Green image: sxc.hu

With so much emphasis on being “green” and environmentally conscious, you might want to consider how you can comply for 2010 without being excessively neurotic.  Some people get carried to the extreme with being “green,” that they’re not practical at all.

However, there are some things you can do.  Such as:

• Separate trash in office and home, especially if your city or town has separated collection containers or bins.
• Take separated materials to recycling areas.  Some of these even give you money for what you’ve collected, particularly in states where you must pay deposits on cans and containers.
• Reuse paper…for instance, we use the blank side of paper for making copies when we can.
• Purchase recycled materials, if it’s practical.  Sometimes recycled material isn’t as good for some projects.
• See if you can find ways to use items so they won’t go to waste.
• Take this as your slogan – Condense, conserve, and recirculate.

(Ask grandma or great grandma about reusing  and conserving materials.  They were good at this because there often wasn’t money for buying new.  The older generations didn’t grow up in the “throw-away” society.)

What are your “green” plans for 2010?

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Recycling Image: sxc.hu

Selling “green” products?  How you package them might make a statement, too.  Consider how to organize so your packaging is as green as possible, too.

My niece tells about ordering pencils that were made from recycled materials.  She wanted to see what they were like, perhaps use them for stocking stuffers, and do her bit in saving trees.

However, she wondered how much “greening” the seller believed in.  Of course, for sending something in the mail or via another delivery service, there are limitations on packaging.  However, within the mailer, the pencils were inside an attractive non-recyclable (not #1 or#2) plastic container.  This was placed within plastic bag.

She may have saved some trees, she thought, but added to the amount of non-biodegradable plastic accumulated.

Consider whether your packaging is compatable with the product(s) you’re selling and the practices you’re promoting.   Granted, some of the environmentally safe packaging costs more.  Perhaps explain to your customers this difference in cost and let them have the option of paying more for this type of packaging or going with the traditional.  Sometimes, too, you have little choice of packaging when it comes to shipping items.

How do you, or would you, solve this dilemma?

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Going green image: sxc.hu

Some of the strategies almost seem counterproductive though, taking more time, energy and expense than merited to cut down on energy, trash, and to utilize resources that don’t pollute.  This doesn’t mean that we neglect doing what we can, in our way, to make our world a safer place. 

We simply have to balance the the information and find out what is extreme and really not useful, while sifting out what will really prove helpful.

Perhaps to remind ourselves to keep “going green” in mind, to practice as we can, without it being a detriment to our business and lives, we can choose office supplies in green colors.  In addition, some greens will have a soothing effect on you, as do the greens of nature.

Do you choose office supplies in tones of green?

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Image: sxc.hu

What are procedures you can do to be ”green?”

Paint the office green, I guess, to remind yourself.

Use green stationery, sticky notes, pens, pencils and organizers.

Then… recycle, reuse, and refuse to be wasteful. 

• Separate out the recyclable items.  We have a wastebasket for all the paper goods that we can dispose of in the paper waste at our recycling center.
• We separate cardboard for that bin at the center.
• Some of our paper goods are made from recycled materials.
• We use the back side of waste paper for printing and photocopying when we don’t need a clean copy.  We use these for taking notes, too.
• Any plastic containers with the numbers 1 or 2 are separated out for the recycling center.
• Metal, glass, colored bottles, aluminum cans…all are separated accordingly for the center.  (This separating has become automatic, so isn’t a chore anymore.)
• We use light bulbs that save electricity in office and home.

That is a starter…but they’re many of the practices we utilized in the home and on the farm when I was growing up.  We called it being economical.  Perhaps it also was a carryover from my parents having grown up during the Depression years.

What are you doing in your office that’s “green?”  You don’t have to go to the extreme or become involved in anything expensive.  Just institute simple, commonsense measures.

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Are you organizing yourself to align with the “green” movement sweeping our country.

However, by researching how you can incorporate “green” (reusing, upusing, recycling, etc.) into your business, you may attract more customers and clients.  On the other hand, if you emphasize “green to the extreme,” you may turn some people away.  You need a balance.

Look into office supplies and see how you can save, reuse, and recycle.  Are you being most effective in your use of these items?  Are you using those that save on the environment?  Are you finding new uses and new products that will be helpful in your business?

