Tip #1: Use less toxic products – Toxic paints and cleaning products can give office workers a big headache and worse problems if they have multiple chemical sensitivities. There are less toxic spit and shine options available from cleaning companies that specialize in environmentally safe cleaning. Most of the major paint manufacturers have paint alternative that is low V.O.C. (volatile organic compounds , the chemical in paint that gives it the strong odor).  And they are tried and true. Hospitals have been using these products for years.

Tip #2: Set up a recycling center – Convenience is the key to reducing office waste expense and increase compliance with recycling. Have paper-recycling receptacles at every desk and central recycling cans in the copy and mailroom. Provide bottle, can, and plastic recycling near vending machines and in lunchrooms. Train staff to be careful not to contaminate the recycling bins with items that don’t belong.  

Tip #3: Brighten the office with daylighting – The mood in an office can be so much more upbeat with natural light rather than the blue flickering hue of fluorescents. Bring natural perimeter light into interior offices with skylights and interior windows strategically placed throughout the space.

Tip #4: Purify the air in the copy room – Copy, fax, and imaging machines can give off ozone, a natural gas that can be unhealthy in unnaturally large amounts. A strategically placed air purifier with a charcoal and Hepa filters can remove unwanted ozone and help support staff breathe easier.

Tip #5: Have a policy of printing emails only when necessary – Some of us have a habit of printing every email whether we need to or not. Develop a policy and train staff to store things in the files on their computer rather than in paper files. Paper comes from a valuable resource, is expensive to store (compared to computer file space), and is expensive to move at the price of a stamp (compared to email which is much less expensive).

Tip #6: Purchase energy efficient office equipment – Energy Star is a government-backed program that signifies superior energy efficiency. When shopping for new computers, printers, or copy machines look for the Energy Star logo. Many of the newer machines have power savers built into them but it is still best to turn copiers, printers, monitors and fax machines completely off when not in use.

Tip #7: Subsidize car pooling and mass transit options for employees – In the metropolitan area, employees can purchase bus passes using pre-tax income if the employer is enrolled in the program. This means employees can save 30% to 40% on the cost of bus passes, and employers save 7.65% on payroll taxes. To make it an even sweeter deal, employers can claim 30% of their contribution to employee bus passes (or vanpool expenses) as a credit on their state corporate income taxes. To order a guide for implementing transit benefits, contact Minneapolis Transportation Management Organization.

Tip #8: Ask vendors to decrease packaging of products – Office product companies tend to wrap products with a large amount of cardboard and plastic which can mostly be eliminated particularly if it’s being delivered from only a few miles away. Contact vendors that are using undue amounts of packaging and ask them to cut back. This will result in less to throw away and the vendor will save in delivery expense.

Tip #9: Choose office plants that clean the air – The right plants in the office can add color and life to a sterile room while they’re cleaning the air. Spider plants are the best indoor air cleaners and azaleas can remove toxic chemicals and perfume the office. A note of caution: over-watering any plant can cause mold growth and create an unhealthy situation, so hydrate plants with care.

Tip #10: Institute a no fragrance policy – One person’s perfume can be another’s poison. Strong smelling fragrance or personal care products (i.e., hairspray) can disrupt indoor air quality and even cause illness in sensitive individuals.  Consequently, some offices are instituting a “no fragrance” policy so that no one is offended or harmed by the chemicals. This is a policy that can go hand-in-hand with the dress code in the company handbook.