… go round and round, or do they? It would seem not. Even though we live in a world where being environmentally friendly is recommended, most of us still choose to be part of a two car family when we could probably manage with one, and baulk at the idea of public transport. However, as we generate not just a large amount of pollution going to work and back but also a large amount of money, it would seem sensible and logical to try and combat this problem with some smart thinking.
Look around where you work; you probably have quite a few people in your office … possibly hundreds within your building and maybe even more than that within the industrial estate or business park your company is based in. And, when you want to nip out at lunch in your car do you worry about getting a parking space when you get back? do people park across the back of your car so that you have to ask them to move if you want to leave before them? Or are the costs of petrol simply crippling your socialising budget? All these reasons, aside from the environmental issues, should encourage you to consider how you and your colleagues could improve things.
If you have tried it but public transport simply doesn’t do it for you … queuing for buses that don’t turn up on time and getting cold and wet in the process, not getting home to see East Enders because the train was cancelled or being too tired to watch TV after cycling home … then fear not, you can still do your bit for the environment. A lot of companies are starting to see the benefits of car-sharing schemes, either between employees or getting a whole group of neighbouring businesses together. At first you might wonder how you would cope without the comfort of your car being outside waiting for you with a loving smile at the end of the day, but once you get over that, you will soon see that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Not only will you save money but you can give yourself a pat on the back and hey, you might even make a new friend.
Although the everyday ‘getting to work’ situation has the potential to make significant impact, a company as a whole should also consider the amount of business-related travel it does. Could you hold a telephone or video conference rather than send a rep 200 miles up the country or on a plane to your Germany office? Maybe you could look into airlines and hotels that have implemented environmental policies themselves and if you really have your finger on the pulse you will soon be looking to use car rental companies who supply electric cars.
By implementing some or all of these measures you are not just going to be helping reduce the unnecessary pollution in your environment but you will be saving your company and your employees’ money. As well as this you will be creating a better image for yourself and in the changing environment of business, where more and more people expect you to be aware, you could be doing yourself a lot of favours.
