Green (Living) Review: Green Office Week

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Green Office Week Calls on UK Businesses to Champion the Environment

Office workers are urging businesses across the UK to help support their environmental efforts as part of Avery Green Office Week, May 13th-17th.

A OnePoll survey of 1,000 office workers, commissioned as part of Green Office Week, has revealed that over eighty percent of individuals in the UK would like to see the businesses they work for do more for the environment.

Despite the increasing importance for companies and organisations to adopt green policies, forty percent of office workers would still not rate their company as environmentally-friendly and less than thirty percent feel they are encouraged to implement green practices at work.

Two of the biggest factors holding businesses back are not having anyone specifically allocated to environmental issues (34%) and a lack of specialist green facilities and equipment (33%). Being too busy and lacking the time to be green was also a common complaint with nearly twenty percent of individuals highlighting that it has an impact on their environmental efforts. Despite this, over sixty percent said they would be happier if their workplace was seen to be more environmentally-friendly.

The survey also revealed that small businesses are lagging behind larger organisations when it comes to encouraging green practices. Individuals working at companies with more than 250 employees say they are twice as likely (40%) to be encouraged to be green at work than employees at smaller companies (21%), this is despite the cost-saving and efficiency benefits on offer to businesses adopting greener working practices.

Getting the Green Habit

May 13th – 17th sees the fifth ever Avery Green Office Week, championing environmentally-friendly practices in the workplace. With individuals admitting to a host of green bugbears at work, including needlessly throwing away paper (41%), printing things that do not need to be printed (39%) and leaving electrical devices on standby (22%), Green Office Week aims to encourage and empower individuals across the UK to make small, practical changes to their daily work routine.

Gregg Corbett, Marketing Director at Avery, said: “We’re nearly four times more likely to consider ourselves greener at home than we are at work. This is largely due to the fact that we don’t feel we can make a big enough difference at work, where we often lack the right equipment and encouragement. Green Office Week sets out to change this by demonstrating the power of working together, highlighting the key issues that we can all look to address to make our workplaces more sustainable.”

Green Office Week provides tips and inspiration encouraging office individuals to think about the steps they can take towards creating a more sustainable working environment. The week also highlights some of the innovative solutions that can help us all to be greener at work, such as Avery Recycled Labels and Recycled Dividers, the Avery DTR Eco desktop accessory range and unique BlockOUT™ Labels that allow files, envelopes, and packaging to be re-used rather than thrown away. With most of these products part of the Avery Rewards promotion too, there’s never been a better time to be green!

To find out more and to get involved with Green Office Week 2013, simply register at www.greenofficeweek.eu or follow @greenofficeweek on Twitter.

The top green bugbears

1. Throwing away paper
2. Not putting recycling in the recycling bin
3. Throwing away food packaging
4. Printing out things that don't need to be
5. Leaving the computer switched on overnight
6. Leaving electronic devices on standby
7. Not turning off the lights
8. Not printing double sided
9. Boiling a full kettle
10. Leaving things on charge all day
11. Using plastic cups
12. Not reusing envelopes and parcels
13. Using non-environmentally-friendly products
14. Throwing out printer cartridges
15. Traveling by car too much

Green Office Week aims to empower workers across the UK to change their office practices for the better, helping them to find greener ways of working. Taking place on May 13-17th 2013, the week aims to unite offices around the country, raising awareness of the issues and offering practical help and advice to office workers looking to make a difference. For more information, log onto www.greenofficeweek.eu.

Avery Dennison Office and Consumer Products markets products under the well-known Avery brand name and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of self-adhesive labels and paper products for laser, inkjet and multifunction printers, labelling software, index dividers and a wide range of other products for both consumer and commercial markets. Avery Dennison Office and Consumer Products Europe, a business unit of Avery Dennison Corporation, has manufacturing operations in UK and Germany and sales and marketing offices in more than ten countries across Europe. For more information about Avery products, consumers can visit www.avery.eu. Avery and all other Avery brands and product names are trademarks of Avery Dennison Corporation.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Office Workers’ Green Efforts Being Frustrated by Colleagues

Study shows that ‘working together’ and ‘leading by example’ are key factors in improving green practices at work.

Over half of office workers in the UK feel that their efforts to be environmentally-friendly can sometimes be let down by colleagues, a national study has found.

A OnePoll survey of 1,000 office workers, commissioned as part of Avery Green Office Week, revealed that fifty-five percent of people say they work with colleagues who either disregard green working practices or are deliberately wasteful. Forgetting to recycle, needlessly throwing away paper and leaving computers switched on overnight are just some of the top green bugbears identified by workers.

May 13th – 17th sees Avery launch the fifth Green Office Week, with the study highlighting the importance of tackling such issues by collectively working together to champion greener ways of working. Forty percent of office workers say they are more likely to be environmentally-friendly in the office if they are surrounded by colleagues who are passionate about green issues. Green Office Week aims to build on this and unite office workers across the country, empowering them to take simple, practical steps to help make workplaces more sustainable.

