burnout and maintain well-being. Communicated openly with colleagues about availability and boundaries. Embraced flexibility to adapt to changing work and personal needs. Used technology to stay connected and manage work tasks effectively. Found joy in personal activities and hobbies outside of work. Celebrated achievements and progress in both work and personal life. Trusted that balance in remote work evolves with practice and adjustment. When working remotely, how do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Sustainability is part of every marketing and business strategy nowadays, but how often do you think about your digital carbon footprint? 🌎 My guess would be not very often - it's often overlooked. Your digital carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouses gases emitted, as a result of the production, use and disposal of digital services, plus the energy used to power them. Is your digital marketing as green as it could be? 🌿 From video streaming to web hosting, everything online leaves an energy footprint. But there are small, impactful ways to reduce this. As Tesco rightly says, 'every little helps'. 👣 Reduce excessive emails. Whilst email marketing doesn't involve physical printing, paper or the postal service, it still has a carbon footprint. Try to avoid using sound or video, as these increase carbon footprints. Also be mindful about how often you email - consider the purpose of your messaging. 👣 Make your website greener. Switch to a green host and reduce your number of web pages to make your site more efficient. Every click someone makes on your website has an impact on the environment, so carefully consider UX to make it easier & more efficient for people to find what they want. Reducing your image sizes can also be great for the environment, as well as UX and SEO. 👣 Be mindful of how you use video. Online video represents around 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions from digital technology. Make sure that any video adds genuine value to your target customers, save the video at the lowest resolution possible, keep your video short and avoid setting the video to autoplay. 👣 Colour matters. Using Google Maps in night mode causes the display's power usage to fall by 63%. Black uses the least amount of colour and white uses the most. Blue pixels consumer 25% more energy than green or red. 👣 Unplug when not in use & use energy-efficient devices. For example, unplug your printer rather than leaving it on standby. 👣 Choose eco-friendly providers. If possible, opt for sustainable, renewable electricity sources to power your devices. (Shout out to Honchō's client 100Green!) 👣 Turn off your camera on video calls. This may be music to some people's ears, but a 1 hour video call can emit 150-1000 grams of carbon dioxide and need 2-12 litres of water. Switch to audio only to reduce your carbon footprint. 👣 Recycle devices responsibly. This (hopefully) goes without saying, but be sure to dispose of your devices responsibly. Brands that lead with eco-friendly digital strategies not only reduce their carbon footprint but also align with consumer expectations around sustainability. I truly wish there was more conversation around digital sustainability! 🌐 🌱