Green Revolution in the Office: How did we transform our workplace to protect the planet?

After a month focused on tendering, we’re excited to dive into a topic that’s close to our hearts: sustainability. In October, we’ll be exploring the importance of sustainable practices. Our first article will highlight our revamped, more eco-friendly office, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

“Our mission is to build a more livable world while preserving our environment, and one of our greatest advancements has been making our office more sustainable.” – INCON

Recently, the INCON-LOGISTIC team and its owner, Kriszta, have been working tirelessly to transform our office. The considerable effort and planning have paid off, as we have gained a much more modern, comfortable, and sustainable office, and more importantly, a green office.

What is a Green Office?

A green office is a workplace that employs environmentally conscious solutions to optimize energy consumption, sustainability, and the efficient use of resources. A great example of this is that company owners source furniture from local manufacturers or have them custom made. The redesign of the office is entrusted to designers who take environmental considerations into account.

What was the basic concept of the office?

Gyutai Szilvia was responsible for the design of our renewed office. Szilvi is the owner of Home&Deco.

“The concept was to create a friendly and comfortable working environment for everyone, while ensuring there’s space for any new arrivals. The furniture placed in the offices and meeting rooms comes from sustainable sources and was custom-made in a Hungarian carpentry workshop. Many of the items were produced from panels made of recycled wood materials,” says Szilvi.

The furniture was sourced for us by Europa Design, who is also our permanent partner, thus it is a strategic partnership. The furnishings are not only stylish and functional, but they are also environmentally friendly. Paying attention to the carbon footprint of the purchases, it was important to ensure that the products were either domestic or imported from as close a distance as possible.

AKABA: Polypropylene seat shell is 100% recyclable.
TRUE DESIGN: Fabric consists of 24% recycled polyester.
HERMAN MILLER: You can see the components in the diagram below.

In our new office, the lighting technology has also been upgraded, as traditional bulbs have been replaced by energy-efficient lighting systems, and cool-white LEDs have been incorporated into the ceiling. The cute, globe-shaped energy-saving LED bulbs placed above the desks not only enhance the aesthetics of the office but also create a friendly and pleasant atmosphere for work. The bulbs are energy-efficient. Szilvi aimed to match the type of bulbs to the color temperature of the existing LED panels. A motion sensor light has been installed in the hallway to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption.

The key elements of INCON’s climate control are modern external insulation and a heat pump system. The heat pump technology has been in our service for a while, as it operates with extremely low energy consumption and offers an environmentally friendly solution. By applying these systems, we not only enhance our comfort but also contribute to a sustainable future.

In addressing paper consumption, we strive to implement digital communication and document storage solutions. Double-sided printing is the default at our office, and we recycle rejected prints as note paper, thereby reducing the need to purchase notepads. (Of course, rejected prints stay within the office to prevent information leaks.) Additionally, we have acquired two high-performance, energy-efficient shredders and two new energy-efficient printers, which allow us to further increase our efficiency. Since 2018, we have been generating and sending invoices and related documentation electronically, minimizing paper usage.

INCON-LOGISTIC Ltd. has been equipped with a network-connected water purification system for many years, allowing us to avoid the use of disposable bottles. Employees can enjoy clean, high-quality water using their own bottles, guaranteed by the modern UV lamp system. These solutions are not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective, leading to significant savings in the long run.

The green plants are from Oázis Garden Center, the terrariums from Urban Plants, and the moss logo was personally created by Szilvi on-site. Our environment has been enriched with Zamioculcas plants, which are very resilient and can be easily cared for by the INCON team, even with a busy workload. After a few minutes of effective relaxation, having a green potted plant on the desk holds great significance. These plants not only provide a pleasant sight but also soothe the eyes during long hours spent in front of the monitor. They help with focus as well, especially when we are deeply immersed in our thoughts while searching for solutions to a specific task.

It is of paramount importance for INCON to stay informed about sustainability and to continuously monitor current trends. To this end, we actively follow professional pages on social media that provide inspiring content contributing to sustainable development. Examples include GS1 Hungary, 10 Million Trees, KÖVET, DeSmog, and the Green Tracking Association.

Our goal is not only to keep up with these trends but also to set an example through our own activities. By fostering close relationships and staying informed about the latest trends, we strive to achieve similar objectives that help make our company more sustainable.