Many people are hesitant to go green. They believe that it is either too expensive or too difficult. Fortunately, this does not have to be the case. Here are some simple and affordable solutions for ‘going green’ at work.

The green movement is essentially about two issues. Firstly, there is the need to limit and decrease global warming. In practice, this looks like using less resources – less fuel, paper and electricity. The second need is to return to more natural ways of living and avoid products with harmful artificial ingredients.

At the office, it is crucial that greening starts with awareness - this can be achieved through a little bit of creativity and some basic staff education. Posters and emails should be created to remind staff of the importance of using fewer resources. This has the enormous added benefit of saving the business money.

Place recycling bins in the kitchen/waste area of the office. Bright and attractive labels will encourage staff participation. For an office novelty, get a small worm farm for the kitchen. They are odourless and low-maintenance, looking after themselves over the weekend. The ‘worm tea’ fertilizer can even be used for the office plants!

Avoid single-purpose trips in company vehicles. Regular servicing and slower driving increase fuel efficiency, decrease costs, and benefit the environment.

Even if your business uses harmful chemicals for manufacturing, the office space can be cleaned using natural and organic products. These are widely available and very affordable.

Plant herbs in the work garden or balcony. Many herbs have fragrances that add to the work environment and the plants could even be picked by staff for their consumption.

Remember that greening your business has massive benefits not just for the environment, but also for your company’s reputation. Once you have applied these simple changes, tell others! Mention it to your customers and even get certified as a green business – this will only help to sell your products.

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Sam Adams runs an eco-consultancy in Cape Town. Phone 021-7892392 or view the website: www.startlivinggreen.co.za