It's Earth Day! Tips for greening up your office

Today, April 22, 2010, is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The idea of devoting a special day to honor the planet began as a grassroots movement in the '60s and became an official U.S. observance in 1970.

For many of us, every day is Earth Day – an opportunity to reduce, recycle and reuse to lessen our impact on the planet. What’s more, the workplace can be just as much a setting for greater awareness and action as our homes, schools and communities.

To help turn your workplace into an eco-friendly oasis, let’s revisit some ideas we covered in a previous post:

Buy plants. Plants not only brighten up the workspace, but also improve the quality of the air in your building. Talk to your local nursery about which indoor plants would work best in your office.

Only print when necessary. Paper is one of the most wasted items in the workplace. When you want to print something, ask yourself if it is absolutely necessary to have a hard copy.

Print with eco-friendly ink. Soy-based toners offer an environmentally friendly alternative to the petroleum-based options. Using soy-based ink also increases the recyclability of paper, so that when you have to print, you know you’re doing it in the ‘greenest’ way possible.

Purchase recycled office supplies and products. From printer paper to the federal and state labor law posters on your walls, do your research and find the best recycled products on the market.

Consider using electronic forms. Electronic forms allow you to print out the documents you need, only when you need them. No more wasted stacks of unused forms the next time labor laws change.

Turn it off. Shutting off the lights when you leave a room is a simple way to make a positive impact on your energy costs. Take it a step further by shutting down your computer and switching appliances off when you leave the office at the end of the day.

Buy reusable utensils. Instead of going through boxes and boxes of plastic utensils every month, ask employees to bring their own from home or invest in a set of inexpensive silverware for the office. Switching to the real thing will not only reduce waste, but will also save you money.

Have any more ideas for going green at work? Leave a comment and let us know.

It's Earth Day! Tips for greening up your office

If you can't go paperless...

At least now you can turn your paper waste into something useful, and save some money on all that Charmin you buy for the office.

Nakabayashi, a Tokyo-based company that offers products from child car seats to office supplies, just announced the release of its new in-office machine that turns used office paper waste into toilet paper right there on site, according to CrunchGear.

(Image via CrunchGear)

At 1323 pounds, with a price tag of $95,000, it may be asking a little too much your average office looking to get a little greener.

If you can't go paperless...

Take simple steps to start going green at the office

At home, many of us have taken steps to become more environmentally friendly, such as carrying reusable grocery bags and switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs. When it comes to carrying that same green ethic into the workplace, it’s easy to get overwhelmed at the thought of taking on such a large project.

However, going green at the office can be a simple process to start and involves many of the same simple steps you take at home. Borrow a few of these ideas and take the first steps to turning your workplace into an eco-friendly oasis:

• Buy plants. Plants not only brighten up the office, but also improve the quality of the air in your building. There a wide variety of plants that can flourish indoors. Talk to your local nursery about plants that would work best in your office.


• Only print when necessary. Paper is one of the most wasted items in the workplace. When you want to print something, ask yourself if it is absolutely necessary to have a hard copy.


• Print with eco-friendly ink. Soy-based toners offer an environmentally friendly alternative to the petroleum-based options. Using soy-based ink also increases the recyclability of paper, so that when you have to print, you know you’re doing it in the ‘greenest’ way possible.


• Purchase recycled office products. From printer paper to the labor law posters along the walls, do your research and find the best recycled products on the market.


• Consider using electronic forms. The recent changes to the Form I-9 turned into a green disaster after hundreds of companies threw out out stacks of old forms, only to be told to start using them again. Electronic forms allow you to print out the documents you need, only when you need them. No more wasted stacks of unused forms the next time laws change.


• Turn it off. Turning off the lights when you leave a room is a simple way to make a positive impact on your energy costs. Take it a step further by shutting down your computer and switching appliances off when you leave the office at the end of the day.


• Buy reusable utensils. Instead of going through boxes and boxes of plastic utensils every month, ask employees to bring their own from home or invest in a set of inexpensive silverware for the office. Switching to the real thing will not only reduce waste, but will also save you money.

With more organizations and manufacturers jumping on the ‘green’ bandwagon, creating a more environmentally friendly workplace is easier than ever before. With a little bit of creativity, going green in the office can be easy and fun.

Have any more ideas for going green at work? Leave a comment and let us know.

Read these related posts for more ideas:

HR survey reveals top green business practices

Commuter benefits a growing business trend

Want happy employees? Promote public transportation

Recycle your way to a ‘green’ workplace

Going green at the office? Start with your printers

Take simple steps to start going green at the office

HR survey reveals top green business practices

More than half of employers incorporate environmental management into their business operations, according to a new survey conducted by human resource consulting firm Buck Consultants.

“Many employers now recognize that green programs in the workplace can promote social responsibility among workers and help retain top talent,” said Don Sanford, managing director of Buck’s Communication practice who directed the survey. “More than 60% of survey respondents have made environmental responsibility part of their organization’s mission statement.”

The survey found that 54% of the 93% U.S. organizations surveyed actively incorporate “green” practices into their daily business operations.

According to the survey:

• 78% of respondents use Web or teleconferencing to reduce travel.
• 76% promote the reduction of paper use.
• 68% implement wellness programs to foster employee’s proper nutrition, fitness and healthy living.

One of the key findings of the survey revealed that when organizations appoint an individual to lead green efforts, employee involvement “dramatically” increases. Companies with at least three-quarters of their employees actively involved in green programs, 71% have appointed individual leaders. Only 29% did not appoint a green leader.

Some companies provide employees with incentives to encourage more green behavior around the office. The survey found that of companies that provide rewards, 77% provide special employee recognition, 36% give prize incentives and 14% offer monetary rewards.

“There is still much more that organizations can do,” Sanford said. “We expect to see future growth in green training programs, environmentally responsible investment options and recruiting employees with green skills.”

HR survey reveals top green business practices