Goldman Sachs, the 'great vampire squid'
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Matthew Gwyther
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It's all well and good - and at first we were naively impressed - but nothing has really changed and we're all pretty sceptical. You just have to witness the senior management arrive in their SUVs every morning to see they aren't taking it seriously. Should I protest?
A: In any reasonably open, well-managed company, it should be possible to register this sort of concern quite informally - and without having to raise the temperature unnecessarily by 'protesting'. If that doesn't work, and there's no existing mechanism for employees to lodge complaints or propose ideas, then I suggest you round up a bunch of your colleagues and draft a proposal (not a protest).
It should say that you're all delighted that the company has decided to take climate change seriously and you'd very much like to help put its good intentions into practice. So you suggest the formation of a representative group, acting initially under the guidance of an outside expert, whose collective job it will be to identify any actions, big or small, that the company should take to reduce its carbon footprint.
It's hard to see that such a suggestion could be rejected (if it was, any hypocrisy would be mercilessly exposed) - and the list of inevitable proposals would naturally range from the immediate use of low-energy light bulbs to the discontinuation of the use of high-emission company cars ...
- Jeremy Bullmore is a former creative director and chairman of J Walter Thompson London. His book Another Bad Day at the Office is published by Penguin at £6.99. Address your problem to Jeremy Bullmore at: editorial@mtmagazine.co.uk. Regrettably, no correspondence can be entered into.
Comments
Pauline Buchanan Black - 18-Jun-08
If you want to get a head start with some practical proposals for day-to-day actions that staff can implement (& lead by example), some ideas and actions for an internal Green Housekeeping policy are below.
You won't be able to unilaterally reduce the carbon footprint of the company, but you could encourage the deployment of a carbon acknowledgement strategy and, for example, ask the company to make a commitment to (for example) dedicating resources to tree planting for schools and community groups (see treecouncil.org.uk). It's not enough, but it's a start.
Green Housekeeping
Energy
Switch off lights and electrical equipment when leaving the office empty whether to attend a meeting, to go to lunch or of course to go home
Where possible, turn radiators down or off when weather permits or if opening a window
Keep windows shut in heated rooms
Close office doors during winter months before opening windows to prevent heat loss from adjacent areas, and ensure that all windows are shut at the end of the day
Turn off office lights if your location affords good natural light (particularly during the summer months) taking account of health and safety which must not be compromised
Water
Do not leave taps running
Report dripping taps and other water leakage as soon as they are discovered
Paper
Use scrap paper for drafting and message taking
Use recycled or FSC paper and envelopes
Consider whether everything needs copying to everyone
Use e-mail or msn messenger rather than paper, where practicable, for internal and external communication
Keep the use of paper of colours other than cream or white to the minimum
Put out paper, cardboard, plastics and glass for recycling and assist in transferring it to the main recycling facility Weed files and papers regularly, recycling non-confidential weeded paper and cutting down on the space required for storage
When photocopying long documents, use the double sided option
Other products
Re-use items such as paper clips, elastic bands etc
Do not overstock stationery cupboards
Ensure that toner cartridges are passed on for recycling
Generally
Do not drop litter
Use crockery or glassware rather than paper or plastic cups where possible
Pass on any ideas which you may have to assist in the operation of this Green Housekeeping Policy to the Administrative Manager
Policy points
Key objectives to help conserve natural resources and prevent pollution are as follows:
Energy - to reduce the energy consumption of the company
Water - to reduce, where possible, water consumption. A water meter should be installed, and water consumption monitored and reviewed.
Wood - to avoid the purchase of office furniture and other products which contain wood from a non-sustainable source.
Paper - to keep the use of paper to the minimum required, to extend the practice of recycling paper where possible, and to specify the purchase of recycled or FSC paper products where practicable.
Transport - to use public transport wherever practicable. All staff members required to take account of this especially when arranging work related travel.
Other Products - to make efficient use of all resources and ensure that contractors (i.e. cleaners and builders) use environmentally friendly products wherever practicable; and to ensure the recycling of other waste such as fax and printer toner cartridges.
All staff members should be obliged to act in accordance with the key objectives set out above when carrying out their official duties. The company should encourage staff to make the most efficient and economic use of the resources available to them and to become more knowledgeable about the environmental consequences of decisions and actions.
Nina Brevik - 20-Sep-08
Perhaps instead of protesting or drafting a proposal, you simply suggest that the company set up a suggestion box, in which you and the other employees can submit practical suggestions as to how the company can go from greenwash to green (anonymously, if you wish). You could start by submitting all the excellent suggestions above!
Hope this helps and good luck!
Best wishes,
Nina Brevik
www.lingualab.net
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