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A Greener Office: 5 Things You Can Do to be Kinder to the Environment

Companies are often vocal about what they're doing to reduce their environmental impact, but what can we do as individuals? Here are five things you can do as an individual to be kinder to the environment.

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A Greener Office: 5 Things You Can Do to be Kinder to the Environment

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  1. A Greener Office: 5 Things You Can Do to be Kinder to the Environment A Greener Office. 5 things you can do to be kinder to the environment

  2. Why ? The companies we work for may be doing everything they can to minimise their impact on the environment… Why ? The companies we work for may be doing everything they can to minimise their impact on the environment…

  3. Why ? …but our individual choices as employees are equally as important. Why ? …but our individual choices as employees are equally as important.

  4. Why ? Most of us aren’t really aware of our impact, or how much we will feel the effects of environmental change. Why ? Most of us aren’t really aware of our impact, or how much we will feel the effects of environmental change.

  5. Most developed countries have the money and resources to protect their people from negative effects of environmental damage, Most developed countries have the money and resources to protect their people from negative effects of environmental damage,

  6. but some nations, both developed and developing, are already suffering from: Agriculture loss Extreme WeatherDroughtFlood but some nations, both developed and developing, are already suffering from: Agriculture loss Extreme WeatherDroughtFlood

  7. 3 Key Issues The choices we make at work are closely related to 3 Key Issues The choices we make at work are closely related to

  8. Waste Waste is the end-product of poor use of our finite natural resources. Waste Waste is the end-product of poor use of our finite natural resources.

  9. Water We use water for everything: growing our food, making our clothes, building our technology… We’re using our reservoirs quicker than they can be replenished. Water We use water for everything: growing our food, making our clothes, building our technology… We’re using our reservoirs quicker than they can be replenished.

  10. . Energy/ Emissions Fossil fuels are harmful to the environment and they’re running low. Renewable sources are generally cleaner and can continue to provide for us.

  11. . Read on for 5 small ideas that you can consider to make a difference in your office: So, what can we do?

  12. . Pack lunchyour own1

  13. . How far has this travelled? Were the ingredients farmed responsibly? Bringing your lunch to work allows you to make informed choices about the food you eat.

  14. . Cleaning/ Packaging Preparation Waste Disposal Retail Ready-prepared food goes through more industrial processing, which uses more water and energy while increasing food-miles and emissions. Farming

  15. . Farming Cleaning/ Packaging Retail Enjoy! Bring your own lunch and choose locally-produced ingredients, that contain no poorly-farmed ingredients; choosing responsibly farmed palm oil is a good example!

  16. . Palm oil is in absolutely everything from food and household products, to make-up, soaps and other cosmetics.

  17. . 1950 Indonesia is currently the biggest producer of palm oil, having produced an estimated 33,000,0001 tons in 2014. 1 United States Department of Agriculture Radday, M, WWF Germany. 2007. 'Borneo Maps'.

  18. . This industry is key to the country’s economy. The downside, however, is the mass rainforest deforestation. Choose products made with responsibly sourced palm oil; save the rainforests and its endangered inhabitants. Radday, M, WWF Germany. 2007. 'Borneo Maps'. 2009

  19. . Go veggie2

  20. . Producing meat uses a colossal amount of water and energy. The greenhouse gas output from the meat industry is also extremely high.

  21. . Going meat-free, even if only a couple of days a week, will significantly reduce your carbon footprint. 1 P. Scarborough et al., Journal of Climate Change Kg carbon emissions/year1 Kg carbon emissions/year1 Meat-based diet Vegetarian diet 2,065 1,405

  22. . Kg carbon emissions/year1 Kg carbon emissions/year1 Meat-based diet Vegetarian diet 27 kg carbon2 21.1 kg carbon2 6.9 kg carbon2 1 kg of: = = = 2 Environmental Working Group 1 P. Scarborough et al., Journal of Climate Change 2,065 1,405

  23. . 4,364 1,000 2,500 4,546 1,636 3,400 3,546 13,620 Approximate litres of water to produce1: Pork (1kg) Wheat (1kg) Eggs (x6) Cheese (1kg) Soy Beans (1kg) Rice (1kg) Chicken (1kg) Beef (1kg) Hamburger (x1) 1,200 1 Water Footprint Network

  24. . Tech wisely3

  25. . Technology is a very energy intensive industry, both pre- and post-production. Vast quantities of water are also used in the production of our tech.

  26. . Consider also the rarity or toxicity of component materials and the short lifespan of our devices, and we realise the importance of knowing our options before and after purchase.

  27. . BEFORE BUYING Are components sourced responsibly? Is an upgrade really necessary? Buy second-hand?

  28. . AFTER LIFESPAN Can someone else use it? Can it be correctly recycled?

  29. . Furnish Responsibly4

  30. . Furniture should last longer, or be repairable, making it cheaper in the long run while reducing waste.

  31. . Buying second hand is often more cost effective, and is arguably the best way to reduce resource consumption.

  32. . The benefits of this, however, mean nothing if you’re shipping it halfway across the world.

  33. . If second-hand isn’t an option, then prolong the lifespan of any new furniture. Choose something sustainably sourced, good quality, repairable, and adaptable.

  34. . Annually in the UK, more than one billion kilograms of waste furniture and mattresses are sent to landfill.1 > 1,000,000,000 kg 1 WasteDataFlow (WDF)

  35. . When choosing furniture, it’s also worth considering VOCs. VOCs are Carbon-based gases that are given off by chemicals used to make furniture. Volatile Organic Compounds

  36. . Low VOC furniture will increase air quality in the office environment and will likely be made from more natural, environmentally friendly materials.

  37. . Go green5 (literally)

  38. . Fill your office with plants. It’s probably one of the easiest ways to make a difference.

  39. . Plants filter the air of many pollutants including VOCs. They also regulate humidity, temperature, and remove dust from the air.

  40. . Indoor plants have also been proven to reduce stress, improve concentration and productivity, and increase happiness.1 1 Kaplan R. (1992) The psychological benefits of nearby nature 10-15% increase in productivity

  41. . Put these 5 things into practice and you can make a difference to your office’s environmental impact!

  42. . Want your next presentation to look like this one? Click here for more inspiration. Content and design: Shay

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