Go Green While You Work

Go green while you work

For the majority of us, who haven’t won the lottery, a significant portion of our lives will be spent working. Whether we work at home, on the road, in a workshop, office or factory there are a various ways that our activities have an impact on the environment.

The first thing to do when trying to reduce the impacts of your working environment is to find out the impacts that working has, in other words, to work out the baseline. Look at material use, electricity and water consumption, travel and social impacts. Once you have reviewed what the impacts are you can then put measures in place to reduce them. Creating an environmental policy and environmental management system also provides a good sign to customers or clients that you are actively addressing the environmental impacts of your work activities.

No two workplaces are the same. However there are some activities that are required in all jobs. Here are a few easy activities to go green at work.

Computers and printers

• When buying computers look for those with an energy star rating.
• Choose models whose life can be extended through upgrades and repair and choose equipment which has a recycled content or is recyclable. To help decide check out the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).
• Don’t leave computers, monitors and other equipment on standby when you leave work…turn them off.
• Opt for laptops as they use up to 90% less energy than desktops.
• If you have a desktop go for a smaller screen – they use less energy.
• Inkjet printers are more energy efficient than laser printers.
• When selecting a photocopier make sure it can use recycled paper, can print double sided and choose a smaller one if you can.

Data centres can account for as much as 40% of your office’s electricity bill. Make big savings with the latest in data centres, virtual servers and optimised heat removal and outdoor air cooling systems.*

Use the latest Multi Functional Devices to get rid of teh separate fax, scanner, printer and copier. They also warm up quicker and use next to no power on standby.*

Furniture and work clothes

• Try and avoid getting clothes dry cleaned, harsh chemicals are used in the process. Aim to spot wash, cold wash or look for a service with eco friendly processes. Great new innovations such as the 100% recycled paper, Aussie designed and made greenhanger, which can replace the more eco-damaging wire hangers.
• Office furniture is generally resource intensive, made from man-made fibres and can increase office air pollution through the emission of volatile organic compounds from the glues and finishes. Choose furniture with recycled content and/or made from renewable resources.
• Avoid wearing a suit and tie in summer and save on the air conditioning.
• If you require a uniform opt for natural materials, companies like Moral Fibre have fair-trade organic cotton aprons, bamboo polo shirts and other attire which can be custom designed.

Go carbon neutral

• After making all efforts to minimise the impacts of yourself and your suppliers you can calculate your carbon footprint and offset the rest. The ABC has provided a summary of the business eco footprint calculators. Once you have worked out  your emissions you can offset the rest. To find out how check out our Carbon Offsetting page.

Kitchen and bathroom

• If you have a coffee making machine, avoid getting one with a separate fridge.
• Turn the fridge off over holidays if there is nothing in it.
• Get waste separating facilities, including, if you can, organic waste which can be put in a worm farm or compost.
• Use a mug, avoid polystyrene cups and plastic plates.
• Microwave ovens with a LCD clock display use energy. Keep it switched off at the plug to avoid wasting energy when you are not using it.
• Only switch on the dishwasher when full and use the economy cycle which is more efficient than hand washing.
• If you need disposable picnic ware opt for biodegradable products such as Biopak made from agricultural residues.
• Opt for organic, locally produced, or fair-trade tea, coffee, biscuits or fruit.
• Tissue paper, toilet rolls and paper towels should be bought which are made from 100% post consumer waste.
• Employ cleaners that use green cleaning products and biodegradeable binbags. Or if you buy the products yourself purchase low- toxicity eco-friendly cleaning products and dishwasher liquid. Available from supermarkets, but bigger ranges available through eco superstore such as Todae.

Re-usable mugs can be significantly lower in greenhouse impacts than disposable cups, but it depends on how much hot water and energy is used to wash the mug and how long you use it for. Reusable plastic mugs are probably the best option, less waste, less energy to manufacture than ceramic and they can eventually be recycled.

Money

• Place investments, banking and superfunds into ethical companies. Check out http://www.eia.org.au for more information.
• Offer discounts or salary advances for eco friendly transport options such as purchasing a bike or a season travel pass.
• Register to receive shareholder correspondence electronically and companies such as eTree provide donations to LandCare.

Power & Water

• Purchase Green Power or even better install solar panels or wind turbines.
• Install water tanks and use water efficient fittings in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Filter tap water rather than providing bottled water.
• Use natural light and ventilation where possible.
• Turn off lights after exiting a room.
• Unplug chargers when not in use.
• Use a desktop lamp (with energy efficient bulb) rather than turning on all the main lights.
• Use energy efficient bulbs.
• Use natural heating/cooling, or take a jumper to avoid excessive heating or cooling. If you have the heat or cooling on – close the door/windows.

