One of the easiest green steps a company can take is to implement recycling. Employees are generally quick to embrace or even champion such programs and most office buildings, industrial parks, and/or municipalities can provide recycling bins and arrange for transport of recycled items to nearby recycling centers. Often, this translates into a savings for the company in terms of reduced costs for waste collection and disposal.

Many organizations with employee cafeterias and/or kitchen facilities have implemented food composting programs. Check with area municipalities and growers’ associations for information about participating in their programs. Many composting options can also be located on the internet.

Along with food composting programs, companies can further reduce landfill wastes by switching to compostable supplies including cardboard or corn-based food containers and cups, and corn- or potato-based disposable utensils.

The Pacific Institute (2008) estimated that it took approximately 17 million barrels of oil to produce the nearly 900,000 tons of plastic used to bottle the 31.2 billion liters of water purchased by American consumers in 2006. These plastic bottles are produced from fossil fuels such as natural gas and petroleum and a significant percentage of the bottles end up in landfills (Pacific Institute, 2008). Moreover, for every liter of water that is bottled, 2 liters of water are wasted in processing – that means 62.4 billion liters of water were wasted in 2006 alone.

Companies such as Google, Intel, and Roche/Genentech have endeavored to eliminate plastic water bottles by providing filtered water stations along with reusable water bottles made of stainless steel or corn-based materials, ceramic mugs, or glass carafe and tumbler sets. Some companies have even banned the purchase of bottled water with company funds.

An alternative to switching to compostable kitchen supplies is to replace them with non-disposable items such as stainless steel utensils and ceramic mugs and plates. Consider what works best for your company in terms of culture and employee behaviors surrounding such issues as washing dishes to determine your best course of action. Many municipalities require that businesses purchase commercial grade dishwashers so an analysis of the cost, expected utilization, and water usage should factor in to your decision.

Greening your supply chain can extend your sustainability efforts to your vendors and influence their sustainability choices. Purchase 100% recycled paper whenever possible, including paper for printing and toilet tissue. Alternately, purchase Certified Forests Products that have been independently certified as sourced from sustainable forestry.

Choose vendors who engage in environmentally sustainable business practices and who offer paperless ordering, invoicing, and payment options.

Purchase green marketing materials such as logo pens, client gifts, and tradeshow totes made from recycled, organic, and/or sustainably harvested, fair-trade materials.

Purchase non-toxic, biodegradable office supplies, including cleaning products. Request that cleaning services and/or your building management team utilize eco-friendly products.

Opportunities for reducing energy consumption abound and include replacing conventional lighting with fixtures that utilize CFL bulbs, replacing equipment and appliances with energy-star rated options, performing regular maintenance on heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) systems, and reducing heating and air conditioning utilization.

Enlist your IT department in the quest to reduce energy consumption by having them install more efficient data storage, networking, computing, and printing systems. Ask IT to install power strips that can be turned off manually and via a timer to reduce energy waste due to equipment being left on overnight and on weekends, and by eliminating phantom energy use. Have your IT team set all printers and copiers to default to two-sided printing/copying and make sure they provide support for energy saving technologies such as paperless office systems and web-based meetings.

Request a commercial energy assessment from your local utility or energy service. If available from your local utility, opt to purchase energy generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar and/or purchase energy and carbon credits.

Install solar panels and/or other alternative energy technologies.

Participate in federal and local programs that promote public transportation by offering employees reduced costs for monthly public transportation passes.

Provide employees incentives for using alternative transportation and, if possible, free shuttle service to and from public transportation hubs and offices.

Make bicycling to work easy by providing safe areas for bicycle storage, shower and locker facilities, and, if possible, free loaner bikes.

Institute an employee telecommuting program.

Establish policies and programs to encourage virtual (web-based) meetings whenever possible to reduce travel.

Many software programs are available to enable offices to become paperless. This can include attendance reporting, payroll processing and services, internal tracking systems, and client invoicing.

Provide employees time off during work hours to participate in such projects as beach, park, or schoolyard cleanup; wetlands conservation; invasive species eradication; or a host of other worthwhile projects.

Support environmental issues, land and wildlife conservation, and alternative energy via corporate giving and investment programs.

Implement a well-communicated e-waste education and disposal program.

Provide prominently displayed waste receptacles for batteries.

Enlist your IT department in ensuring that all e-wastes including computers, monitors, and printer cartridges are properly disposed of or recycled.