I've been organizing some actions in the office to raise awareness about our environment, a program I called "Go Eco". It's about reducing our footprint, about small things we can all do to reduce our impact - if we only pay attention to it, and try. My intention is to inspire as many of my colleagues as possible, and make them do the same again towards their communities. It started with a session about reducing usage of plastics - or almost eliminating it all together in some cases - followed by a session about reducing the impact of transport.
Plastics are really a big problem, I'm sure you have all witnessed first-hand or at least seen the pictures, of oceans of plastic, streets or parks littered with plastic bags, bottles, styrofoam boxes, used diapers (oh yes, lots of them), animals suffocated or suffering because of plastic, etc. And it really is not that difficult to do better - much better if we would only do our best. Don't use plastic bags. Don't use straws. Don't use styrofoam. Don't buy packaged fruit, veggies, ... The list is much longer. Not easy, you might say. Well, you're right, it's not that easy at first but if you try and if you're committed, you'd be surprised how much you can actually do with very little effort. It's more about changing habits... Just google "reduce plastic" and you'll find many tips, just like this one. Or take a look at Jack Johnson's (yes, the musician) All At Once initiative.
Anyway, here is a little different anecdote, about paper now. A couple of days ago, I went to the bathroom, washed my hands, and used 2 paper towels to dry them. A colleague said: "hey, you can do this with just 1 paper towel". I was very happy with that comment, as I hope it is a result of the awareness program. But even more so, because he was right: you actually only need 1 paper towel - I just took 2 out of habit, did not think about it. He also pointed me to a funny and enlightening TED talk, all about using 1 paper towel to dry your hands. If everyone (in the US only!) would do just that, it would save... more than 570 MILLION POUNDS of paper each year. Incredible, how these small individual numbers add up quickly to impressive numbers. It is a perfect example of how, if we all contribute, we can make an enormous difference.
Take a look for yourself here, and from then onwards: shake and fold!!! (And get rid of those plastics) (oh yes, and ride your bike)
The planet thanks you.
Plastics are really a big problem, I'm sure you have all witnessed first-hand or at least seen the pictures, of oceans of plastic, streets or parks littered with plastic bags, bottles, styrofoam boxes, used diapers (oh yes, lots of them), animals suffocated or suffering because of plastic, etc. And it really is not that difficult to do better - much better if we would only do our best. Don't use plastic bags. Don't use straws. Don't use styrofoam. Don't buy packaged fruit, veggies, ... The list is much longer. Not easy, you might say. Well, you're right, it's not that easy at first but if you try and if you're committed, you'd be surprised how much you can actually do with very little effort. It's more about changing habits... Just google "reduce plastic" and you'll find many tips, just like this one. Or take a look at Jack Johnson's (yes, the musician) All At Once initiative.
Anyway, here is a little different anecdote, about paper now. A couple of days ago, I went to the bathroom, washed my hands, and used 2 paper towels to dry them. A colleague said: "hey, you can do this with just 1 paper towel". I was very happy with that comment, as I hope it is a result of the awareness program. But even more so, because he was right: you actually only need 1 paper towel - I just took 2 out of habit, did not think about it. He also pointed me to a funny and enlightening TED talk, all about using 1 paper towel to dry your hands. If everyone (in the US only!) would do just that, it would save... more than 570 MILLION POUNDS of paper each year. Incredible, how these small individual numbers add up quickly to impressive numbers. It is a perfect example of how, if we all contribute, we can make an enormous difference.
Take a look for yourself here, and from then onwards: shake and fold!!! (And get rid of those plastics) (oh yes, and ride your bike)
The planet thanks you.