The big energy users and greenhouse gas emitters in offices are lights and computers. Switching them off when they’re not needed will save more than all other actions put together.*

Reporting

• If you are doing some of these great things to reduce your environmental impacts, then you might as well include it in your public reports (electronically of course). The Australian government has put together guidance in the form of a Framework for Public Environmental Reporting.

Social responsibility

• Donate time, resources or volunteer to help local charities or other good causes. For local volunteering opportunities check out Go Volunteer.

Software and hardware

• Internal devices which run off your computers power supply are more efficient than external devices that need to be plugged in separately.
• Use rewritable USB sticks rather than one-use CDs for transferring information around.

Stationery

• Avoid printing, use email or review documents on screen.
• If you need to advertise, look for alternatives to flyers or posters. Such as e-marketing campaigns. If you do use fliers use recycled paper.
• Purchase 100% post consumer waste recycled paper or blends with virgin pulp from sustainably managed plantations. The Guide to Environmental Copy Paper provides details of what paper to look for and where to buy it.
• Print double sided / two to a page.
• If you have printed single sided, use the blank side as note paper before recycling.
• Reuse envelopes.
• Avoid using bleached or coloured paper.
• Look for alternative pens made from recycled paper, cornstarch or other novel materials. Producers include EcoPaper, Pilot also produce a range made of recycled materials.
• If you need business cards, use recycled paper, minimise the amount of printing and opt for printers with eco-friendly printing practices such as The Online Printer. How about having them half normal size to reduce overall resources. For more tips on eco-friendly printing check out the Greener Print Procurement Guide.

It takes 1 litre of water to make 3 sheets of A4 paper.*

Supply chain

• Question your suppliers and select those that actively consider the environment and aim to continually prove their environmental performance.
• Purchase items which have a long life and can be upgraded, repaired easily or are part of a take back scheme and recycled at the end of their life.
• Buy products with minimal packaging or which have recycled, reusable or biodegradable packaging.
• Aim to purchase local products and services, or if they are only available overseas, ask questions about the raw material, manufacturing and transport processes.
• Aim to buy recycled products. Visit the Buy Recycled Business Alliance (BRBA) website for access to their Recycled Product Directory.
• Purchase items which have reduced environmental impacts. Select items with eco-labels. To find out which ones to look for and what they mean, visit our Eco-Labels page.
• Keep your mind open to eco-innovations and consider Industrial Ecology principles to minimise the impacts of the materials and energy consumed.

Travel

• Select office facilities near home or encourage working from home to reduce commuter miles.
• Avoid driving, get the bus or get on your bike.
• Avoid travelling for business meetings, use facilities such as CO₂NeutralConferencing to set up videoconferences, WebCASTs or VideoCASTs.
• Use flexitime to avoid travelling in peak hours.
• Consider getting a scooter or retrofitting your pushbike to create an electric bike.
• If you do drive to work try car pooling – make it easier by setting up a page on the company intranet site.
• Make available secure parking facilities for bikes/kayaks/scooters. For more information on how to make the workplace cycle friendly visit the Travelsmart website.
• If the company purchases or leases pool cars, opt for small, efficient or hybrid cars. To find out what is available and recommended in Australia visit our ‘Choosing a hybrid’ article.

Waste

• The best way of working out how to reduce your waste is to find out what waste is produced by conducting a waste audit. You can do this in house or call in a waste auditor.
• Provide waste separating facilities in the office (paper, plastics, metals, organic waste). The amount that can be recycled will depend on your local council or the office waste contractor. To find out more check out our Waste essentials guide.
• Recycle mobile phones through Mobilemuster.
• Provide a container for deposit of batteries which can then be recycled in bulk. To find the nearest recycler go to Recycling Near You.
• Recycle empty toner and inkjet cartridges. Companies such as Green Planet Recycling pay for the privilege, or try Recycling Near You to find where to send them. For more information visit Planet Ark.
• Reuse then recycle paper.
• Save paper clips, elastic bands and other bits and bobs for reuse.
• E-waste is a growing problem and the components hold valuable resources that can be reused or recycled. For more details and for e-waste recyclers check out Clean Up Australia’s site.

A tonne of recycled paper saves 13 trees, 2.5 barrels of oil, 31,780 litres of water, 4 tonnes of CO₂ and 4m³ of landfill space.*

There are always opportunities to green up at work, so set up a suggestion box to get inputs.

* facts from ABC Green at Work

• « Eastern Weft – Conserving Skills and Enabling Communities
• Fabric Facts »