‘Leading by Example’ Key to a Greener Office

The study found that how individuals encourage green behaviour is crucial in affecting how likely work colleagues are to respond to change in a positive way. Forty-four percent of workers say that colleagues who promote green practices can have a tendency to make them feel guilty, with forty percent of those saying that this tactic can get ‘annoying.’ Instead of making individuals feel guilty when they forget to recycle or turn off the lights, sixty percent of office workers say that a far better way to encourage others to be green is to lead by example – stating that actions speak louder than words. Other positive strategies identified include helping people to understand the cost benefits of reducing waste and making green behaviour part of everyone’s job descriptions.

Green Office Week 2013 comes at a time when, despite the global economic uncertainty, only 12% of office workers feel that the environment is now less of a priority for their business, with 42% stating the financial crisis has actually increased the need for their workplace to be greener and more resource efficient. 66% of office workers also say they are more likely to purchase a product if it is environmentally-friendly, with 61% saying they would feel happier if their workplace was seen to be more environmentally-friendly.

Here to help, Green Office Week provides tips and inspiration encouraging office workers to think about the small, positive steps they can make towards creating a more sustainable working environment. The week also highlights some of the innovative solutions that can help us all to be greener at work, such as Avery Recycled Labels and Recycled Dividers, the Avery DTR Eco desktop accessory range and unique BlockOUT™ Labels that allow files, envelopes, and packaging to be re-used rather than thrown away. With most of these products part of the Avery Rewards promotion too, there’s never been a better time to be green!

To find out more and to get involved with Green Office Week 2013, simply register at greenofficeweek.eu or visit the Green Office Week twitter feed @greenofficeweek.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Green Office Week Set to Show a Better Way to Work

Work forces across the country will be going green this May as office and consumer products champion Avery launches this year’s Green Office Week.

Green Office Week 2012 takes place May 14th-18th and looks set to be bigger and better than ever before, full of fun, practical ideas to help offices to work in more sustainable ways. With environment and cost savings more important to businesses than ever, this week is an excellent opportunity for the industry to demonstrate its innovation and support for greener working habits. Avery is encouraging customers to get right behind the campaign to demonstrate to consumers their commitment to the cause and to boost sales of environmentally-friendly Avery products.

In 2012 this campaign invites office consumers to demonstrate their environmental prowess by participating in the unique Green League, collecting points to win prizes for taking part, encouraging them to download product and environmental hints and tips as well as rewarding purchase of Avery environmental products. The week includes Dragon’s Den star and junk-model extraordinaire Max McMurdo, who will lead a fun competition designed to engage office workers nationally, with the opportunity to win one of his amazing recycled trolley chairs.

Green Office Week launches at the Business 2012 Show, O2 Arena, incorporating a Green Working: Ask the Experts’ Q&A panel on March 19th, where a panel of environmental experts will answer key questions on being green at work.

The award-winning week, now in its fourth year, has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the office products industry’s key annual events. Previously, the week has gained national, local and regional recognition and it offers Avery customers a unique opportunity to get involved, motivating consumers to take part, whilst also boosting sales of Avery environmentally-friendly products, which are also part of the Avery Reward scheme, rewarding consumers for buying Avery.

For further information, visit www.greenofficeweek.eu or contact the Avery Trade Helpline on 0800 587 0505 to find out how you can benefit from getting involved in one of the biggest events in the office products industry’s calendar.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

A LACK OF EMPOWERMENT AND FACILITIES HOLDING BACK OFFICE WORKERS!

Environment not on our Office Agendas

3 out of 4 of us think that we are leaving our green efforts at home DESPITE 79% of UK office workers believing that being environmentally responsible at work has a big impact on the environment.

A YouGov poll has revealed the startling fact that most Britons feel their offices are betraying their environmental efforts at home despite workers wanting to make a difference. The independent survey, conducted on behalf of office products experts Avery, found that 75% of office workers thought that they were less environmentally friendly in the office than at home, despite 79% believing that being ecologically responsible at work has a significant and positive impact on the environment. Frustratingly, a lack of empowerment, facilities, education, communication and company apathy were all cited as major reasons for the surprising findings.

Leading Eco-expert, Nicky Amos, urged all offices to start prioritising the environment: “We spend a third of our lives at work, and businesses are responsible for 40% of the UK’s carbon emission, compared with 27% from the home – so it’s vital that we take action. Employees in the workplace hold the key to meaningful change by simply adapting their behaviour at work and they must be allowed to do so.”

Tools of the Trade

48% of us don’t have the right office equipment to be environmentally friendly AND 45% say we lack the power to do anything about it.

Interestingly, almost half of office workers surveyed stated that there were not sufficient facilities and equipment in place to enable them to help the environment, irrespective of their intentions to do so. Psychologist Donna Dawson explains that this can be the green office’s undoing, no matter how positive its environmental targets. “A company may have an environmental policy in place, but if there isn’t the equipment or facilities to implement the policy, then it is as bad as not having a policy at all and will hamper workers efforts.”

