by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
One in three office workers has a lazy attitude when it comes to looking after the environment at work, so a new survey, just ahead of Green Office Week 2010, has revealed.
This national survey, conducted by office products manufacturer Avery, has found that despite huge efforts to make people aware of the environmental and economical impacts of their actions, 36% of the UK admit that nothing is stopping them from doing their bit, but they just do not bother to do it.
It is, in fact, laziness that makes them not to do it. So, the question is as to what can be done? Would some sort of incentives help?
Yet, respondents believe that being eco-conscious at work will make a substantial difference to the environment and it’s important our companies should act responsibly.
What people seem to not consider, and it is the same at home as at work, that it is they, as individuals, work teams, families, that can make the difference and that we cannot just wait for someone else to do it.
Like the call that the government must do this or that, and all we all do is wait for government to do not not to do.
Nicky Amos, Corporate Social Responsibility Expert, explains: “Office workers are aware of the environmental impact of their actions, but many leave their conscience at home when they go out to work. Green Office Week is set to guide office workers in their bid to transfer green thinking from the home to the desk.”
Office workers still believe the best way to make a difference is by recycling products to reduce waste after use, with only 11% of us consciously choosing environmentally friendly office supplies in the first place. Just 34% chose to consume less energy in a bid to reduce their working footprint even though the survey found British businesses waste over £160 million each year just by leaving the office lights on.
But are companies doing enough? Two thirds of office workers said they were not aware that their organization had any environmental targets in place, and just 18% were told about targets during their induction. One third of all UK offices still do not have any recycling facilities, and less than a quarter has a full environmental policy in place.
This has led to over two thirds of office workers admitting that the lack of empowerment, facilities and communication are the key reasons why they are not greener during working hours. 47% even said that they are less conscious reducing power consumption because they aren’t the ones paying the bills.
In think in the last paragraph was a good allegory, namely that workers often waste energy and resources because they are not the ones who are paying the bills. This is also seen in the way that workers treat their tools and machines at work. It is not they who pay for damages to the machines so why should they care.
Nicky Amos added: “We spend the majority of the week at work, but we are not often given adequate advice on how to make our time there count in positive ways. People make the most difference when they are empowered and educated about the simple steps they can take. That’s why initiatives like Green Office Week are beneficial in helping to spread the word.”
Initiatives like Green Office Week (and maybe we can invent a few more like that) can indeed be very beneficial in raising awareness and hopefully bring about some changes. People must be empowered to be able to also set in motion their own ideas in this field and people must understand that it is the small things that, indeed, do count and make a difference.
5 New Fresh Ideas To Green Your 9 To 5!
Just a few small changes can make a real difference:
* Turn mobile phone chargers off as soon as they finish charging!
* Opt for a cycle courier instead of a man with a van!
* See if you can go the entire day without printing any emails!
* Turn your radiator one degree down and keep it there!
* Save cash and make friends – find someone to car share with tomorrow!
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 dis-empowered by formalities and procedures.
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.
Green Office Week 2010, was the second annual Green Office Week held and organized by Avery Dennison Office Products, was held between Monday 26th April and Friday 30th April.
© 2010
