Unless you’ve been marooned on a desert island surrounded by the real thing, you can’t help but have tuned in to The Blue Planet.
David Attenborough’s mesmerising natural history show has inspired a new wave of eco-minded campaigns, including a determination to ban plastics from everyday use.
It could mean the last straw for plastic consumerism but it’s also a call for the forward-thinking admin pro to go green in the office.
To help you get started, here are five ways to make your office more eco-friendly and efficient.
Yes to Paper Cuts
Ouch, not real ones! Every office was supposed to be paperless many moons ago yet still we cling on to post-it notes, notepads and mountains of files.
Did you know corrections, revisions, and updates on printed documents contribute to 90% of all office waste?
Lead the charge for digital and promote a campaign for keeping files on safe servers, not in space-wasting filing cabinets.
The Green Team
Persuade HR to ditch the paint-ball boot camps. Instead, form Green Teams whose mission is to work together on sustainability projects to improve office efficiency and help the planet. Have a monthly prize for the Team that comes up with most innovative recycling programme.
No Plastic is Fantastic
It doesn’t matter whether you’re PA to the CEO or the new office admin assistant, it takes courage to say no. No to disposable coffee cups. No to plastic cutlery. No to bottled water. There’s no reason your office can’t have personal mugs and cutlery and fresh drinking water on tap. Be bold: ban the plastic!
Turned on by Switching Off
Turning off electronic devices and lights every evening, and twiddling the thermostat down a notch, are the easiest ways to save your company’s utility bills and cut carbon. If part of your admin role is to take care of office stock, when it’s time to replace hardware, recycle the old and invest in more energy-efficient electronics. If you’re not tech-savvy speak to your IT pro or challenge your Green Teams to come up with ideas.
Tanks for Everything
Finally, as a tribute to the motivational power of The Blue Planet, as well as introducing pot plants why not invest in a fish tank? Not only is watching our finned friends a therapeutic stress-buster, it will be a talking point for visiting clients.
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