7 ways to green up your office

By Terry A. Rondberg, DC

Most practitioners interested in the health of the human body are also interested in the health of the planet. The trend toward “green offices” is a natural direction for all wellness providers and it’s really not as difficult or expensive as you might think.

I’m not talking about putting solar panels on your roof or wind power turbines in your parking lot. But we can all accomplish a lot just by looking around the office and seeing what items are “so 20th century” as the kids say.

Here are 7 top ways to green up your office:

1) Switch office supplies. Everything today is available in a “green” version: recycled paper, mercury-free rechargeable batteries, re-manufactured ink cartridges, biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning supplies, even office furniture made from eco-friendly and recycled wood products. They may cost a little more, but that’s a small price to pay for living in harmony with your principles.

2) Watch your lunchroom. You’re not still using Styrofoam cups at your water cooler, are you?  Is your staff lunchroom stocked with plastic plates and cutlery? Why not switch to corn-based products that are easily recyclable and biodegradable? Reusable items are best, but if you’re going to use disposable products, make sure they’re not only MADE of recycled materials, but that they can be recycled (and provide a recycling bin).

3) Provide a “green” kids’ area. If you cater to children in your office, set up a small “kids’ corner” with safe, educational toys (preferably made from organic or recycled material). My favorite source is Hazelnut Kids, but the Internet is filled with small companies specializing in this type of product.

4) Go paperless (or almost). When computers were first equipped with hard drives, experts predicted we’d all have paperless offices within a few years. It didn’t happen and I doubt if it ever will, but we can reduce the amount of paper we use and toss every day. Print hard copies only if needed, and reuse the other side of the sheet when appropriate (be careful about privacy issues, though). Naturally, use recycled paper made from a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content.

5) Switch to LED bulbs. I do NOT think fluorescent bulbs (CFL or otherwise) are a good idea. They will ultimately add tons of dangerous mercury to our landfills. If you’re going to switch to a more energy efficient bulb, invest in LED bulbs or wait for the next generation of bulbs, like electroluminescent lighting technology.

6) Clean “green.” Make sure your cleaning service uses environmentally friendly cleaning products. Toxic chemicals like chlorine bleach are not only bad for the earth but can leave caustic residue on surfaces in your office — not an ideal “wellness” environment. In 1989, the EPA estimated that the fumes produced by common household cleaners were three times more likely to cause cancer than other air pollutants. Another study (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2007) found that 15% of all asthma cases were actually caused by exposure to cleaning products. Get rid of them!

7) Eat “green.” You can’t tell your staff members what they can or can’t eat for lunch or during their breaks, but try to encourage them to make healthy choices, not only in the food they consume but in the packaging it comes in. And instead of putting a jar of sugar-laden candy on your counter, try an all-natural, healthy treat.