As the world transitions to a greener healthier lifestyle we should not only be concerned about making better choices in our homes but also in the work place. The first step in many towards a greener work environment has to do with forming a “Green Team” and engaging co-workers in making that transition. Not only will you benefit from a cleaner environment but your superiors will thank you for helping them save money. What’s a Green Team? A “Green” team is a group of volunteers, with one goal: helping the organization make more environmentally friendly choices while helping to save money and maintain a healthy work environment. |
The team members work together to find innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle in the office. This diverse group combines their individual expertise and passions into a joint effort to transform the behaviour of co-workers and their organization.
The team’s efforts are not only beneficial to the environment, but the company will see improvements in areas like:
How to Start?
The team’s efforts are not only beneficial to the environment, but the company will see improvements in areas like:
- Finance – Lower electricity bills,
- Communication - better communication among co-workers engaged in promoting green team activities,
- Management & Leadership - Employee’s begin to take up the responsibility to carry out their tasks and set examples so others may follow.
- Office Environment - reduction in the waste materials produced throughout the office.
How to Start?
- Inform staff members of your interest in wanting to start a Green Team by posting on the company’s bulletin board or by E-mail,
- Ask those persons if they are interested in environmental issues
- Ask if they are willing to be a part of the team
- Provide a summary of topics for persons to brainstorm ways to affect change in the company. For example:
- Improving energy conservation, from office lights to computers.
- Boosting recycling (Tip: start with paper!)
- Finding alternatives for food and drink containers in break rooms and cafeterias (reduce the use of Styrofoam, a devilish product that does not biodegrade, no wonder its labeled #6 plastic)
- Organizing carpools and ride-sharing, encouraging public transportation use and biking
- Ways to lessen the company's overall environmental impact (consider recycling plastics)
- Schedule a meeting with interested staff members,
- Consider everyone’s contribution to the team and decide which persons would be key for specific areas of the team
- Select a leader who will keep a list of the issues that are discussed in team meetings
- Examine areas of improvement and changes within the Company
- Discuss topics the group would be interested in implementing: Recycling, Energy Conservation, Office Supplies, Community Outreach Programmes
- Elect the project that is simplest and has the least cost involved as your launch venture
- Promote the project’s benefits to all staff and encourage them to get involved
- Monitor its progress and report in team meetings
- Discuss ways to implement new projects while learning from the errors of prior projects
- Continue your Green Team efforts until all staff members are engaged or knowledgable of the efforts taking place to help green the organization