New direction at the office: An interview with Gry from JaJa Architects

Today we have the pleasure of presenting an exciting interview with Gry Oustrup, Office Assistant at JaJa Architects, an environmentally conscious architectural practice that we are extremely proud to work with, as their environmentally conscious approach to the office is a source of inspiration for both us and our large community of office managers. We talk to Gry about her role in the office, green initiatives and using technology like the Officeguru app to make administration easier.

Gry has been an Office Assistant at JaJa Architects for two years. She originally started her career as an educator, but needed a different type of job where flexibility and part-time opportunities were an option. Her current role involves managing the office and making sure everyone is comfortable and can focus on their work.

Responsible transition and vegetarian lunch

JaJa Architects' approach to how the office should contribute to the green transition is admirable. One notable practice at the office is that they only serve vegetarian food for lunch. Gry explains:

"It's best for the environment that we don't eat meat, and people can choose to eat meat for dinner and breakfast if they want it".

This choice reflects the office's commitment to being environmentally conscious and supporting a healthy lifestyle. It is a company policy that the lunch program is vegetarian, which also places demands on the supplier. Fortunately, on the Officeguru platform, there are several kitchens that specialize in creating a tasty vegetarian lunch plan. The difference is that these kitchens don't see the vegetarian dish as a more boring version of the meat dish of the day.

Healthier alternatives to sweets

Gry also shares another change in the office's dietary habits. They used to spend 900 kroner a week on sweets, but now they focus primarily on healthy alternatives such as crispbread, crackers, dried fruit and dark chocolate with over 60% cocoa.

"Well, we think it's important to be good for the environment and also good for your body."

This change took some getting used to at first, but now has the full support of colleagues as the alternatives taste great too. In addition, Gry feels that the change has improved the employees' energy levels.

"People themselves say that they feel better. Because what happens when you eat sweets is that you get a sugar boost and you're hyperactive for a while, and then you suddenly get tired. I don't often see people as tired in the afternoon as we used to be, so it really helps at work."

Green profile and sustainability

JaJa Architects also supports local businesses and uses recycled products or sustainable alternatives in the office, such as cleaning supplies. They also encourage employees to drink tap water, as Denmark has a reliable source of drinking water. Therefore, there are always glass bottles of cold drinking water in the fridge. Gry emphasizes the importance of avoiding wasting resources and focusing on sustainability - where even the small details can make a difference.

The Officeguru app for administration

The Officeguru app has made administration easier for Gry. She uses it to coordinate cleaning, fruit schemes, window cleaning and the lunch scheme. Although she points out that there are still some tasks that require a consultation with Officeguru's Customer Success department, the app is a convenient way to have everything in one place and avoid having to log into multiple platforms or deal with a messy email inbox.

Conclusion: Sustainability can easily be implemented in the office

JaJa Architects and Gry have demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental friendliness, health and efficient administration in the office. Their switch to vegetarian lunches and focus on healthy alternatives to sweets are great examples of how small changes can have a positive impact on the working environment. The Officeguru app has also been an important resource for streamlining office administration, and the lunch app in particular helps maintain their green profile and limit food waste.

This interview with Gry and JaJa Architects is an inspiration to other companies looking to go green and use technology to ease office management.

If you're looking for healthy snacks for the office, take a look at our great partnership withBetterBox.