This is a great piece that Avery has put out on making our offices a little more environmentally friendly. There are some great ideas here that are easy to implement. They also have some great templates on their web site for recycle cans, etc.
ENJOY
The Office Guide to Going Green Want to do more to help the environment? The workplace offers plenty of opportunities where you and your co-workers can make a difference. Here are some eco-tips on how to easily incorporate going green into your work day:
| 8:00 AM | Think bright with energy-efficient lights. Consider switching those office lights you turn on in the morning to Energy Star®-qualified bulbs. These bulbs last up to 10 times longer and use about 75% less energy than regular light bulbs. | |
| 9:00 AM | Go green with supplies. Recycled copy paper, biodegradable pencils, and other earth-friendly office products can help your company make that commitment toward a more sustainable workplace. The Avery EcoFriendly line of labels which includes address labels, shipping labels, file folder labels and name badges, earned their name because both the label paper and package are recyclable as part of paper waste. Another eco-minded product is the Avery Recyclable Binder, made with 100% recycled chipboard. After use, the binder cover and rings can be separated and recycled. And with all our environmentally friendly line of products, you can trust in the same high quality you've come to rely on from Avery. | |
| 10:00 AM | Give paper cups a break. It's time for a coffee break-but back off from using that paper or StyrofoamTM cup for your daily intake of joe. Give the planet a break, too, by using reusable mug instead. | |
| 11:00 AM | Cut back on copies. The average U.S. office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year, according to the Sierra Club. Rather than printing out all those memos or presentation handouts, send out electronic copies or use recycled paper and double-side your printing | |
| 12:00 PM | Set up a recycling station. After having a nice lunch, do you throw your garbage away in a trash can? Make recycling a no-brainer by creating a recycling station. | |
| 1:00 PM | Ship with available resources. Reusing old boxes is an economical way to ship while cutting down on waste. With Avery EcoFriendly Shipping Labels customized with free Avery Templates, it's easy to keep up your green commitment and still give your packages a neat, professional appearance. And when you need some packing material, consider using shredded paper. | |
| 2:00 PM | Say "no" to junk mail. We spend an average of eight months of our lives dealing with junk mail, according to eco-cycle.org. To lighten the load, contact the Direct Marketing Association and register with their mail preference service so you can control the amount of direct mail you receive. | |
| 3:00 PM | Go eco-tripping. We have many options for going in to work, such as car- and van-pooling, telecommuting and teleconferencing. Now there are more options when traveling on business, too. Hybrid vehicle rentals, environmentally friendly hotels and "green" event planning options are just some of the eco-conscious choices available, reports Shivani Vora in the article "Business Travelers Go Green" on Forbes.com. | |
| 4:00 PM | Monitor your indoor environment. When the weather's cold, keep blinds open to capture as much warmth from the sun as you can, advises energystar.gov. On hot days, draw the blinds shut. Also make sure building vents aren't blocked and your computer has space around it so air can circulate and help you save energy. | |
| 5:00 PM | Good night, sleep tight. Don't let the electric bill bite. Before you pack it in for the day, make sure you shut down the equipment. Even during the day, it's a good idea to switch your computer, printer and other electronic equipment to a "power save" mode when not in use. |
When you and your co-workers support each other and make the effort to go greener, doing your part to help the environment will soon become second nature. Share these tips at your workplace, and inspire those around you to make a positive change. Going green isn't just a passing trend, it can be a way of life.
Christine Stalsonburg
President/CEO
Social Media Partners
"Your Partner in Social Media"
231-409-4140
Follow us on Twitter - http://www.Twitter.com/SMPTraverseCity
Like us on Facebook - http://www.Facebook.com/SocialMediaPartnersTC
http://www.SocialMediaPartners.us
