Talk dollars. Smart employers recognise that environmentally-friendly policies, provided they are genuine, can help attract quality staff. And it doesn't end there. Occupants of "green buildings" report improved staff morale and productivity, better staff retention and fewer sick days.
But a sustainable workplace is cost-effective in a number of ways. Think of all that paper and printer ink the business can save through recycling or going paperless, and the financial rewards of switching to green electricity sources and energy-efficient lighting, just to name a few.
Model green behaviour. Begin the sustainability conversation in your workplace by establishing a Green Team. Start with a little polite education on the extent of office waste and then enlist support from management and fellow staff to establish a recycling and/or composting program.
Staff are more likely to support such green initiatives if they are involved in planning from the outset.
Once you gain a little momentum, widen your scope to:
- Ban disposables and plastic water bottles in the workplace;
- Request staff bring their own mugs to work;
- Install plants to breathe new life into the workspace;
- Ensure all lights are turned off and computers unplugged at the end of each day;
- Encourage video-conferencing instead of travel to meetings;
- Establish ride-share arrangements for the daily commute; and
- Work up the confidence to propose a full environmental audit of the organisation.
Tackle bigger issues. Negotiating new Fair Trade contracts for all supplies or modifying the design of your building might be a stretch for even the most persuasive Green Team, at least at first. However, astute employers realise that it's only a matter of time before the sustainability of their entire business comes under scrutiny, if not from employees then certainly from government regulators and discerning customers.
Addressing some of these more complex environmental challenges will demand courage and commitment from business owners. Well informed, passionate and creative staff can help by developing practical solutions from the ground up, providing a strong foundation for lasting change.
Because when it comes to sustainability, we're all working to achieve the same bottom line - safeguarding precious planet Earth.
