Probably every company tries to find ways to increase their bottom line. The bottom line tends to be measured against one standard, profit. In other words, the measurement is money. However, there are many different types of standards that can be used to see how the bottom line is being affected. These include such measurements as how does the company contribute to air quality, the water quality, or the land quality? Are they determining in the best interest of the human condition or are they thinking of the plants, animals, and minerals? These types of measurements or standards are not so clear to define. Most companies will go into a justification position of why they do things the way they do, usually to the detriment of something other than humans.
Of course, every company these days has some kind of green initiative going. There are different shades of green. Whether it’s for promotional sake and public opinion or truly woven into the fabric of the corporate culture is another story. I ask of each person who reads this, if some of these simple tasks are not being done at your company that you initiate the change. Be the agent of change. If you do get new programs adopted at your company, let me know. It will be interesting to see how swiftly and easily some of these can be done and how much the shades of green can become more balanced in the corporate world. Here are a couple of starters…
1. Office supplies
Pens, clips, boxes, paper…how much of it gets recycled? Are there bins throughout the office where everyone can dump these things so they aren’t tossed into the garbage?
2. Choose wisely:
Choose office supply products with the most efficient (or recycled) packaging and support the supply companies that seek out the vendors that do.
3. Flip it:
Much of what we print in companies if for internal use anyway…are you reusing paper in your printers? Is there a printer dedicated that JUST uses flipped paper to print on the other side?
4. Reuse me:
Does everyone in your company have a company (fill in your caffeine addition here — coffee/tea/soda) mug that they can reuse and rinse instead of piling up paper cups and soda cans?
Invent me!
Come up with creative ways that fit into your company environment that works best and then share it.
Tags: business, green, initiative, recycle