Questions as to why office workers lack the right facilities to help the environment indicate that workers simply don’t have the authority to make a difference despite most wanting to, as 45% stated that they are held back by their bosses not empowering them with the ability to be environmentally-friendly. Often, this adds to the threat of a long-term rebound effect which could mean that the apathy experienced at work could transfer to apathy in the home, with office workers giving into a sense of helplessness.

Avery is well aware of the importance of providing products that help both the environment and business. Marc Pinner of Avery said: “When considering that 80% of the world’s original old growth forests have been logged or severely degraded, you can see why companies such as ourselves are taking our responsibilities seriously, working with established third parties to ensure that what remains of our natural heritage is protected. The priority for Avery has been to provide office workers with eco-friendly products that don’t compromise on quality so that choosing them is good for business and good for the environment.”

Green with Envy?

Interestingly, the survey revealed that office workers in Scotland are 48% more likely to feel their company does enough towards the environment than their Southern counterparts, meaning that for every two people in the South that are happy with their company’s green credentials, there is one more eco-happy office worker in Scotland! However, this is not to say that Southerners take their environmental responsibility any less seriously or that the grass is necessarily greener on the other side! Instead, this may simply reflect the expectations and standards that Southerner’s place on their companies to be green. In fact, the survey demonstrates that workers in the South feel it is more important that their companies act green than in any other region.

Disappointingly, Londoners place the least importance on having a green office, with the lowest percentage of workers thinking that being green in the office has a big impact on the environment. However, in light of the survey, the real cause of such apathy might actually be rooted in their respective lack of power - when it comes to ensuring their office is environmentally-friendly, Londoners are 52% more likely to feel disempowered by their bosses. Perhaps it’s no coincidence then that in the Midlands and Wales, where office workers feel more empowered, they consider themselves, to be more environmentally friendly at work than at home.

In terms of facilities and equipment, it’s the South that’s lagging behind. Workers in Scotland are 46% more likely than those in the South to feel that they have the facilities and equipment needed to be environmentally-friendly. Irrespective of where we work, the overriding theme for all of us is that we must be encouraged and allowed to do more, with Dawson arguing: “People are confused about just exactly what they should be doing to be greener, especially in the face of an uncommitted company.”

The Green League

My company does enough to help the environment:

1. Scotland
2.Midlands and Wales
3.London
4.North
5.South

My boss empowers me to be green at work:

1.Midlands and Wales
2.Scotland
3.South
4.North
5.London

It’s important that UK companies are green:

1.South
2.Midlands and Wales
3.North
4.Scotland
5.London

I have the facilities and equipment to be green at work:

1.Scotland
2.London
3.Midlands and Wales
3. North
5.South

Label Yourself a Green Officer with Avery!

On March 2nd 2009, Avery will be launching the first ever Green Office Week to encourage UK offices to take definitive action. Rather than just talking about the need to be green, the week will focus on simple and practical ways to help offices play their part in protecting the environment. In the meantime, here’s 5 quick tips to help you begin greening your workplace and to get you on your way to becoming a Green Officer!

Put plants in the office to literally green your workplace! Not only do they look good, but plants can reduce air pollution in enclosed spaces.
Choose recyclable products and paper and wood products that are FSC-certified, to guarantee that they come from sustainable sources.
Set up a green ideas scheme to encourage and reward colleagues who come up with energy saving and other green ideas.
Use labels to stick over existing labels on envelopes then re-use them.
Avoid disposable products such as paper towels, paper plates and paper cups.

For loads more tips and advice, log on to www.greenofficeweek.eu this Green Office Week!

Turned On by the Environment?

To increase awareness of this issue and to empower the UK’s office workers to make a difference, Avery is launching the first ever Green Office Week, March 2nd – 6th 2009. To join forces with offices across the country and to find out more about how you can make a difference, log on to www.greenofficeweek.eu

Green Office Week is an initiative launched to empower UK office workers to make a difference and to help their office environment work for the natural environment in practical ways. Research has shown that office workers are not apathetic towards green issues but instead feel disempowered by formalities and procedures. Held on March 2nd – March 6th 2009, the week aims to unite offices around the country in an effort to change this, helping office workers better both their working environment and the natural environment. For more information, log onto www.greenofficeweek.eu.

Avery Dennison Office Products markets products under the well-known Avery brand name and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of self-adhesive labels and paper products for laser and inkjet printers, labelling software, index dividers and a wide range of other products for both consumer and industrial markets. Avery Dennison Office Products Europe, a business unit of Avery Dennison Corporation, has manufacturing operations in UK, Germany and Italy and sales and marketing offices in more than ten countries across Europe. For more information about Avery products, consumers can visit the Avery Dennison Office Products Europe site at www.europe.avery.com

In addition some more findings:

When working, only 26% of us think that the environment is solely our company’s responsibility with 57% convinced it should be a joint effort.

70% of office waste is recyclable BUT only 8% is actually recycled

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