Going Green: A Competative Edge

‘Going Green’ is more than a fad; it’s the new way of doing business and essential for maintaining a competitive edge. Trimming carbon emissions, paper output and energy consumption are just a few examples of how businesses are setting themselves apart and attracting new customers concerned about the impact products and services they purchase are having on the environment. But this isn’t just a point of ethics-it’s a multi-billion dollar industry with the potential to change the face of your business regardless of its size.

Here are some simple steps to go green in the office:

1.) Track your footprints: Carbon and water audits help track usage (footprints) and are the first steps in reducing your business’s ecological impact.
2.) Eliminate E-waste: Purchase ROHS compliant or refurbished computers and recycle old equipment. E-waste contains harmful chemicals and comprises about 40% of lead and 70% of heavy metals in landfills-all of which can leach into ground water supplies.
3.) Go paperless: The average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of paper/year. Try switching to paperless faxing, online banking/accounting and electronic data storage instead of hard copy files to reduce paper use.
4.) Use multi-use containers: STOP buying disposable water bottles (Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles an hour) and other single-use items. Offer silverware, coffee mugs, reusable plates and encourage employees to purchase washable water bottles instead.
5.) Power-down: Use the power management mode, low power sleep mode and unplug equipment not in use. Using the ‘standby’ button on copiers can reduce the energy load by 70% alone.
6.) Introduce Recycling programs: Offer a recycling drop-off area or implement a company-wide recycling program. Check out ParityInternational.org for more info. on recycling e-waste.
7.) Compost: Invest in (or make a) vermicomposting bin-a simple and all natural way to compost indoors and reduce your company’s waste stream. Food scraps enter landfills and contribute significantly to methane emissions (methane being 23 as ‘warming’ as CO2)-put your waste to work!
8.) Green Commuting: Encourage telecommuting, biking to work, carpooling or consider purchasing bus passes for employees. Cars emit about 20 pounds of CO2 per gallon; choosing just one of these options a week saves you and the planet some major Green!