What Can You Do to Be Part of the Solution? May 9, 2008
In yesterday’s post, I began a lengthy discussion of how to “green” your business while steering clear of so-called “greenwashing.” Unless you have some interest in prolonging the problem of environmental degradation, there are a variety of actions that a business can take to put its money where its mouth is vis-à-vis environmental responsibility. Some basic steps are inspired by a recent Xerox survey that measured environmental consciousness in the workplace. The survey found that work colleagues may have some strong objections to those who don’t walk-the-green-talk at the office. According to the survey (the results comprised an April 17, 2008, WhatTheyThink article):
Almost 40% of U.S. respondents said their number one office environmental pet peeve was mindless printing resulting in abandoned pages at the printer, followed closely by leaving the lights on in unused offices (37%).
A review of the other top office pet peeves included: lack of recycling bins (33%); excessive air conditioning or heating (29%); excessive use of paper products—like plates and cups (27%); coworkers who don’t recycle (27%), and coworkers who print single-sided instead of double-sided documents (24%).
...
[S]aid Patricia A. Calkins, vice president of Environment, Health and Safety at Xerox. “Yet, as this survey found, it takes a few small steps to make a big difference. Step number one: use the technology available in the office to cut back on paper use, reduce waste and reduce energy consumption. That can mean simply setting the office printers to default to two-sided printing, which cuts office paper use in half. Or, replace single function printers and copiers with multifunction systems, decreasing energy use.”
They say charity begins at home (but then they also say that most accidents happen in the home...), so one simple thing companies can do is to look at the Xerox survey results and make its own offices “green.” Xerox has other ways that companies can go green at www.xerox.com/environment.
Some other ideas, which range from the simple to the complicated:
Use recycled papers, both in your office and when buying print for marketing, collateral, or other materials. (“Recycled” is any paper that contains a minimum of 30% post-consumer-waste.)
Avoid applying lamination to printed materials; lamination makes paper non-recyclable and non-degradable. Ask your printer about aqueous coatings.
Use digital and targeted printing to reduce your press runs. Even in the printing industry, digital printing is considered by many to be a more environmentally responsible process than offset, not only because it can print less “waste” but also because there are minimal solvent and other chemical emissions.
If using offset printing, ask about soy inks, which have been around so long and are so well-entrenched in the industry that a visit to the the National Soy Ink Information Center will turn up the following note: “The National Soy Ink Information Center is now closed. Due to the success of the soy ink industry, we feel there is no longer a need to continue our work promoting soy ink and its acceptance through the National Soy Ink Information Center. In short, the soy ink industry is such a success that you don’t need us anymore!” I confess, this is the first time I have ever heard of a Web site being discontinued because it was unnecessary!
When buying printing, work with certified green printer. How can one find one? There are a variety of green certification organizations and programs. Two of the most respected in the printing industry are the Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership, which was established in 2007 as an independent third-party verification organization by PIA/GATF, SGIA (Specialty Graphic Imaging Association), and FTA (Flexographic Technical Association)—and the Forest Stewardship Council. There are others, but looking for printers who are certified or supported by either of these organizations is a good place to start.
Proof materials online or electronically—That is, reduce the number of hard-copy proofs you use, either internally or with your printer. Limit hard proofing to contract proofs submitted with your job, if necessary.
Use non-print media. However, I raise one caveat, which is that it is unclear the extent to which non-print media are any more environmentally responsible than print, when print is itself “greened.” After all, trees are a renewable resource, unlaminated paper can be recycled, is not toxic when dumped into landfills, and will biodegrade (in theory). (See Monday’s post for more on this topic.)
Reduce your carbon footprint—That is, minimize the impact that your business activities have on the environment, which is measured in units of carbon dioxide. One’s carbon footprint can be measured via a “carbon audit,” in which a company ferrets out all its carbon emissions. Electricity and natural gas, the number of employees who drive to work alone vs. carpooling or taking public transport, business travel, etc., all contribute to one’s carbon footprint.
Purchase carbon offsets. Here is where things get confusing. Wikipedia (assuming it can be believed) defines a “carbon offset” as:
a financial instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Although there are six primary categories of greenhouse gases, carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e). One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.
...
In the much smaller voluntary market, individuals, companies, or governments purchase carbon offsets to mitigate their own greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity use, and other sources. For example, an individual might purchase carbon offsets to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions caused by personal air travel. In 2006, about $91 million of carbon offsets were purchased in the voluntary market, representing about 24 million metric tons of CO2e reductions.
Offsets are typically generated from emissions-reducing projects. The most common project type is renewable energy, such as wind farms, biomass energy, or hydroelectric dams. Other common project types include energy efficiency projects, the destruction of industrial pollutants or agricultural byproducts, destruction of landfill methane, and forestry projects. Purchase and withdrawal of emissions trading credits also occurs, which creates a connection between the voluntary and regulated carbon markets.
Use alternative energy sources, such as wind or solar power, to power your facility. Other alternative energy sources include tapping into methane emissions from nearby landfills. Naturally, one needs to be exceedingly committed to environmental issues to opt for these courses, given the expense. But remember that the reason such systems have been so expensive is that there has never been high levels of demand. With luck, that will change, although it is rather a “chicken-and-egg” scenario.
Admittedly, some people only grudgingly go green, and some are vehemently opposed to it at all...but free-market, small-government advocates should be content in the fact that the pressures they face to go green are exactly what proponents of market-based solutions say should happen: the market is demanding something, and businesses either give the people what they want or fall by the wayside. After all, the emphasis on green has come without any interference or pressure from the government. The trick is for companies to see green initiatives as an opportunity, not an imposition.
As Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for President said, in an address at Associated Press event held on April 14, 2008, which I attended, “Even if we’re wrong and there is no climate change, the worst that will happen is we leave a cleaner planet to our kids.”
On Monday, I will muddy the waters even further by looking at the respective greenness of print vs. non-print media.
