It’s been a month since Earth Day – time flies when you’re having fun! Have you ever thought about how to bring earth friendly changes to your small business? Here are 5 simple things you can do this week to make a move towards being green while you’re busy making the green!
Swap your printer paper for post-consumer waste (PCW) paper. Aim for 100% PCW, but if that is not available, look for paper with as high a PCW content as possible.
Ditch the paper and plastic. Reduce single-use items, like water bottles, coffee cups or utensils by encouraging employees to use non-disposable items. Instead of filling the fridge with plastic water bottles, install a water filtration system or water cooler. Stock up on reusable cups and bottles for employees to use. Invest in silverware and dishware that can be washed and re-used instead of plastic or paper. Encourage employees to bring cups and mugs from home in place of paper, plastic or Styrofoam.
Offer recycling bins. Have a prominent paper recycling bin by the printer. Use a recycling bin in the break-room to collect cans, glass, plastic and other recyclables. Check with your property manager for information on their recycling programs and request that your recycling be discarded separately from the regular waste.
Check the temp. Not your new temp worker, but the temperature on the central thermostat. Make the office comfortable, but not too hot or too cold. Use programmable settings to save energy during the hours when people are not in the office.
Go green on coffee. Making a simple change to stock fair-trade, organic coffee can have a positive impact with very little extra cost or effort. Buying fair-trade coffee supports coffee farms that invest in the farmers and employees, as well as protecting the local environment. Bonus points for composting your leftover grounds.
So, if you’re having one of those weeks where you feel like you can’t make a difference, here are 5 things you can do before Friday!