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Becoming a greener company all begins with taking charge. Elect a green committee to draw up a plan that will make your company more environmentally friendly. Then, put it into action. Making simple changes within your office can help preserve the environment:
- Buy "greener" options in the materials and supplies you use and select a supplier who takes back packaging for reuse. Additionally, when possible use local suppliers. The further your supplies have to travel, the more energy will be used to get them to you.
- Recycle empty ink and toner cartridges.
- Place recycling bins throughout your office for disposal of aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles, copy paper, newspapers and magazines.
- Rather than using disposable cups, offer employees reusable mugs with the company logo.
- Use digital storage to cut down on paper and recycle what you do use.
- Purchase appliances with the Energy Star label.
- Put all electronics on power strips and turn them off when they’re not in use.
- Use lighting controls to reduce energy use and install motion sensors for lights in low-traffic areas of the office.
- Screen savers use energy. Make sure your computer automatically switches to sleep mode and turn your monitors off if you can.
- Stop using bottled water. Tap water in most cities is actually better than many bottled waters and you’ll be reducing landfill waste.
- Whenever possible, use teleconferencing rather than traveling for meetings.
- Work to get your company ISO 14001 approved.
- Get employees involved and ask for their suggestions on going green.
