Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22 April. This tradition began in 1970 in response to growing environmental concerns after a large oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. And over the decades, Earth Day has become a global event. One that brings together over a billion people all over the world with one shared goal – raising awareness of environmental issues and pursuing a sustainable future.

For businesses and organizations, Earth Day also offers an opportunity to raise awareness and foster environmental responsibility within the workplace. In this article, we explore the role of offices and workplaces generally in broader sustainability efforts, discuss the benefits of embracing Earth Day with practical eco-friendly practices, and give some ideas on how to organize engaging office events to celebrate this special date.

The Role of Office Spaces in Sustainability

Office environments significantly influence environmental outcomes. According to the World Resources Institute, 6.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions are emitted by commercial buildings alone, including offices. 

And although energy consumption contributes 60% of an office’s total carbon footprint, there are other office-related activities that can also be targeted to achieve effective sustainability measures during Earth Day and beyond.

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Millennials and Gen Z professionals are now the largest demographic in the world of work, so it goes without saying that their views and expectations will have an impact on different corporate practices. Among these practices are issues of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental sustainability, two of the hottest topics in the 21st century business world.

In this article, we will look at how both Millennial & Gen Z professionals are shaping corporate social responsibility and sustainability practices in office-based workplaces across the United States.

Seven Ways Millennials & Gen Z are Shaping CSR and Sustainability Practices

Purpose-Driven Workplaces

One of the things that characterizes the new generation of professionals is their understanding of the workplace as more than just “a place to work”. Although financial considerations still matter, Millennials and Gen Z workers expect more than just a paycheck: they want their work to have a purpose. 

For this generation, being purposeful at work equals success, matching or even in some cases exceeding the feeling of satisfaction that comes from financial gain. In fact, many Millennials would be willing to take a pay cut if their work resonates with their values. 

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