As one of the contemporary world’s main preoccupations, the issue of the environment is increasingly filtering into all aspects of everyday life. Environmental awareness has been well and truly awakened with more and more people choosing the green alternative for their households. But why should the good work stop there? By implementing a few simple eco-friendly options around the office, your company can do its part for the environment. Reducing office waste and managing resources efficiently can be of real benefit to your business. It’s a win-win situation; you can cut costs and help save Mother Nature at the same time.

Here are ICM’s seven simple steps to a greener office:

1. Recycle - It may sound obvious but the importance of recycling is second to none. It is an easy and effective way of helping the environment. By simply placing more recycling bins around the office, unnecessary wastage can be dramatically reduced. When disposing of old equipment, why not donate it to a local school or charity? Better yet, refurbish it instead of replacing it.
2. Limit paper usage - Paper makes up 70% of office waste according to environmental group Friends of the Earth. Try to view documents on the computer and only print out when absolutely necessary. Set printers to print on both sides. Use scrap paper for notes. Simple steps such as these can minimise paper wastage and save the company money.
3. Make careful purchases - Opting for more environmentally-friendly items when kitting out the office can save you money in the long run. Today, you will find that most standard office equipment has a green counterpart. Main tip: Buy recycled. Also buy in bulk to minimise packaging.
4. Equip your office green - There are a multitude of ways to make all aspects of your office green. Replace paper towels with a cloth towel in the cloakrooms. Use a whiteboard instead of a flipchart. Get rid of vending machines and replace them with a kettle and mugs. Each small step can have a significant impact on the environment as well as on a company’s bank balance.
5. Encourage green travel options - In this modern age, travelling to work by car is becoming less and less amenable. Alternatives to consider are cycling, walking, public transport or car-sharing. Set up a company-wide car-sharing scheme which matches employees with co-workers living in the same area and allocate car-sharers prime parking spots as an incentive. Also, provide bike racks to encourage workers to cycle to work.
6. Switch off office machines - Make sure all lights and computers are switched off at the end of the day. Screensavers still use a lot of electricity so switch off computers during periods of inactivity. Set office machines to sleep mode so they will automatically turn off when not in use. It really does pay to switch off! Use less energy and make a real impact on the environment and your company’s finances.
7. Share! - Does each worker really need their own copy of last week’s minutes? Why not make just one copy and put it on the notice board where everyone can sign once they have read it? Sharing doesn’t have to stop there. Share office stationery and substantially cut costs.

Interesting facts

• 80% of global warming is caused by carbon dioxide, according to the Carbon Trust.
• Envirowise.com states that waste costs money, typically up to 4% of business turnover and by finding ways to reduce waste, your company could become profitable.
^[1]

According to the Environmental Services Association, 90% of all UK waste that goes to landfills is recoverable - it could be recycled, composted or even used to generate energy.

• According to the Environmental Services Association, 90% of all UK waste that goes to landfills is recoverable - it could be recycled, composted or even used to generate energy. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each employee can on average generate 1.5 pounds of waste paper a day.
• By encouraging employees worldwide to turn off office equipment and lights when not in use, IBM estimates that it saved $17.8 million in 1991.
• The 1990s was the warmest decade in the warmest century of the last millennium. Most experts agree that it’s getting hotter due to people burning fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas that emit heat-trapping, greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
• A study conducted by the US Department of Energy in 1995 found that lighting accounts for approximately 29% of the energy used in an office.
• According to a Lawrence Berkeley Lab study from 1999, one typical office workstation, comprising of a computer and monitor, left on after business hours creates almost one ton of CO2 a year.
• On average, office equipment accounts for 16% of an office’s energy use.