Being more environmentally conscious is something that we should all prioritize, as it doesn’t take a huge effort to make a difference. If everyone did his or her part to make even the smallest impact, the overall results would be tremendous.
The suggestions below provide a long list of simple little things you can do that will have a direct positive impact on our environment. I encourage you to read through this article and find ways that you can also pitch in and do your part to help improve our environment.
Go digital whenever possible.
“Go digital. Eliminate all of the paper that you can. Paper is harder to organize and often unnecessary unless a signature is required on the document or the document needs to be preserved for legal reasons.” — Matthew Kolb of All High Schools
Place recycle containers in your break room.
“You can put recycle containers in your break room and encourage employees to take a second and utilize them rather than just tossing everything in the general trash bin. You will be hard to find employees that won’t take the 5 seconds to do this. All it takes is securing the bins.” — Ari Evans of AAA Handbags
Turn off lights when not in use.
“Make an effort to shut off lights when they aren’t needed and turn off electronics when they aren’t being used. Not only does the reduction of energy consumption help the environment, but it lowers your utilities and operating expenses. It’s a win-win and something so simple do implement.” — Jim Epton of Dom Huga Ltd
Help raise awareness.
“We recently published a blog post on the EPA’s decision to potentially allow asbestos back into production. Asbestos exposure is the only cause of mesothelioma cancer, which 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with each year. We consider it our duty to raise awareness and take a stand against asbestos.” — Joseph W. Belluck of Belluck & Fox, LLP
Removal of paper goods from the break room.
“Remove all paper cups from the break room and encourage employees to bring in their own coffee mugs. This cuts down on waste and also saves the business money. You can also encourage the use of traditional silverware in the office rather than plastic disposable options.” — Edward Doskey of Doskey Law, P.L.C.
Make decisions with the environment in mind.
“Pay attention to everything you do with a deliberate eye on the environment and how you can be more responsible. For example; Do you really need those bottles of water in the fridge when there is a sink and water filter option across the hall?” — Ben Walker, Founder of Transcription Outsourcing, LLC
Reducing copy machine use.
“If you eliminate or reduce copying in the office is can be a big contributor. With email, shared cloud storage and file sharing, there really isn’t a need to print anything. While you can’t eliminate it entirely, you can make it known that the company needs to make a collective effort to reduce it.” — Christopher Dziak, CEO of Pure Nootropics
Use digital options.
“Move from systems that use paper to digital options, such as online contract systems, or cloud file storage. An office recycling program with bins for paper, aluminum, plastic and so on is another option, along with investing in rechargeable batteries and chargers.“ — Sean Christman, Founder of Slamdot
Donate time in the community.
“Donate time in the local community as a team. Almost all local communities have events and days where they pick up trash along the water or in state parks. As a team, donate your time and kick in. This is also a great PR opportunity you can leverage in your local media.” — Andrew Tran, Founder of Therapy
Implement basic recycling.
“Simply be environmentally conscious. It seems like most businesses simply lack basic awareness of recycling. Educating employees and making it very easy about what can be recycled and how to recycle can make a big difference.” — Shawn Schulze of HomeArea.com
Prevent waste.
“Starts from the top. Having protocols in place, in the beginning, to prevent waste from is key. Bad habits only manifest and grow over time. Set examples from upper management and use best practices whenever able.” — Marc Webb, Founder of Real PDL Help
Recycle electronics.
“Recycle old computers and electronics rather than just tossing them in the trash. There are many services that will come pick up old electronics free of charge and recycle them for you. Do this instead of just tossing them into the dumpster where they will just end up in a landfill.” — Tom Munroe, CEO of RugStudio
Offer carpool options.
“Low hanging fruit, replace bottled water offer recycling, paperless office. Offer carpool and rideshare options, offer incentives for those who choose to utilize public transit, ensure you have a safe place to store bicycles. When we make it easy people will do it.” — Shawn Freeman, Founder and CEO of TWT Group
