Is your workplace Environment Friendly ?

There is a large section of employees who believe that the responsibility of protecting and securing the environment lies with the government. The governments of the world through the various bodies like the UNFCCC ( United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) co-ordinate the execution of several global initiatives. However each one of us can make a difference by living more sustainably.

Organizations can contribute by :

• Educating their employees on Climate Change and how they can contribute to protect the environment.
• Organisation operate through offices and provide infrastructure support to employees. Building their operation with a focus on sustainability can reduce their carbon footprint.

Majority of businesses across the globe are solely focused on profits. They pay lip service to green causes but would not do anything without seeing a positive impact on their bottom or top line.

Fortunately their is a clear evidence of the financial and other benefits of investing in green.

Workplaces can contribute in the below 4 areas:

1. Energy Usage

Energy and Transportation for organizations are big cost center's. They stand to reduce their bottom line by investing in sensor driven lighting systems, efficient and clever cooling systems, usage of more energy efficient computers, using software to optimise travel routes, replacing of vehicles as per aging standards etc. There has been many a innovative solutions build to cut costs which also benefit the environment.

2. Waste management & Recycling

Every workplace produce a lot of waste. Segregating the waste, removing it and destroying it as per scientific methods are what are expected from these workplaces. A lot of Wet and Dry waste is generated as also a lot of E-waste. Offices must have facilities to segregate waste with clear guidelines for employees. Hospitals and health facilities will generate hazardous and medical waste which have to incinerated as per standards.

3. Reducing Pollution

Offices can do simple things like recycling paper they use, buy recycled paper instead of virgin paper, reduce use of tissue paper and encourage staff to use handkerchiefs, access control usage of printers etc. By reducing paper usage contribute by allowing more trees to exist.

4. Water Usage

Clean water is a very scarce resource so much so that 1 out of every 3 people in the world do not have access to it. Water usage should be optimised and water should be treated and reused, sensor driven taps to be installed and meters to determine leaks can be common strategies.

The approach each Organisation takes will vary however the most important activity required is to make your Employee Aware. They must be climate trained and they need to know that the success of any initiative depends on peoples participation.

John F. Kennedy's said “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country". On a similar vein let us not worry about what others are doing but focus on what we can do to make the world a better place.