Make a list of what you can do and then begin to organize yourself toward “green” in the sensible, not extreme.

For instance, when I don’t need the material in file folders any longer, I recycle the folders, turning then inside out or making a new label.  We have accumulated a huge pile of folders, emptied out since I started my 20 minutes per day of organization.

What are you doing about “organizing” green?

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Make sure you recycle your paper shreds. At minimum, toss them in the recycle bin. (Please use a cross-cut shredder that makes tiny pieces of paper – for your confidentiality!) There are other creative ways to use those tiny bits of paper.

Packing
Just last week I need to ship a package. Forget styrofoam peanuts or other non-green items. Use your paper shreds! It was the perfect cushion, and it didn’t cost me anything extra.

Play
Have a small child who’s past putting things in his/her mouth? Let them play with a small amount of the paper. If they scatter it, it’s easily vacuumed. They can put it in containers and practice moving it from cup to cup. Or in a toy dumptruck – easier to clean than sand or dirt, right?

Nesting
Have any birds, hamsters, or bunnies? Could they use it to make a nest or line their cages? (I haven’t checked safety elements on this one – it’s just a quick idea.)

Storage
Need to store breakables for a bit? We’re rearranging things so I can move my desk. I took down a few nicknacks and will be storing them until we’re done. Just like when I shipped a package, it was perfect for cushioning.

I’m sure there are many other ways of using your shredded paper, too. Don’t just toss it into a landfill. Think about how you can reuse it a bit and make your small business a tiny bit greener.

Have you thought of ways you can recycle shredded paper?

Image: morgueFile

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But besides paper clutter, there are other ways to go green in your office, and Dumb Little Man gives us nine. So go take a look and then tell us, what are you doing to make your office more sustainable?

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Post by Alison Marks

Most likely, there are ways that your work environment makes you have to work harder than you need to. Try these ideas to turn your work space into a powerful tool to support you and your productivity:

Fresh Eyes. Come in from outside with “fresh eyes,” as though you were visiting for the first time. What do you notice? How do you feel? What can you tell about the person or people who work here?

Declutter. The #1 most powerful tool for creating a supportive space! Give your eye fewer things to look at. This brings clarity, helping you to really appreciate and utilize what’s there.

Yin/Yang Balance. Yang is active and energetic – bright colors, movement, electronics, loud music or noises. Yin is soft, calming and restful – pastels, soft light, textiles. Give yourself enough yang to keep you motivated, enough yin to feel nurtured.

5 Senses. There’s no reason not to bring pleasure to work. What delights your senses? Sometimes one small change can make a huge difference. Some ideas to try: use aromatherapy, add a soft rug, bring in a fountain, or play soft music.

Making some of the changes suggested here will bring satisfaction and flow into your day. Good luck!

Alison Marks helps busy women create sanctuaries in their homes and peace of mind in their workplaces. She is a San Francisco-based design coach, Certified Feng Shui Consultant and professional organizer. For more information and articles, visit her at InsideOutDesignCoaching.com.

In what ways does your work space support you and not? What’s one small (or large) change you will make?

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Seventh Generation has a great line of Free and Clear household cleaning products including dish soap, glass cleaner, and all-purpose cleaner that are free of dyes and fragrances. They’re biodegradable, free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and are not tested on animals.

Vanessa’s Gift has a line of cleaning products that are scented with essential oils (derived from plants, not chemicals) that are non-toxic and biodegradable. They list all the ingredients on the packaging so you know what you’re buying.

The ol’ standbys – Of course, there are always the basics like white vinegar, borax and elbow grease, too.

What products do you use to clean your space?

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Unfortunately, all that sunshine means winter’s dust and cobwebs are more visible than ever. I’m getting that springtime itch to, yes, clean up.

My to-do list includes shampooing the carpets, washing windows, getting financial records under control (I’ve got a system but not using it lately), and removing wallpaper and painting.

This week’s Makeover Wednesday is about you. If you’ve been reading a little while, you know I usually give advice to others, but this week I want to know what advice you’re giving to yourself.

Take a minute to share:

• What’s on your springtime to-do list in your office or home (since you work there)?
• What neglected projects or secret corners are you getting yourself ready to tackle?

There’s power in numbers, so chime in with your goal so we can all get geared up for spring!

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