If reusable bags, composting and recycling have become a fact of life at home, the ecological mindset is not as developed in the workplace. What can companies do to become 'greener'
Saving energy, reducing pollution, "green" actions on a daily basis. . . an increasing number of Canadian companies are becoming environmentally responsible. The reasons are legion: out of concern for the environment, to convey a positive image, and also because more and more employees want to work for companies that have the future of the planet at heart and are trying to do their part to make it better. Proof of this is in the launch in April 2007 of WorkCabin, the first "green" Canadian job board. Forest ranger and hydraulics technician, along with more traditional jobs (financial inspector, project manager, etc.) in ecologically responsible companies—there's something for everyone. The site belongs to One Percent For The Planet and contributes part of its profits to Canadian environmental organizations.
As for government initiatives, the Natural Resources Canada ecoENERGY Retrofit program provides small and medium-sized businesses with financial support to help them implement energy-saving projects that reduce energy-related greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollution. Companies can also achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by observing sustainable construction and ecological standards.
Every year, Greenpeace publishes a "Green Electronics Guide," which targets the ecological policies of electronics companies and ranks them according to how well they perform in this regard (e.g. use of toxic chemicals, recycling.)
Some ecological tips for the workplace
All your actions have an environmental impact, even the smallest ones. Here are a few tips to get your company on the green path:
1. Install water filters on kitchen taps and forbid the use of plastic water bottles.
2. Buy recyclable coffee cups instead of foam ones, or, even better, ask your employees to bring their own cups.
3. You recycle at home, so do the same at the office.
4. Have plants in the offices to purify the air.
5. Use cleaning services that use biological or natural cleaning products
6. Only print when you really need to and use only 100% recycled paper that is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council of Canada). Avoid the use of coloured paper. The same holds for photocopies.
7. Do not throw away printer cartridges. Instead, recycle them via the thINK FOOD program , which also recycles cell phones.
8. Install new high-performance heating systems, which pollute less.
9. For company cars, opt for less-polluting vehicles
10. Use energy-conservation devices for computers, lighting and office equipment.
11. Select computers based on their intended use: a laptop consumes between 50 and 80% less energy than a desktop model.
12. Equip computer with LCD monitors, which consume 50 to 70% less energy than their CRT equivalents.
13. Circulate a memo about the power-saving features of computers and electronic equipment: "Turn off your monitor when away from your workstation, and program your computer to power down after 10 minutes of inactivity."
Are you convinced but don't quite know how to go about going green? Consultingreen, founded by Katherine Magee in December 2007, gives courses and strategic advice to companies to help them implement "green solutions."
And no, don't print this article—forward it to your coworkers!