How Remote Work Supports UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 12 of Responsible Consumption and Production

By Rachel Jay, Content Specialist

In 2015, the United Nations Development Program developed a set of 17 goals to help “bring the world to several life-changing ‘zeros’, including zero poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.”

Called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these global goals were adopted by all United Nations Member States. FlexJobs has been featuring ways in which remote work can assist with meeting eight of these SDGs.

Let’s dive deeper into goal 12 and how flexwork can aid in ensuring responsible consumption and production.

Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

How remote work supports sustainable consumption and production

Part of goal 12 encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices: “Encouraging industries, businesses, and consumers to recycle and reduce waste is equally important, as is supporting developing countries to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption by 2030.”

Remote work enables companies to save and use less resources in a variety of areas.

A Staples workplace survey found that 77% of employers believe allowing employees to work remotely may lead to lower operating costs. To this point, FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics found that employers can save about $11,000 per employee who works remotely part-time.

Companies with remote workers need less office space, have lower utility bills, have less office equipment to purchase and maintain, and can spend less money expanding into new territories. Translated to multiple workers—think of a company with hundreds or thousands of people who don’t need to be in the office every day—and you’re looking at big bucks.

FlexJobs, which has been an entirely virtual company since 2007, has saved $1,066,500 on real estate costs over the course of 11 years by having a remote workforce.

The businesses that pilot and then roll out flexibility, and see the environmental and bottom-line benefits, serve as important case studies and encouragement for others to adopt this sustainable practice.

Mariam Rowhani, a FlexJobs reader, shared about how working remotely helps both her company and herself live more sustainably:

“The earth is suffering because of humanity’s carbon footprint. By being a remote worker, I drive less and waste less gasoline. It is far healthier for me and much less stressful. Also it helps employers from having to provide electricity and cuts down on office waste when managing multiple employees. And it is about working smarter, which improves productivity and focus.”

Another FlexJobs reader, Mary Beth, recognized how her employer could benefit from offering remote work:

“Also, my employer has a giant office with high ceilings and lots of empty space, and they’re paying to cool and heat all that wasted space, which bothers me. Not to mention they just spent a bunch of money updating the office that was only five years old! What a waste of resource! It would be great if I had a job that allowed me to be home all the time!”