How to start a Green Team

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:

• 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?

1. 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, 
   
2. Ask those persons if they are interested in environmental issues
   
3. Ask if they are willing to be a part of the team
4. 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)

What’s next?

1. Schedule a meeting with interested staff members,
2. Consider everyone’s contribution to the team and decide which persons would be key for specific areas of the team
3. Select a leader who will keep a list of the issues that are discussed in team meetings
4. Examine areas of improvement and changes within the Company
5. Discuss topics the group would be interested in implementing: Recycling, Energy Conservation, Office Supplies, Community Outreach Programmes
6. Elect the project that is simplest and has the least cost involved as your launch venture 
7. Promote the project’s benefits to all staff and encourage them to get involved 
8. Monitor its progress and report in team meetings 
9. Discuss ways to implement new projects while learning from the errors of prior projects
10. Continue your Green Team efforts until all staff members are engaged or knowledgable of the efforts taking place to help green the organization

Not everyone will come running with open arms in the initial stages, do not be discouraged Rome wasn't built in a day. You may not get the support you would like initially, but keep pushing. Show your co-workers and bosses why 'going green' makes sense financially and why you believe everyone should be involved in the process. Everyone benefits when making the transition to a greener cleaner office environment.