What New Work means for action on climate

In our blog post, you can find out what impact New Work has on climate action, the importance of corporate social responsibility and how this should be seen in the context of sustainability.


Key facts

  1. New Work approaches such as flexible working models can promote climate protection by reducing commuting or short-haul flights, which leads to lower CO2 emissions.
  2. Companies are increasingly focusing on sustainable mobility offers and incentives to minimise emissions.
  3. Companies are integrating climate protection into their values, for example through environmentally friendly practices and initiatives. This increases employee motivation and creates a modern employer brand.


Contents

  • What is New Work?
  • What impact does New Work have on climate protection?
  • Corporate social responsibility: social responsibility in the company
  • Need for action on sustainability: why New Work is so important
  • Climate action in your company: Concrete tips


What is New Work?

New Work refers to a new understanding of work and the world of work in the age of globalisation and digitalisation. New Work aims to put the focus on people and make the world of work and the working environment more people-centred in order to improve the work-life balance of employees and ultimately the motivation and productivity of employees. New Work is seen as a response to the dynamic changes in the economy, technology and society.


The core values of this new world of work are freedom, independence and participation in the community. Flexible working models, independent working and more freedom of choice for employees are increasingly placing the work-life balance of employees centre stage. New Work therefore has an impact on the choice of work locations as well as working hours. Practical examples of new ways of working include terms such as remote work, workation (combining work and holidays), the four-day week and co-working spaces.


What impact does New Work have on climate protection?

New Work can have a positive impact on climate protection if various measures and approaches are promoted that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to ecological sustainability in the company.


Ways in which New Work can promote climate action:


Reduction of commuter traffic

A key element of New Work is flexibility in terms of work location and working hours. Remote working, working from home or flexible working hours mean that employees commute to the office less or outside peak times. This leads to a reduction in traffic emissions. With the right mobility offers from companies that enable more flexibility, sustainable mobility can also be promoted, which further reduces greenhouse gas emissions.


Efficient use of office space

New Work is not only changing the way we work or where we work, but also the office itself. Hybrid and flexible working models mean that office space is being used less and also differently - keyword flex desk or hot desk. This offers companies the opportunity to create sustainable office environments that are designed for energy efficiency, among other things. This includes the use of renewable energies, intelligent building automation systems and energy-saving lighting technologies.


Digitalisation and virtual meetings

With New Work, communication is increasingly taking place digitally. Even if not every customer appointment can be held online: Virtual meetings reduce the need for many business trips. Fewer flights and car journeys mean fewer traffic emissions.


Sustainable corporate culture

Companies that adopt New Work approaches tend to establish a more sustainability-orientated corporate culture. In addition to environmentally friendly initiatives such as waste reduction and recycling programmes, this is expressed above all in sustainable employee mobility. Employees who travel to work by train or bike emit less CO2 than employees with company cars.


Change in business models

Finally, New Work can even help companies to change their business models and develop innovative approaches that are less resource-intensive. This includes, for example, the development of products and services that are more environmentally friendly and reduce the use of raw materials.


The extent to which New Work ultimately has an impact on climate protection depends heavily on how it is actually implemented. Even if there is potential for reducing emissions and operational sustainability, companies and employees must take measures to utilise this potential.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Social responsibility in the company

Companies are increasingly responsible for social, ecological and ethical issues that go beyond the mere pursuit of economic goals. This is what is meant by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The concept of New Work, which is based on flexibility, self-determination and a sense of purpose, can be applied here and promote a sustainable corporate culture.


Companies that integrate CSR values into their organisation tend to do justice not only to their social responsibility, but also to their responsibility for the environment. These companies can implement aspects such as sustainable employee mobility, energy efficiency, waste reduction, carbon neutrality and sustainable procurement within their New Work strategy to support a sustainable and responsible way of working.


Digital technologies and flexible working models

Digital technologies and more flexible working models, which are becoming increasingly important due to New Work, also offer opportunities for climate protection. Companies can reduce their environmental impact by, for example, minimising business travel, increasing the use of virtual meetings and introducing digital mobility solutions such as a mobility budget.


Transparency and open communication

Transparency and open communication are among the core values of CSR. Companies should be transparent about their efforts in terms of sustainable working practices and environmental protection. This strengthens employer branding and the trust of the company's stakeholders. With the upcoming CSRD, transparent sustainability reporting will become essential for companies anyway.


Employee engagement

Finally, CSR also depends on the commitment of employees to sustainable behaviour. New Work concepts that promote employee participation and self-determination can help to raise awareness of CSR and sustainability. Employees who participate in sustainability initiatives can actively support the company in achieving its social and environmental goals.


Need for action on sustainability: why New Work is so important

The topic of sustainability has become increasingly important in recent years. The last few years have shown ever more clearly that the challenges and effects of climate change are becoming ever more real and that the need for action on the topic of sustainability is therefore increasing dramatically. New Work approaches are particularly relevant in this context, as they not only encompass modern working methods and organisational structures, but can also help to promote sustainable business practices.


New Work emphasises flexibility, self-determination and a sense of purpose in the world of work. It therefore offers an ideal basis for integrating sustainability aspects. Companies that implement the principles of New Work not only have the opportunity to improve the quality of life of their employees, but also to support environmentally conscious behaviour.


At a time of increasing urgency in the area of climate protection, New Work offers an opportunity for sustainable change at an individual, organisational and social level. By implementing modern ways of working with a focus on sustainability, companies can not only respond to the needs of their employees, but also make a significant contribution to climate protection.

Specific tips for climate action in your company

More climate action is also possible in your company. With these measures and approaches, you can promote climate protection in your organisation and help to minimise your company's ecological footprint:


Mobility and transport

  • Implement a mobility strategy that reduces business travel, promotes virtual meetings and favours sustainable mobility.
  • Offer your employees a company bike lease and/or a Germany job ticket as part of their employee benefits.
  • Use a mobility budget platform that allows all employee mobility to be managed in one place. This not only promotes sustainable forms of mobility, but also saves costs and time.
  • If your company has a fleet of vehicles, you can take these measures to make the fleet greener.


Energy efficiency and resource management

  • Carry out a comprehensive energy efficiency analysis to identify potential energy savings.
  • Invest in energy-efficient lighting systems and heating and cooling systems at the company site.
  • You can also reduce resource consumption at the company site through efficient waste management and recycling programmes.


Promotion of renewable energies

  • Investigate the possibility of using renewable energies such as solar energy or wind energy in your company to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions. Choose a green electricity provider.
  • Invest in green technologies and solutions that reduce energy consumption.


Sustainable procurement and supply chain

  • Choose suppliers and partners who are committed to environmentally friendly practices.
  • Avoid the use of disposable products and plastic packaging in your day-to-day work and within your supply chain.


Awareness raising and training

  • Sensitise your employees to climate protection and environmental issues. Offer training courses and workshops on sustainable working practices.
  • Establish sustainable behaviour in the corporate culture to support employee engagement.


Measurement and reporting

  • Set clear and binding targets for reducing emissions and resource consumption in your company.
  • Sustainability reporting is becoming mandatory for more and more companies. Implement a CO2 reporting system in good time.


Implementing these measures not only helps to drive climate action in your company, but also to achieve long-term savings and strengthen your employer brand as a sustainable company.

Stefan Wendering
Stefan is a freelance writer and editor at NAVIT. Previously, he worked for startups and in the mobility cosmos. He is an expert in urban and sustainable mobility, employee benefits and new work. Besides blog content, he also creates marketing materials, taglines and content for websites and case studies.