With marketing departments across private industry jumping on the eco bandwagon there is (understandably) a great deal of cynicism about companies making claims about their 'Green Credentials'. However, I personally wanted to try and operate a 'green business' from the moment I started, and could see no reason why a home office based IT Consultant should create much waste and shouldn't be able to minimise the direct and indirect impact they have on the environment.
Well, I've started by researching lots of material, and there is a wealth of it, and it's a very confusing area! There are generalisations, wild claims, but a distinct lack of clear numbers and guidance. The priorities are clear though, regardless of all the flannel which surrounds them; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
This is how I've initially set out measures to meet these intentions with actual action;
- Reduce. Ensure travel is kept to a minimum to reduce fuel consumption, and wherever possible combine multiple meetings in one visit. Reduce power consumption by turning off any devices not required (e.g. turning off wireless routers overnight). Reduce consumption of paper and ink by only printing where appropriate, and try and source paper which is recycled or from a renewable resource. Use paper free communication with any suppliers or service providers (e.g. paperless banking and changing communication preferences with suppliers to email).
- Reuse. Rather than throwing old computer hardware away either remploy it in the business, or pass it on to schools, voluntary organisations and charities to use.
- Recycle. Where the output from my business does need disposing of, recycle wherever possible. All paper is recycled via local authority collection services, and any confidential paperwork is shredded beforehand. Printer cartridges will be recycled via Oxfam. Post including junk email is recycled as far as possible (you have to remove the plastic envelops on the windows though!). Any old hardware that cannot be reused is disposed of at a local Valtek recycling centre.
The next steps for me are clarifying with my local authorities what I can and cannot dispose of as a home office worker (there's a think line between personal and business, and the waste I generate is effectively identical to someone who is full time employed but works from home).
After that is the bigger challenges;
- Making sure that all my suppliers have effective and measurable green policies.
- Encouraging customers to follow practices to reduce, reuse and recycle.
One key thing to remember (especially in an economic downturn!) is that step 1, Reduce, could save you significant amounts of money. More on that soon as I measure the changes in my bottom line as a result of reducing my consumption of resource.
Comments