It is “Easy Being Green” In the Workplace

It seems that the world is “going green.”  On a personal and business level, people across the nation are embracing and encouraging a “green” environmentally friendly way of living. 

 

“Green?”  What do you mean?

 

“Going Green” is a term used to describe a change in daily activities and choices that promote a healthier planet by sustaining natural resources.  The green movement began in the 1970s, but the root ideas date back to the 1800s.  Today’s focus on environmentalism can be attributed to the changes in climate, worldwide weather disasters, increasing gas prices, and national catastrophes such as 9/11.

 

Al Gore’s movie, The Inconvenient Truth, led to a heightened awareness in the new Millennium.  The movie identified major problems in the world, and attributed them to environmental problems – Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a contaminated supply of food, low resources, and overflowing landfills.  With this realization, the Green movement spread rapidly, and everyone from celebrities to business owners were inspired to “go green.” 

 

“Green” at work?  How?

 

Employees are encouraged to be more responsible by cutting electricity, saving paper, recycling, and commuting to work.  Also, there has been an increase in “greener” product offerings, such as fuel efficient cars and packaging made from recycled materials. 

 

Production of workplace safety products has also increased, made from organic or recycled materials while still meeting standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA, is the government agency responsible for enforcing safety and health legislation in the workplace. 

 

For example, Seton.ca, a manufacturer of workplace safety and compliance products, offers natural and organic absorbents for spill control and response in the workplace, which are fully absorbent and non-toxic, guaranteeing that plants and animals in the surrounding area will not be harmed.

 

Seton.ca also offers a variety of other environmentally friendly products, such as recycled speed bumps, recycling containers, biodegradable tape, and glow in the dark exit signs to save energy.  For more information about the Enviro-Care product line, visit www.seton.ca.