AT WORK
In addition to being good for the environment and creating a healthier workplace for your employees/co-workers, intentionally becoming an environmentally conscious company can be a good public relations move. More and more consumers are paying attention to a company’s carbon footprint and throwing their support behind those that are environmentally and community minded. If done correctly, it can also become a team building focus as your team members challenge one another to take bigger steps – from launching a company-wide recycling program to taking part in a community cleanup event.
do & don't
do...
Examine paper use and make steps to reduce whenever, wherever possible.
If you don’t currently have a recycling program at work, launch one.
Invest in computers, monitors and printers that boast an Energy Star label.
Set up a carpool or rideshare program among your employees/co-workers. Encourage use of mass transit if your office is located near a bus stop.
Consider making telecommuting available for those roles that make sense.
You can stagger in-office days around important meetings and company events.
Wash fresh produce in a pan.
Was your produce in a pan of water rather than under a running faucet.
Set your copier to make double-sided copies
and you’ll substantially reduce your paper use. And don’t forget to recycle those ink and toner cartridges. You may also want to invest in
recycled and chlorine-free paper.
Shred outdated papers to use as packing material.
For secure shredding of sensitive files, be sure to check out recycling page for trusted vendors.
Replace fluorescent bulbs with LEDs.
According to Home Depot, quality LED bulbs last 10 to 15 times longer than those old fluorescent styles on average. They’re safer, too.
A broken fluorescent bulb may expose you and your employees to mercury.
Encourage the use of live plants around the office
to help improve indoor air quality. Plants absorb indoor air pollution and increase the flow of oxygen.
Take part in the Georgia Industrial Materials Exchange
to list, sell or give away your surplus materials and waste. It’s true that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This free listing website connects your company to a reuse network that can help your company and others receive low or no-cost materials, reduce disposal and purchase costs, reduce storage space, capture the value of by-products/surplus materials and generate revenue, reduce waste and save landfill space, enhance the environmental image of your company, and meet corporate community and environmental goals. Learn more at http://www.scrapmatchga.org/.
Volunteer for GC&B events
and get as many members of your staff as possible to join you. These can be terrific team-building activities!
Embrace GC&B programs
Adopt-A-Road continuously proves an excellent program for corporate groups to get behind. Like our cleanup and recycling events, Adopt-A-Road cleanups can be terrific team-building activities. Your company will also receive signage along the stretch of road you’ve adopted, promoting yours as a company that cares about the environment and community.
Sponsor GC&B events and programs
As a sponsor for GC&B events like our Governors Environmental Address each year, you’ll be positioned as a company that cares about the environment and
community while playing an integral role in the success of our events and programs.
