5.3-1 Greening the Workplace

 

INFORMATION SHEET 5.3-1

Greening the Workplace

Introduction

Greening as a concept is the process of integrating or adopting environmentally sound practices to attain sustainable development.

 

Greening the workplace is a workplace-based initiative that engages both the workers and the management to develop and implement sustainability plans, environmental programs, and sustainable practices to reduce the environmental impacts of the workplace.

Environmental Management Systems

Environmental Management System (EMS) is a tool used to help organizations to identify measure and manage its environmental impacts by consistently reviewing, evaluating and improving the environmental performance of the workplace.

 

EMS motivates each and every workplace to continuously improve its environmental performance by repeating the system over and over again. One of the most widely recognized models for an EMS is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 standard.  This model is based on five components:

 

Green Behavior

Greening goes beyond cost-cutting and slathering “switch it off” stickers and posters on every switch. The cultural and ethical component of going green is as crucial as it posits the moral understanding on why and how people treat and appreciate natural resources and the environment.

This means that both employers and employees must rethink the “business as usual” (BAU) mindset to a more sustainable approach by the responsible use of resources to minimize and if possible, avoid environmental degradation.

Fostering green behavior at work is not an easy task. It involves tapping to the habitual and personal values of individuals to spur behavioral changes, helping employees realize and see how their decisions and habits are harming the environment and why is there a need for a change.

Though it is difficult, it is not entirely impossible to change one’s behavior. Here are some of the things you can consider in fostering green behavior at work:

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Green Behavior

Greening goes beyond cost-cutting and slathering “switch it off” stickers and posters on every switch. The cultural and ethical component of going green is as crucial as it posits the moral understanding on why and how people treat and appreciate natural resources and the environment.

This means that both employers and employees must rethink the “business as usual” (BAU) mindset to a more sustainable approach by the responsible use of resources to minimize and if possible, avoid environmental degradation.

Fostering green behavior at work is not an easy task. It involves tapping to the habitual and personal values of individuals to spur behavioral changes, helping employees realize and see how their decisions and habits are harming the environment and why is there a need for a change.

Though it is difficult, it is not entirely impossible to change one’s behavior. Here are some of the things you can consider in fostering green behavior at work:

Click the "i" icon for more information

Bear in mind that this is not one size fits all rule: no single solution solves all problems. One must learn from the successful environmental practices of other industries or workplaces but remember that these practices of others may not fit or work in your workplace. Do not hesitate to seek clarifications and help from our sustainability experts.