Sustainable Workplace

How green is your office?

According to the Transport and Technical Services Department (2005), the amount of waste produced in Jersey has doubled in the last 20 years. More than half of this waste is generated by businesses, suggesting that we need to think about our environmental impact at work as well as at home.

Despite advances in information and communications technology, it seems that we are a long way from the 'paperless office' - around 60 per cent of the waste generated by financial companies in Jersey is paper. You might think that economic considerations put sustainability low down your company's list of priorities, but luckily it affects the very thing that will make your bosses take notice - the bottom line.

Making your workplace more sustainable by reducing office waste represents a 'win-win' situation for employers and employees alike. Not only will you feel good that you are doing your bit for the environment, but you will save the company money at the same time.

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Tips for a more sustainable workplace

Here are a few suggestions for changes you could make that would help make your office more sustainable.

Easy

  • Use scrap paper for note taking
  • Set your printer to print on both sides (duplex printing)
  • Turn your computer off at the mains when you go home each day
  • Avoid using air conditioning unless absolutely necessary
  • Turn the heating down by 1° centigrade

Intermediate

  • Buy Fairtrade tea, coffee and juice
  • Use mugs instead of plastic or polystyrene cups for drinks
  • Recycle paper and other office waste
  • Buy recycled paper and office products - if your supplier doesn't stock them, ask why and change suppliers if necessary
  • Set up a recycling scheme for glass, cardboard, batteries and printer cartridges
  • Compost tea bags and organic waste in a worm bin
  • Instead of binning old office equipment, e-cycle it
  • Replace old filament light bulbs with new energy efficient ones
  • Install a water saving device such as a 'hippo' in each toilet cistern
  • Use environmentally friendly, biodegradable products for cleaning the office

Hard

  • Get office lighting put on a timer or sensor
  • Identify and fix leaks in the water system
  • Cycle to work every day
  • Avoid expensive bottled water - get a filter fitted to a tap instead

You can find more tips for recyling at work and a leaflet for download on the Transport and Technical Services website.

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