Within the workplace, team building events are all part and parcel of the job. From promoting conversation, bonding and workplace friendships to boosting levels of motivation and productivity, they can bring a whole host of benefits to both individuals and the team as a whole.
But while they may be beneficial for the business and your employees, are your team building activities good for the environment?
Many traditional types of team building can actually be rather wasteful – from increasing the company’s carbon footprint with excessive travel and transport to binning all the leftover food at the end of the event, these are not good ways to reduce your impact on the environment.
Luckily, there are many ways in which you can still reap the benefits of a successful team building experience while taking a more eco-friendly approach.
Here are four of our favourites:
Charity Fundraising
We all do the regular charity fundraisers that are expected of us – donating for turning up to work in your casual everyday wear, chipping in when someone needs sponsoring for running a marathon or doing a skydive, and buying a treat or two at the annual office bake sale. However, why not try something a little different and raise some money for a good cause at the same time? Challenge each other to think of new and exciting ways that everyone can get involved and put the fun back into fundraising.
Planting Trees
With more and more trees being cut down across the world every day, deforestation is a major global issue. Closer to home, we are at risk of losing our precious green spaces in the never-ending quest for urbanisation, a worrying trend which we must do our best to reverse. Plants and trees are vital for the health of our planet; they take in carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and can help in the fight against global warming. As well as this, they are also an essential component of the ecosystem – if we begin to take certain keystone species away, it won’t be long before we lose others. For that reason, why not do your bit and plant some trees or plants as a team? If you have any green space near your offices, with the right permissions there should be no reason why you shouldn’t be able to plant some trees and create your own little pocket of nature.
Litter Picking
Granted, litter picking doesn’t sound like the most fun activity in the world. However, it is a highly beneficial activity that is both helpful to the environment and incredibly rewarding. Despite the fact that it is harmful to the environment, many people still simply throw their rubbish when they are finished with it, rather than taking it home with them or finding a bin. This can lead to an unsightly and unhealthy blight on our public spaces – from parks to beaches to rivers and canals, the fight against litter is one which is constantly ongoing. To make things a little more interesting, why not divide everyone up into teams and compete to see who can collect the most litter?
A Green Corporate Event
Whether it is a meeting, conference or corporate event, many people have to attend such events as part of their role. But instead of sticking to wasteful, expensive options, why not mix things up a bit and add a green twist to the occasion? From serving only locally-sourced food and produce (where possible) to swapping out traditional plastic tableware for sustainable, recyclable alternatives, there are plenty of ways for management to make the next corporate event more eco-friendly.
Of course, these are just a few of the many ways in which you can incorporate sustainability and eco-friendliness into the corporate environment. Team building is all about fun and refreshing the team, so why not make the most of it and commit to doing your bit for the planet at the same time?
Our writers come from all over the world, but one thing unites them - their passion for sustainability.