THE GREEN OFFICE
ADOPTING A SUSTAINABLE
CORPORATE CULTURE
To offer a current example, land fill tax is
set to increase considerably over the next few
years to discourage corporate waste and
encourage recycling. Everyone knows how to
recycle paper and bottles and cans and even
printer cartridges, but what about larger
items such as furniture? Shoving obsolete
desks and chairs underground isn’t a cheap
or particularly green practice, but what are
the alternatives? Some of the more easily
introduce-able measures can be as simple as
just choosing a company that is willing to do
the work for you. Certain companies such as
UK-based Green-Works have a commitment
to re-using or redistributing used but ‘usable’
office furniture to places where it may still be
able to serve a purpose. As a manufacturer,
RH Form is involved in the development of
T
he claim that ‘It’s not easy being suggestions to become dictated legislation materials such as Ventec™- an extremely
green’ simply doesn’t hold water and enforced policy. The advancement of breatheable seat cushioning material that
if you actually investigate its sustainable offices should be encouraged, incorporates horse hair rather than
validity, certainly from a product whether this means recycling, buying chemically produced foam. Just because a
manufacturer’s point of view. sustainable furniture and equipment or re- piece of workplace furniture is no longer any
Granted, perhaps it is an effort training. Help is available on how to instil use for a particular company, it’s not going
initially to update the working practices and such a culture in your organisation. to be any more useful in a landfill site, taking
company culture for the better in terms of Organisations such as the National Centre years to decompose, whilst replacement
environmental consciousness, but once the for Business and Sustainability (NCBS) can furniture is made from scratch from new
wheels are set in motion and the benefits can advise companies on how best to balance materials. To make recycling an easier option
be seen in business terms, corporate social environmental, social and economic aspects than disposal, RH offers collection and
responsibility seems like the most obvious of their operations. However harsh any initial disposal of chairs, with a view to re-using
and straightforward step in the world. financial outlay may seem in terms of what elements they can and removing the
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is so achieving this, the long terms gains will inconvenience for businesses.
named for a reason - it’s a responsibility, and clearly outweigh this. The bottom line being, if everyone does
needs to be treated as such rather than as an For those that remain unconvinced as to their bit, then there shouldn’t be a problem in
optional extra. The strange thing is, although both the social and financial responsibilities continuing to operate a successful operation
many managers are embracing the concept, that they face in regard to CSR, or simply within the constraints of nature and society,
a significant number still seem to see the don’t perceive a need to address issues such without any long term danger to future
need for change as a necessary but as climate change or carbon emissions, there growth and success.
inconvenient disruption. In actual fact, these are other more direct ways of
companies should be turning their situations ‘encouragement’ emerging. For example, a
to their advantage, not just in terms of long heightened risk of flooded premises or
term ideology, but also short term financial increased insurance premiums is a language
gain. The drive for environmentally conscious anyone can understand. It soon becomes a
product manufacture, transport and disposal moot point if managers don’t believe in
isn’t a passing trend, it’s a practice that is something if the UK treasury and the EU do,
here for good, and it’s one that the as they are the ones that make decisions and
Government is willing to encourage with form policies.
financial incentives. It would be churlish to Thankfully, those actively swimming
take advantage of attractive options - before against the tide are in the minority, and most
they become uniform legislation anyway. Not organisations are embracing environmentally
to take advantage of the many cost-saving conscious practices. However, convincing
sustainable options that are currently people of the ‘why’ seems to be a simpler
available would be both short sighted and task than explaining the ‘how’. People are on
pointless. The incorporation of sustainable board, but what should they do to make their
practices is as inevitable and far reaching as office ‘greener’? Guidance and assistance
the onset of computers or email in needs to be made readily available, as there
previous years. is emerging an active pressure from the
Offices in particular can lead the way in government to actively target those
workplace best practice now, rather than companies that don’t look to build
waiting for guidelines and best practice sustainability into their working operations.
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SUSTAINABLE FM | NOVEMBER 2007
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