Many people who are ordinarily green at home will suspend their ideals at work. Maybe your environmental concern is a part of your personal life, or you feel environmentalism is somehow unprofessional, but whatever the reason, chances are you’re more lax about your dedication to the planet at your job then you are anywhere else.
This is a phenomenon that we as a society need to overcome, and fast. Considering how most of us spend half (or more) of our waking hours on the job, our actions at work speak just as loudly as our actions at home. Maybe even louder, if you work for a big company. Think how much transportation, energy use, and waste is generated by the company you work for. Start making changes, wherever you can.
If you have an office job, turn your computer, your monitor, your printer, your photocopier, and all your lights off when you leave at the end of the day. Turn them off at the power bar, or unplug your electronics, to eliminate phantom energy use overnight. Bring a coffee mug to keep at work, and pack a lunch in reusable containers. Most of the food you buy at work will come in disposable containers or some sort of plastic wrapping, and has been shipped in transport trucks from distant factories.
Recycle your paper, after reusing the blank side first, of course. If your office doesn’t provide recycling facilities, it’s shamefully out of date. Bring it up with your boss, or bring your paper waste home.
If you work in retail or customer service, take responsibility for the waste generated in your store or restaurant. Implement a recycling program to deal with your wine bottles, milk cartons, cardboard boxes, or whatever the case may be. Donate leftover food to a nearby shelter instead of throwing it out. Don’t offer plastic bags unless they’re really necessary.
Above all, don’t leave the environmentalist in you at home. The planet needs someone green at your job.
