That is why Green Office Week (GOW) is celebrated annually - to demonstrate the need to change from ego-living to eco-living. Materialism and consumerism has to be replaced with thoughtful purchasing while sustainability issues are top of the agenda and whether the organisation is large or small, green behaviours have to form a part of everyone's work habits.
GOW this year takes place from Monday, 16 April to Friday, 20 April with the theme You make a Difference. Ana-Maria Valente, GOW spokesperson, says: "The week aims to get all of us to look or re-look at how we can recycle, reduce and reuse more, and save more. Our goal is to get everyone involved."
To make the planning of activities as simple as possible, all the tips and ideas that you and your colleagues need to get started can be downloaded from the website www.greenofficeweek.co.za.
For example on Monday, 16 April the suggestion is to make a difference by finding more ways to save on printing with practical ideas like greyscale printing documents for in-house use; make a difference on Wednesday by driving green - take all that extra stuff out of your car boot, it saves on fuel.
Lead sponsor of GOW, Europcar's CEO Dawn Nathan-Jones, says: "We believe that green is not just a matter of the mind but also of the heart, and when people feel that going green is relevant, it is easier to get their commitment and involvement. This year's toolkit for the week also includes driving green tips, and this is an area particularly close to our hearts. We take this opportunity to encourage as many people at work as possible to join in and make GOW a truly meaningful event."
