Going for green in the workplace
So you missed bike-to-work day last month and you’re feeling blue – instead of green. You really want to be a better, more environmentally friendly employee but aren’t sure where to start. Well, there are plenty of ways beyond sweating your way to work.
America’s 130 million workers waste paper printing documents that could be kept in electronic form. They drink from Styrofoam cups. They ignore those blue recycling bins.
You can do your part, too. Try these ways to be a greener employee:
1. Reduce paper
Small changes can make a big difference.
Set your printer to print on both sides. Use e-mail and intranet for internal documents. Even a small company can save about 350,000 sheets of paper a year doing this, according to Working.com.
Before you print, think: Do you really need it in hard-copy form? Or can you survive with it on the computer? If a customer or client asks for a document in paper form, ask them if you can e-mail it.
If you’re making a presentation, keep it on PowerPoint. Every attendee in the room doesn’t need a hard copy. E-mail the presentation later.
2. Recycle
If you have to print, trash the paper in the recycling bins when you’re done.
At Roche, employees are offered recycle bins at their desks. “They are encouraged to empty the blue containers into larger recycle containers at strategic locations,” spokeswoman Saideh Barlow said.
Roche is at recycling’s forefront. In one year, it recycles 572 tons of cardboard, 295 tons of paper, 134 tons of plastic, 6 tons of Styrofoam, 260 tons of pallets, 3 tons of aluminum and 70 tons of cans/bottles/drink containers. And, Barlow said, “Employees are encouraged to bring recyclables from home.”
3. Carpool
Not interested in a morning drive with that chatty guy from sales or the whiny woman in IT? If you can muster the courage, you can save the $4/gallon gas price. And help the environment.
Why not ask around the office for carpooling partners who live in your area? Cummins has launched a carpool program to reduce emissions. Employees’ accounts are set up voluntarily, supplying demographic information that is used to match other potential carpoolers.
4. Bike
If you live close enough, biking to work has many benefits.
Consider Greg Bauer, 36, who on Saturday will mark a full year of biking to work every day in rain, snow and sunshine. The plant manager of Spartech Packaging Technologies in Muncie, Ind., said the commute allows him to prepare his mind for the day ahead and wind down on the way home.
Eli Lilly and Co. wants workers to do the same. Last week, it unveiled eight enclosed bike lockers at its Indianapolis headquarters.
5. Be an advocate
You may be just one voice. But you can encourage your boss and co-workers to be more environmentally friendly.
Ask for telecommuting options on days when workers don’t have to be in the office. Ask for meetings that involve travel to be teleconferenced when possible.