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| p2p Magaz i ne | Spr i ng 2013
01732 759725
GREEN OFFICE WEEK
Championing greener
ways of working
Avery Green OfficeWeek, now in its
fifth year, aims to empower workers
across the UK to change their office
practices for the better, helping them
to find greener ways of working.
Taking place on May 13-17, the week
aims to unite offices around the
country, raising awareness of the
issues and offering practical help and
advice to office workers looking to
make a difference.
A OnePoll survey of 1,000 office
workers, commissioned as part of Green
OfficeWeek, revealed that 55% of people
say they work with colleagues who either
disregard green working practices or
are deliberately wasteful. Forgetting to
recycle, needlessly throwing away paper
and leaving computers switched on
overnight are just some of the top green
bugbears identified by workers.
The study highlighted the importance
of tackling such issues by collectively
working together to champion greener
ways of working. 40% of office
workers say they are more likely to be
environmentally friendly in the office if
they are surrounded by colleagues who
are passionate about green issues. Green
OfficeWeek aims to build on this and
unite office workers across the country,
empowering them to take simple,
practical steps to help make workplaces
more sustainable.
Leading by example
How individuals encourage
green behaviour is crucial
in affecting how likely
work colleagues
are to respond to change in a positive
way: 44% of workers say that colleagues
who promote green practices can have a
tendency to make them feel guilty, with
40% of those saying that this tactic can
get ‘annoying.’
Instead of making individuals feel
guilty when they forget to recycle or turn
off the lights, almost two-thirds (60%)
of office workers say that a far better
way to encourage others to be green is
to lead by example – stating that actions
speak louder than words. Other positive
strategies identified include helping
people to understand the cost benefits
of reducing waste and making green
behaviour part of everyone’s
job descriptions.
Green OfficeWeek 2013
comes at a time when,
despite the global economic uncertainty,
only 12% of office workers feel that the
environment is now less of a priority for
their business.
n
42% said the financial crisis has
actually increased the need for their
workplace to be greener and more
resource efficient.
n
66% of office workers also say they are
more likely to purchase a product if it
is environmentally friendly.
n
61% of those polled said they would
feel happier if their workplace was seen
to be more environmentally friendly.
Green OfficeWeek provides tips and
inspiration encouraging office workers
to think about the small, positive steps
they can make towards creating a more
sustainable working environment. The
week also highlights some innovative
solutions that can help us all to be
greener at work.
To find out more and to get
involved with Green Office
Week 2013, simply register at
greenofficeweek.eu or visit the
Green OfficeWeek twitter feed
@greenofficeweek.
Over half of office workers in the UK feel that
their efforts to be environmentally-friendly can
sometimes be let down by colleagues
Working together and leading
by example are key factors in
improving green practices at work