It’s Green Office Week and employees across the UK are being encouraged to create a greener and healthier working environment. Workers should keep in mind the 3 Rs: Reuse, Reduce and Recycle, according to organiser Avery’s Marketing Director Fiona Mills.
Many hands make light work as the old saying goes, so to get started simply drop a quick email to your colleagues to let them know you’ll be supporting Green Office Week, advises Fiona. The more people that support the initiative, the better the results will be.
Don’t throw envelopes away, notes Fiona, who suggests reusing them along with jiffy bags and cardboard packaging by simply over-labelling previous address details. Try and avoid using envelopes with plastic windows, as they are difficult to recycle, she advises, and pop a filing tray next to the printer so you can print on both sides of the paper, effectively halving your paper bill.
Rising utility costs mean that all businesses should take a keen interest in reducing expensive overheads. By turning the thermostat down by just 1°C your annual heating bill can come down by as much as 10%.
Unplug computers, machines and monitors when not in use and plug in energy-saving light bulbs. Also, keep an eye on mobiles when charging, switching them off when full – “this will not only save on power but is better for your phone too,” comments Fiona.
Good waste management is more than simply reducing what you throw away. As much as possible divert waste away from landfill by recycling. Fiona suggests that staff provide a collection point for used batteries; you can find out from your local council how to dispose of them safely. Your company can also check with its catering supplier about facilities for food composting and provide clearly marked bins for plastic bottles, cans, paper, card, food and glass.
Another way that you can literally go green in the office is to introduce some plants into your work area. Not only do they make an office look greener, “they also contribute to its overall wellbeing,” comments Fiona. By absorbing indoor air pollution and increasing the flow of oxygen, plants make the office a better and healthier place to be.
In fact, studies conducted by Dr Andrew Smith, a lecturer in Facilities Management at the University of Central Lancashire, have shown that plants not only raise the humidity levels to make space more comfortable, they also reduce other toxins within the environment and appear to help increase productivity.
As a nation we guzzle 165 million cups of tea and 70 million cups of coffee each day, 10% of which are drunk at the office and this offers up a further opportunity for us to do our bit for the office. As Fiona points out: “We habitually boil twice as much water as we need, resulting in a waste of up to 3,525 tonnes every day. When you next pop the kettle on don’t overfill it, use just enough water as you need and that way you can save on energy. Alternatively, get a round in and make a brew for your colleagues.”
Another tip from Avery is to bring your own mug into work to avoid using disposable cups; this won’t only save on paper, your eco cuppa will also taste so much better.
For further information on the activities associated with Green Office Week and to get a free sample pack visit greenofficeweek.eu
