Companies need not resort to complicated and costly measures in order to create a sustainable workplace and implement environmentally friendly work practices.

Did you know that according to the General Assembly Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, "the world is on the brink of a climate catastrophe and current actions and plans to address the crisis are insufficient?" In fact, we are looking at increased greenhouse gas emissions that risk the lives of more than 3 billion people, global temperatures on the rise, carbon dioxide levels also going up, and a lack of renewable energy to keep up with the demand, among others.

"Failure to act leads to intensifying heatwaves, droughts, flooding, wildfires, sea-level rise, and famines," the report says. "To combat climate change and its impacts by 2030, urgent and transformative action is needed...across mitigation and adaptation efforts."

This is why in 2015, all the member states of the United Nations (UN) made the decision to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is defined as an "urgent call for action by all countries—developed and developing—in a global partnership." At its core are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A handful of these SDGs are directly related to the environment, including Climate Action, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Sustainable Cities and Communities. And nearly a decade since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, efforts to meet its goals have been seen around the world—both at a macro and micro level.

That being said, we delve into how you can implement environmentally friendly work practices in order to create a sustainable workplace for your company.

A Local Example of Sustainable Practices

Here in the Philippines, different companies have used the SDGs to guide their business principles, workplace culture, and practices. For example, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI), the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country, transitioned to renewable energy use in early 2021 to supply the energy requirements of its plants.

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