An active workplace is a happy and healthy workplace.
Being physically active can dramatically improve your physical, mental and social health. A brisk 30 minute walk over 5 days a week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 20-35%, type 2 diabetes by 30-40% and some cancers by 20-30%. Studies suggest that a physically active workforce can be less stressed, and take 27% fewer sick days per year.
As well as the huge health and wellbeing benefits, a workplace that walks more can reduce their carbon footprint. Walking more might not seem like it’ll save the world, however if lots of people make one small change, this adds up to create a big difference
In 2017 37% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions were from transport, 40% of those transport emissions were from cars alone.
Walking instead of using a car, for a journey of 2 miles, 5 days a week, will save 161 kg CO2e per year*, which is the same amount of CO2e offset by a 3 km² area of native woodland in a year.
Walk at work
Walking is the simplest activity to encourage and promote in the workplace. It fits easily in and around the working day. It’s free. No special equipment is required, and most people can take part. It can also improve mental health – regular walking can reduce your risk of depression and dementia by 20-30%, improve your sleep, and prevent and reduce anxiety and stress.
There are many ways to walk more during the working day. You can walk all or part of the way to work, organise a walking meeting with your colleagues, use a standing desk, take the stairs instead of the lift or head out for a lunchtime walk.
Our support
Our unique programmes for workplaces are designed to help you and your colleagues walk more at work.
Our Step Count Challenge is a fun, sociable way of encouraging teams of five to walk more by tracking and recording their daily step count.
The Walk at Work Award
Our online Workplace Walking course will give you the knowledge, skills and ideas to get your colleagues walking more in and around the working day.
If you would like to find out more about getting your workplace active, contact our team today at walkatwork@pathsforall.org.uk
Additional information
Funding, advice, information, training, ideas and inspiration to help individuals and organisations from the private, public and charitable sectors to increase their uptake of active and sustainable travel can be found on the SustainableTravel.Scot website.
Funding Scotland lists local and national grants.
*based on UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for company reporting, 2019