Print on both sides and use the blank side of redundant or outdated documents as a note or sketch pad. Send office memos over email and use a projector to share information or review work whenever possible. Every ton of paper recycled saves up to 17 trees.
Instead of driving, walk or cycle over short distances.
Walking and biking are great forms of exercise but for long distances, try carpooling or take public transport. Less driving means lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emission. 25% of car trips are less than 2 km long. So get in gear and get some pollution-free exercise.
Turn off lights & air-con when not in use.
An air-con with a higher temperature and lower fan setting uses less power. Opening your blinds to let in the sun will not only save energy, but plants will provide more oxygen and keep minds alert. The gas in your air conditioning unit, if released into the atmosphere, has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) that’s 1,700 times greater than CO2.
Use energy-saving light bulbs.
Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs use two-thirds less energy than incandescent bulbs, give off 70% less heat and last 10 times longer, which means you save money on electricity and replacement bulbs. Incandescent bulbs have a fine wire filament inside of them that heats up, producing light. This process uses a lot of energy, 90% of which is lost as heat.
Bring your own reusable container for takeaway.
They say when when the buying stops, so will the killing. Well, the same can be said for our excessive use of styrofoam and plastic, except it’s not just the animals, but the environment we are endangering. Styrofoam is made from polystyrene, a toxic substance also used in hydrogen bombs. Incinerating it produces styrene gas which harms our nervous system.
Filter or boil tap water for drinking.
Make it a habit of always having flasks of drinking water available for staff. This will deter them from going out to buy water in plastic bottles. Like styrofoam, most plastic used to bottle drinks are non-biodegradable and they contribute to a large amount of waste at landfills. They require a lot of energy to produce and even more to incinerate.
Don’t use plastic bags unnecessarily.
Refrain from using a plastic bag to line your personal waste paper basket and keep it strictly for paper for hygiene’s sake. Walk to the chute or the trashcan in the pantry to dispose of other trash. Plastic bags can last up to a thousand years in a landfill. In the environment, they break down into tiny, toxic particles that become part of the soil and water.
We are proud to kick off 7iveWOW!™ with 2,000 ECO bags, which we sent out as CNY gifts to clients and associates in Singapore and Malaysia.
Also, please be sure to check out those 7 tips to be greener at home and the office.
