'I just can't be bothered': why people are greener at home than in the office

Must of us ignore our environmental responsibilities at work, largely because of a lack of control, responsibility or financial interest

"I know I should be bothered but I just can't be", said a colleague recently as they threw some paper towards the bin, "it's weird really because at home we're fastidious about recycling and all that " but at work I just don't bother." In one sentence highlighting how hard it can be to encourage employees to be as environmentally friendly in the workplace as they are in their own homes.

As an academic interested in employee environmental behaviour I often find myself encouraging colleagues to be more environmentally friendly. However, research confirms that employees act worse at work because they don't have a financial interest (most don't even know the energy spend of their organisation), equipment is often shared so there can be a lack of responsibility and employees can't control many of the elements that could make a difference to energy and resources use, such as heating or lighting.