Many businesses have discovered they not only have an important commitment to the world around them but that there’s a lot to be gained financially from implementing green office initiatives.More than ever, companies are paying attention to their environmental impact and making changes, some starting from the ground up, others taking small steps to creating a more environmentally friendly workplace. No matter the type of business you have or the industry you’re in, there are easy and affordable ways to make very important environmental changes that’ll mean positive results for your bottom line, as well as the environment. This article discusses easy ways companies can create a green office environment.
Recycled Paper in the Workplace:
- Approximately 10,000 sheets of paper are used by a single US office worker in a year.
- Nearly 95% of this paper will be thrown away, not recycled.
- In this decade alone, it’s estimated that Americans will throw away more then 4 million tons of office paper—and 10 million tons of newspaper as well. All this material is recyclable. This paper could make a 12’ wall from New York to the state of California.
- One ton of recycled paper can save almost 4,000 pounds of lumber and nearly 25,000 gallons of water.
- Recycling one ton of paper uses 64% less energy, 50% less water, 75% less air pollution, and saves approximately 17 trees.
It’s not hard to create a green office environment.The following steps are easy ways to upgrade equipment and supplies to encourage a greener workplace and home office.
New and Efficient Office Equipment:
It may be time to invest in new office equipment—older models use far more energy then modern alternatives. Consider office copiers, fax machines, and other equipment with Energy Star labels. When you purchase green office supplies and equipment, you’ll use less power and have longer lasting equipment. It’s also a good idea to buy a digital copier that also functions as a scanner, printer, and fax machine. If you can purchase office equipment that is versatile, you’ll safe space and money.
Recycle Paper: Go Paperless
It’s a good idea to start using document management software and move away from paper filing that’s been popular for decades. It’s now easy to scan documents or save them as PDFs and other types of files—this makes those documents accessible to many individuals, and available whenever you need them. Using document management software as an alternative to paper is useful in many work environments. If this solution doesn’t work, recycled paper products such as desk pads, computer paper, recycled calendars, and other similar supplies are a great choice.
Recycle Paper and Upgrade Your Bathroom:
There are many easy green substitutes to be made to an office bathroom to reduce water usage and energy, as well as consumption of paper products.Motion sensors in lighting fixtures, automatic flushing devices, and sink water controls will all reduce water and energy consumption.Using recycled paper towels and recycled toilet paper is a great alternative to the regular product, and investing in a cold jet air dryer is a paperless solution.
Those are a few suggestions for green office innovation.Learn more about other green office initiatives and create a workplace you and colleagues can be proud of.
