Green Policy
Rationale: Most of us spend at
least eight hours a day at work. The changes we make to conserve the earth’s
resources in our professional lives influences others in our workplaces and can
have an even more far-reaching effect than the actions we take at home. We can improve our quality of life by
reducing air pollution and the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global
warming. Implementing a Green Policy in the workplace improves health and safety
standards while saving money and lowering the costs to the environment and
future generations.
Many
of the things that we consume come from the global south - resources and labour
from the global south are used to produce goods, leaving the (toxic) waste for
them to live with. The net flow of resources
from the South to the North means they have less to use for their own
needs. Being conscious of our
consumption (where goods come from, who made them, the conditions under which
they were made, the energy and water that is embedded in them and the waste
they create); and reducing our consumption will allow resources to be shared
more equitably between people and other living things.
[organization/company] agrees to consider
the ecological impact of all activities that we undertake and plan accordingly
to reduce our impact.
Addendum
ACTION PLAN
Reducing
§ Minimize consumption
q
avoid using disposable items such as plates, cups and cutlery
q
use go-cups instead of a disposable cups
q
use half (water, dishsoap, and everything else you can think of)
q
utilize electronic documents instead of printing them. If they must be printed, format the documents
margins and font to fit on less pages
q
use cloth bags instead of plastic bags
q
use tap water, not bottled water
q
remove organization/company from junk fax lists
q
print less and make digital copies available
q
buy products made with:
q
post-consumer recycled material
q
organic, biodegradable or compostable material
q
reduced chemical content
q
minimal and recyclable packaging
Reusing
q
Paper ~ reuse the other side of paper
q
Set up a container for reusable paper beside the printer and/or
photocopier or other convenient location
Recycling
q
Negotiate/utilize a recycling service for the office
q
Share recycling service with others in your building
q
Recycle all items through a recycling service
q
Return beverage containers for a refund (money collected could be used
for a fun activity)
Energy
q
Turn off the lights when not in use
q
Switch lightbulbs to compact fluorescents
q
Turn down the heat and wear a sweater
q
Install a programmable thermostat
q
Put plastic on the windows in the winter
q
Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use
q
Get an energy audit and implement recommendations for energy efficiency
q
Turn off photocopier when not in use
q
Buy Green Power
q
Purchase Webhosting provided by renewable energy
Composting
q
Set up a backyard compost and/or vermicomposting system
q
Get someone in the office to take compost home to their composter
Transportation
q
Walk, bike or take the bus / public transit whenever possible
q
Carpool
q
Reduce transportation by using conference calls and videoconferencing
technology
q
Organize activities to reduce kilometers travelled
q
Don’t idle your vehicle for more than 10 seconds
Food
q
Provide
meat-free, locally-produced and organic meals when possible
q
When
serving meat, buy local and organic
q
Try a
100-mile diet
q
Reduce
consumption of packaged foods
q
Use
fair trade products such as tea, coffee, sugar and chocolate
q
Use /
provide reusable containers for take out foods and beverages
q
Ensure
leftover food does not go to waste (provide take out containers or ziploc bags)
q
Plant
a garden or flowers if possible – encourage staff to take their breaks in the
garden
q
Try
xeriscaping using native species, mulch, drip irrigation
Sustainable Purchasing
- when purchasing goods:
q
Find out where the product comes from
q
Find out what is it made of
q
Find out who made it and what their working and living conditions are
like
q
Find out how will it be used
q
Find out where will it end up
q
Think about what the lifecycle of the object is from cradle to grave
q
Choose fair trade, biodegradable, 100% recycled items
q
Choose suppliers with green priorities. Ask about how they practice
conservation before deciding to use their services
q
Choose local suppliers and small businesses
q
Choose union-made goods and services
q
Go carbon neutral: purchase high quality carbon offsets
to develop renewable energy projects like wind and solar power.
q
Ask retailers/suppliers to carry locally made, organic,
fair trade, union-made, recycled, used, rainforest friendly goods
q
Read labels
Safety
q
Reduce/eliminate the amount of chemicals that are used in the workplace
by replacing toxic cleaning products / pesticides with eco-friendly ones
q
When buying electronics, look for products that are free of PBDEs (toxic fire retardants).
Green Meetings
q
Using conference calls and videoconferencing technology
q
Take transit
q
Carpool
Monitor Your Progress
q
Form an Environment Committee
q
Add the Green Policy to the agenda of staff meetings
q
Keep track of money you save (ie purchasing less paper) and use the
money for an activity
q
Set goals and celebrate when you reach them
Jf-cope 491