You go to work every day and you notice some changes that could make the office a little more environmentally friendly. You know that it can’t cost THAT much to buy better light bulbs for the cubicles or purchase sustainable paper. But how do you convince your boss that it is worth the initial investment or that it will save them money in the long run? Here are some tips on how to get eco-friendly office initiatives approved on a budget.
Do your research.
If you are trying to sell the idea of eco-friendly to your boss, you have to do your homework and research. The first thing you should do is research your current vendors. Is there anything that you can find in the public record about your vendor that paints them as a danger to the environment? You should do the same thing for any potential vendors that you may work with in the future. It is always better to know the vendors are a good fit for your goals vs. having to change vendors when you find out that they dump tons of toxic waste into the oceans.
You can also do a little bit of math and calculate the cost of items over the course of its life. For example: Light bulbs costs can vary depending on what you get. Conventional thinking would say that you should get the cheaper, 1$ incandescent bulbs. However, in the long-term, you will save more in energy costs if you make the initial investment in the 3$ LED bulbs which last a lot longer than conventional bulbs.
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Gather your data.
Once you have finished all your research, gather everything that you have and put it in a digestible medium that you will be able to share with your boss. You will want to be able to easily show the cost savings of your initiative, in an easily readable format. Stay away from out of the norm fonts or a bunch of graphics. A simple PowerPoint with all the facts laid out in an organized order will work best.
Pitch your initiative.
Now is the time to set up a meeting and actually pitch your idea to your boss. Remember, they are looking for facts and numbers to back them up, so it is your job to make sure you have those numbers and you can support your claims.
Because you already did your research, your boss should see the value in promoting an eco-friendly office and reducing energy costs. Many times, having an eco-friendly office will seem like you are paying more at the start, but those savings plus some will come back to you in the long-term.
Learn more about eco-friendly practices.
Maintain positive relationships with your vendors.
Whether you are trying to make a deal with a new sustainable vendor, or keeping the peace between your current ones, you need to try to maintain a positive relationship with your vendors. Get the vendor on your side so that they will be able to speak to your boss directly. The best experts on eco-friendly initiatives are the people who do it for a living. Your boss can’t deny the facts if you have the source speaking directly to them.
One of the best ways to have an eco-friendly office is to use a paper company that produces sustainable paper. That’s why Double A paper is a great way to reduce costs and help save the environment. Contact us to see how we help your office become more eco-friendly.