One of today’s most important and most talked about topics is going green. I really don’t know of anyone who isn’t trying to be more earth friendly. I do know that not everyone is doing all they can to go green. If you are one of those people – or just someone stuck in a work environment that is not green – here are a couple of simple tips you can use to help save our environment.
- Recycle, Recycle, Recycle! – This is so important and by far the easiest thing to do. The list of things you can recycle is endless! Here are just some things that I recycle in the office: paper, paperclips, file folders, hanging folder tabs, divider tabs, and binders. I bet you are now thinking of some things you can recycle!
- Buy earth friendly office supplies – There are plenty of great companies now as well as your local stationary stores that offer green alternatives when it comes to office supplies. www.thegreenoffice.comoffers some great office products that are eco-friendly. You can also have your business cards printed on recycled paper. Companies like MZ Berger & Co. Inc. in Long Island City, NY and Wal-Mart in Bentonville, AR print their business cards on recycled paper as well as making them smaller then the average business card so less paper is used. You can check out www.greenerprinter.com for business cards.
- Print less and go paperless - I know a lot of people keep paper files and in some industries it is imperative. But when and if possible keep electronic files instead and read your emails on your computer monitor instead of printing. It will keep you more organized and easier to find things. Email systems like Outlook and Lotus Notes as well as free email services like Yahoo and Google also offer folder systems to keep your emails organized and easily accessible. Plenty of companies and banks now offer paperless billing and statements also. Another great way to keep your important documents organized and easily accessible. And if you are worried about loosing these files in case your computer crashes you can always back them up on disk, memory sticks or external drivers. For those small business owners, you can make electronic invoices on PayPal and Quickbooks and they will save you money on postage!
- Use reusable containers – do you brown bag lunch when you go to the office? Drop the brown bag and just bring lunch! There are some great reusable lunch bag options out there that you can pack your lunch in if you can’t fit it in the bag you already carry. L.L. Bean has some great adult options and you can even have it monogrammed! Use Tupperware too instead of plastic sandwich bags.
These are just a few tips and I hope they have been helpful and put you on the road to doing business the green way! Do you have any ideas about going green at work? If you do we would love to hear them. We are trying to be greener too and are always looking for new ideas.
Make it a great day!
Magda 
2 Comments
August 26, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Sounds like you are well on you way!
September 13, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Magda,
Congrats on “going green.” Your tips for the office are right on target – Especially going paperless. There’s so much more that we can all do, but the important thing is to start SOMEWHERE and do SOMETHING.
~Marilyn