In our everyday work we are guided by the following tips, which we strongly recommend to our partners:

• Use both sides of paper: When making copies, set your machine to use both sides of paper and cut your consumption in half;
• Avoid colour printing: Colour printing generally uses more ink, so print in black and white when you can.
• Print in draft mode: To conserve even more ink, print in draft mode. It will generally lighten the shade, but you will still be able to read your copy clearly.
• Buy paper wisely: Create a policy to buy only chlorine-free paper with a high percentage of recycled content.
• Consider alternative paper: Think about buying paper made from hemp, bamboo or organic cotton.

• Buy recycled toner and ink: Cartridges contribute metal and plastic to landfills, but buying toner and ink that’s refilled can help alleviate this environmental burden.
• Store manuals, policies and other documents online: Don’t print out huge employee handbooks. Allow employees to access PDF copies at their leisure.
• Encourage employees to walk or bike to work: Make walking or biking an easier option by offering showers and private changing areas at your office.
• Support alternative schedules: Allow employees to work longer hours, but fewer days, in order to let them stay at home once a week or more.
• Create a carpool program: Many of your employees may want to carpool, but don’t know where coworkers live or simply don’t have the courage to ask around. You can help by administering a program to get them connected.
• Videoconference: Whenever possible, try to videoconference instead of travelling to meetings.
• Offer bike parking: Provide employees with a secure space to park their bikes in order to encourage this mode of transportation.
• Turn off lights when not in use: Ask employees to turn off lights when they leave. Invest in automatic switches in places like the bathroom and supply areas so that they turn on and off whenever someone enters or leaves the room.
• Take advantage of natural lighting: Install windows and skylights so that you can use natural daytime light instead of electrical lighting.
• Unplug computers when not in use: Encourage employees to shut down and unplug their computers when they leave the office for the day.
• Buy for energy savings: When shopping, be sure to ask if your computers, monitors and printers are energy efficient.
• Consider laptops: Consider buying laptops instead of desktops, as they generally use less energy and are more efficiently made.
• Plant a tree for gifts: In lieu of sending a holiday gift to clients, plant a tree in their name.