New Year, Green Office
Every year we all make resolutions to change something about ourselves. Whether it’s to be more healthy, exercise more or spend more time with family, we usually start with good intentions, but rarely keep it up. Well, this year, how about you resolve to reduce your carbon footprint, starting in the office?
We can’t all be eco-warriors, but we should all care about the impact we have on the environment. Our collective concern around the environment is growing stronger each year, and more of us are making a conscious effort to adopt a more eco-friendly way of living.
January is as good a time as any to make a change, so here are some tips to get the rest of your office involved with making a difference and preserving the environment.
Create a Mini Recycling Centre in Your Office
Set up a mini recycling centre where it won’t go unnoticed and inform your colleagues where it is and how to use it. If you’re limited on space, put a waste paper bin near printers and copiers and a general recycling bin in staff areas. Make sure all the bins get emptied regularly.
Abolish Disposables
Stop using disposable cups and glasses. Encourage staff to bring in their own reusable mugs, or provide reusable drinking vessels for them. Not just in the office, encourage staff to take travel mugs when they nip out to the local coffee shop for a takeaway – you could even provide branded travel mugs to help get your name out there.
The same goes for food containers, encourage staff to use reusable containers for their lunch, rather than single-use plastic wrapping or clingfilm.
Green Leads to Green
Bringing plants into the office provides both physical and psychological benefits. Plants help to recycle the air, reduce bacteria and can lift the spirits of staff, promoting wellbeing and improving performance.
Print Less
Only print relevant information. One copy of staff notes or memos can be printed and displayed for everyone to see at a common meeting place such as staff rooms or by the office door or water cooler, rather than printing separate copies for everyone. Whiteboards can also provide a good, reusable medium for getting notes and messages across.
Save Energy
Using energy efficient or LED light bulbs can dramatically reduce the amount of electricity your office consumes on a daily basis and using motion detecting light switches in less frequently used areas can help even more.
Make sure that standby settings are set properly on computers and switch them off altogether when they are not in use – the same goes for office lights.
Use Green, Eco-Friendly Products
Using eco-friendly office supplies goes a long way to reducing the carbon footprint of your offices. Purchase products such as pens and paper that are made from recycled materials and be sure to recycle them once you are done with them. This way, you can limit the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
Remember, it’s not just paper and plastic that can be recycled. Copier and print toner and cartridges can also be recycled. Old cartridges, pens and notebooks can be turned back into new ones, reducing waste and, ultimately, the planet.
Global Office Supplies specialise in cutting down costs on the products your office consumes on a daily basis. In addition, we offer excellent recycling services to help companies towards their green energy targets and help turn their office into an eco-friendly working environment.
In most cases, we can deliver all of your office supplies, including paper, the very same day
Get in touch today for a free stationery audit, or to discuss your requirements: