Extreme Green Office Make-Over

Ok, so we didn’t trudge into the office with our steel-toes, jack-hammers and tool belts alongside Ty Pennington….but beginning last year, we here at Porter Novelli Life Sciences embarked on a mission to “greenwash” our office. Spearheaded by our trusty office manager, Sharon, we successfully lightened our footprint by….

• Asking our cleaning company to only use green products
• Adjusting the thermostat several degrees lower
• Including green ideas, tips and stories as part of the daily internal news update
• Switching from paper plates/plastic utensils to reusable plates, mugs and glasses
• Placing small recycling bins in offices and meeting spaces
• Began using either recycled or natural office products
• Using recycled and double-sided paper in the printer when possible
• Turning off the lights when not in use
• Purchasing organic, local lunches for staff meetings
• Telecommuting and video conferencing when possible
• Using scratch paper to print notes, i.e. staff meeting agenda’s
• Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices
• Tracking travel mileage to measure our carbon footprint
• Several team members walk or bike to work, most live within 5 miles of the office

“The biggest difference I saw was the lack of waste,” Sharon told me. “The team really stopped printing unless needed, and the amount of trash generated each day was cut down by a third. The agency took our green initiatives to heart and believe the rewards are more important than the small inconveniences.”

As Earth Day nears, how does your Earth Day trivia knowledge stack up? Ouch, I only got 30% correct, looks like I really need to study up.

Anyway, enjoy your day on Thursday, April 22 and let us know of any tips or tricks your office has done in an effort to go green!