UK offices’ worst environmental offences revealed

The Big Green Guide, launched after office-supplier Avery’s ‘Green Office Week’,  contains advice contributed via social media by everyday office workers, as well as experts at WWF and the Sustainable Restaurant Association. (Scroll down for guide). 

Tips include using shredded waste paper as packing material, or putting a plastic bottle with a stone in it into a toilet cistern to save water when flushing.

One contributor also suggested moving printers to separate floors to make people more inclined to check their work before printing or even consider sharing it digitally.

Simple solutions

Avery marketing director Fiona Mills said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the level of participation and support Green Office Week has seen this year. There have been some brilliant discussions taking place and the response to The Big Green Crowdsourced Guide has been just fantastic. We’ve received a huge amount of inspiring content, which we are delighted to be able to share.”

An Avery survey also released as part of Green Office Week revealed that people are still more likely to be green at home than at work (94% to 83%).

The three biggest ‘environment offences’ in UK offices were throwing paper in the normal bin rather than recycling (done in 25% of offices); leaving electricity on when not needed (20%); and printing documents that could be stored electronically (19%).

However, the survey also revealed that a document like the Big Green Guide could help turn things around, with more than three quarters of respondents saying that having simple solutions that could be easily implemented would help them complete more green initiatives.

The Big Green Crowdsourced Guide

 Green Office Week on Twitter

Leaving an office fan on overnight wastes enough energy to power an iPhone for 25yrs. http://t.co/nJwG75l5VI #GreenOffice15

— Rainforest Alliance (@RnfrstAll_UK) May 15, 2015

It’s #greenoffice15 week this week. Are you being proactive and trying to be more sustainable like us? #eco #office pic.twitter.com/UJpBut5zWx

— Cosaf (@Cosaf1) May 15, 2015

A pre-recorded message in our kitchen reminds mruk staff to only boil what you need, don’t overload fridge with unwanted food #greenoffice15

— mruk research (@mrukresearch) May 15, 2015

Brad Allen