And it’s not all about buying stationery supplies!
Sustainability, green footprints, Eco friendly energy and fair trade purchasing – it can all get a little confusing can’t it? We are all supposed to be making strides to improve our Companies carbine footprints but how can we make sure we are not taking our eyes off the ball in one area whilst we concentrate on another? – It’s not always easy.
The team here at Officeprofiles have put together a few ideas and tips to help businesses both large and small to ‘look in the right places’ to begin to lower those areas that impact our global impact.
1) Lead by Example
Before you can ask others to change their behaviour it’s only fair to make sure the way you conduct your environmental initiatives are correct and best practice for your office; make the right steps habit rather than effort – office workers should then naturally want to follow your carbon friendly example.
2) Have an Environmental Champion in your office
Most offices will have staff who need a little more encouragement in green areas but also those members of staff who really embrace the Eco initiatives, they will go out of their way to change their practices, they will automatically take the greener route and in many cases they will want to be seen to be the greener working staff member. Use these people; ask them to help you make green working the norm and let others see that its required of them – perhaps they can write the office environmental newsletter, order the recycled printer cartridges, make sure used A4 copier paper and supplies get recycled rather than thrown out, the list can go on and on…
3) Go Green when you Go!!
Green travel is one of the best ways to get people involved, encourage staff to car share, show bus timetables on your office noticeboard – start a ‘cycle to work scheme’ (this gives staff the chance to buy a brand new bike and get the tax off through a government backed scheme) – also consider teleconferencing when possible to avoid travel.
4) Buy green office supplies and machines
(We like this one!!) – printer cartridges, furniture, pens, files, copier paper…….the list goes on and on – you will find most modern office supplies and stationery companies will now have specific Green products catalogue to give Eco shoppers a selection of full recycled, part recycled and even Fair Trade products – there are now literally thousands of green products for the office available.
5) Recycle everything you possibly can
You can now get recycle bins for; paper, printer cartridges, batteries, mobile phones, shredder waste and specific IT and computer products – use them, they will cost nothing and in some cases can even make you money, many printer collection companies will now PAY YOU for your old and used printer supplies. Put your recycle bins by every machine where it’s easy for staff to use them as habit.
6) Use less A4 paper
There’s one great way to improve this; ask your office supplies provider to give you an average volume of paper used in 6 months (or 1 month if you are a large user) then make a pile of that exact amount in either the café area or better stiff reception area – somewhere where everyone will see it, place a sign on the top saying that ‘this is how much paper we use in OUR office – please work with us to reduce this consumption for a greener and better world’. The effect of seeing the physical amount used will give an actual image for people to see – A picture tells a thousand words!!
7) Use less water in your restrooms
Push button taps in the toilet areas of your office are perfect to release just enough water needed to wash your hands AND NO MORE – saving money and the environment.
8) Buy the green office machines for your office
Many fax machines, printers and photocopiers have selling USP’s designed to appeal to the greener office shopper with features like; less ink consumption, auto shutdown, fast print speed, light shut off etc etc – look out for the ones which shout about their Carbon friendly features.
9) Heat – not too much and make sure there’s enough
Your office should be a constant temperate between 20 and 24 degrees C, reducing a room temperature by a single degree can reduce heating bills by as much as 10%.
10) Insulation (and oldie but still a good one)
Loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and damp proofing are al still great ways to reduce lost heat in the office and home.
For more information on carbon footprints and green initiatives within the office visit the Carbon Trusts Website.
No comments:
Post a Comment