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Taking Green Advocacy to the Office

If you are an island of environmental awareness in an office of environmental waste, change can happen but will take time.

Many companies have yet to become aware that being more eco-friendly has benefits for both staff and clientele; that when a business makes the effort to challenge negative perceptions about how it effects the environment, people notice:

* Employees work better
* People are interested in employment
* Going Green brands a good name for companies locally
* Being eco-friendly creates interest and leads others towards better awareness
* Being the Green business may tip the scale for a client deciding between one provider and a non-Green competitor

Furthermore, it's important to note being eco-friendly doesn't just mean salvaging reusable materials and recycling.

It's also about providing a healthy workspace where employees can focus without worrying about air quality or noise level, both separate types of pollution.

However, being the lone advocate for a revolution, even a small one, isn't easy and can very quickly lead to frustration.

That's why to 'green' the atmosphere at work the best way is to approach management making the case for raising environmental standards. Present a plan on how to move forward that is agreeable to all parties and have it announced at the next office meeting.

Some guiding principles may include the following:

1. Paper recycling: Next to every printer place a tray for waste and label it "Recycling." One trick to promote its use would be to move office trash bins away from work areas so paper will be disposed with paper and not general trash.

2. Bottle recycling: Place two bins near the kitchenette area for plastic and glass bottles. Encourage the company to purchase spring water or a water filter so staff will feel more comfortable using the tap and have less of a need to purchase bottles.

3. Disposable cups: Stop using paper and plastic cups and encourage employees to bring in their own mugs or BPA Free reusable water bottles for hot and cold drinks. Both could be purchased in bulk and distributed to employees for little money or the company itself could do a marketing campaign dispensing them to staff and clientele.

4. Disposable utensils: Encourage employees to stop using disposable utensils and bring in reusable ones made of hard plastic, metal, wood, or stainless steal.

5. Water usage: The question may arise over water usage and washing utensils as opposed to using disposables. Educate on how to use little water when washing dishes and cutlery and that it is a world apart from sending plastic forks and knives to the land fill.

6. Request the office be cleaned with non toxic cleaners. They won't leave fumes that cause a lack of concentration, laziness, and other sicknesses.

7. Clean central air filters: These should be checked at least once a month if the heat or air conditioning runs constantly. When filters are filthy they don't work properly and re-circulate dirty particles into the air.

8. Add plants: Studies have shown plants can purify indoor air. The more plants the cleaner it can be.

9. Transportation: If possible encourage the use of public transportation or bicycling to the office. Another option is having the company charter vans for employees commuting from similar locations. That way instead of 50 people driving fifty cars the company would be contributing less pollution not to mention saving the staff a bundle on gas.

10. Outing: Make a day trip that includes touring local recycling plants, picking up trash from parks and streets, and teaming up with the community to help everyone clean up the environment.

Finally, persuading the company to provide incentives for measured progress towards a more eco-friendly work space is a long shot but something to pursue. Even if it's not doable don't fret. The fact some ideas are being instituted is a good start and will teach important lessons about the existing worldly ecological disaster and how altering its course isn't beyond anyone's reach.

Jakob Barry writes for Networx.com a growing community of homeowners and contractors getting the most from their resources by sharing and monitoring home improvement projects together. He covers various home improvement topics including home renovation and commercial cleaning .