Green Trends and Conservation & Recycling Tips

Over the last few years there has been a huge escalation in the amount of green advertising companies are doing to promote their businesses.   I think it’s great because it raises the country’s consciousness about how we can all be better stewards of the environment, both in the workplace and in our personal lives.  Still, one can’t help but wonder how much of the advertising is green washing and how much is genuinely promoting products and services that really do impact the environment in positive ways.

 Many building service contractors, ourselves included, want to appeal to environmentally conscious companies, not just to increase business, but because we really do want to do more to protect our planet and safeguard the health of our workers.   Fortunately, it’s relatively easy for a cleaning company to make changes in their products and services to meet the conservation goals of the client.  We can help more with recycling, we can use environmentally safer cleaning products, we can use paper and other products made from recycled fibers, we can use energy efficient equipment, we can adjust our methods of cleaning, and we can support our clients in a variety of ways to help them with their environmental goals.  Yet despite the extra efforts we could all be making, we still only have a few clients who actually go the extra mile to implement substantial recycling and conservation programs in their facilities.  This tells us that despite the media and advertising hype about sustainable practices in the workplace, and despite the occasional write-up in the newspapers about businesses who receive LEED certification, many businesses are still slow to make changes in their environmental practices.  Why is this?

 I suspect that many people resist change because they think it will require too much cost and effort, or maybe they think if they can’t make big changes the little ones aren’t worth making.  Maybe they’re too busy.  Maybe they really don’t think it’s that important to recycle and do more to decrease the impact their business has on the environment.  Whatever the reason, I wish people would realize that even if you can’t go all the way and make huge changes, simply making small changes a little at a time will get us to our final goal - which is to do the best we can, within the limitations of our reality and budget.   If you are ready to do more to be environmentally responsible at your workplace, my advice is to start with the following four easiest baby steps:

Recycling:  Increase your company’s recycling and establish an official company recycling program.   Acquire more practical recycling receptacles for different items and find an appropriate area to set them up.  Delegate recycling responsibilities to your workers and to your cleaning crew.  Make proper recycling a company policy requiring everyone to do it, because there are still many people out there who don’t take environmental issues seriously.  Many people still throw away cardboard, pop cans, plastic containers, cartons, batteries, light bulbs, and all kinds of items that are recyclable into the kitchen waste or into their desk waste, because they don’t want to get up from their seat to rinse something out or take the time to dispose of it in the proper receptacle!  We all need to do whatever we can to prevent items from ending up in the landfill.  Reduce, recycle, reuse, repair, and rethink everything you do.

Energy conservation:  Keep lights off when not using them.  Keep your desk space heaters off if you’re not in the office or you’re out to lunch. Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.  Change as many incandescent light bulbs as possible to fluorescents and energy efficient lighting.   Most of us can’t afford to build new businesses or remodel existing buildings to meet LEED certification standards, but we can do the best we can with what we’ve got, and there’s no good excuse for wasting energy.

Switch to recycled paper products:  Start using paper products and other products that are made from recycled fibers so more trees don’t have to be cut down.  Multifold paper towels, toilet tissues, kitchen towels, cups, napkins, office stationary and so much more is now available in recycled fibers.  Also, why buy more plastic recycling containers even if they are made from recycled plastic?  Use your empty paper boxes or banker’s boxes for recycling under each person’s desk.  It won’t cost extra and cardboard will decompose into the earth, while large blue recycling containers won’t!  Don’t forget to write RECYCLE on your boxes so the cleaning crew will know that it is recycling.

Switch to non-toxic cleaning products:  Have your cleaning crew use environmentally safe cleaning products as their primary cleaning chemical.  We recommend using products certified by EcoLogo or Green Seal. There are many products to choose from now-a-days, but make sure that the cleaning crew uses a multi-purpose cleaner for at least 95% of the cleaning they do. Only reserve the stronger chemicals for occasional use when absolutely necessary.  When cleaning the carpet, make sure that the carpet cleaner uses an environmentally safe carpet cleaning solution.  Make sure that your cleaning crew never dumps chemicals into an outdoor sewer drain, because it will end up in our rivers and streams.

None of the above efforts really cost much or take much time, but they are small steps we can all take to reduce our carbon footprint and be better stewards of the environment.   Call your janitorial company today and ask for their cooperation and help with your company’s environmental goals. We’ll all be healthier for it and so will our planet and future generations.