Poll

Green Activities: Our Environmental Commitment

In an effort to practice what we preach and to illustrate to our readers and supporters our commitment to responsible consumer habits, Worldwatch has initiated a variety of actions to make our workplace, publications, and activities as environmentally friendly and socially sound as possible.

Here's a list of what we're doing right now (even within the constraints of a leased office space) to ensure a more environmentally responsible workplace:

Paper Products and Publications
IT and Office Equipment
Catering and Kitchen
Pest Management
Commuting and Transport
Lighting and Interior Space

Paper Products and Publications

Under the Worldwatch paper policy, we aim to use the most environmentally sound paper supplies and to print all of our publications in the “greenest“ way possible. Although environmentally sound printing occasionally costs more, we consider the benefits to Worldwatch, our supporters, and the world important enough to justify the expense.

When designing our products and mailings, we:

Work with outside printing companies and vendors that are committed to using environmentally friendly products and processes.
Use paper with the highest possible post-consumer waste content (we aim for 30-50 percent) and that is always process chlorine free (PCF). Roughly half of the time, we exceed this standard and use 100 percent recycled paper.

Choosing Green, Saving the Planet

One of our local vendors reports that our use of 100 percent post-consumer PCF recycled paper in the promotional pieces they printed for us in 2002 enabled Worldwatch to save:

24,900 pounds of virgin wood (about 43 trees)
3,904 pounds of solid waste
36,615 gallons of effluent
5,603 kilowatt hours of electricity (equivalent to 7.2 months of electricity used by the average U.S. home)
7,097 pounds of greenhouse cases (equivalent to 5,746 miles driven by the average American car)
11 cubic yards of landfill space

Use lighter weight paper. (For example, 60# uses 14 percent fewer paper resources than a 70# sheet).
Use uncoated paper whenever possible, minimizing the use of varnishes and facilitating recycling.
Avoid heavy inking of paper. Where possible, we use inks with high vegetable oil content and reduced toxicity, with less than 3-5 percent volatile organic compounds (VOCs). (We avoid using metallic inks because of their high concentration of undesirable contaminants. We also avoid using soy ink because, though preferable to 100 percent petroleum-based inks, it can still contain high levels of VOCs or toxic pigments.)
Target mailings and design materials to use paper as efficiently as possible to achieve desired returns.
Avoid excessive packaging and environmentally questionable materials.
Include explanatory labels describing the type of paper and inks used on all printed material carrying the Worldwatch logo.
Offer all recent publications electronically on our website in .pdf format.

Around the office, we:

Use paper with recycled content for letterhead, business cards, envelopes, notepads, and copiers and printer paper, as well as for all shipping materials.
Provide boxes for recycling office paper in each individual office and printer room.
Separate paper that is used on only one side for reuse in office copiers and fax machines. (Paper used on both sides is collected weekly for municipal recycling.)
Reuse large envelopes, file folders, and boxes.

IT and Office Equipment

All computers, printers, fax machines, and copiers currently in use are Energy Star certified for energy efficiency, with “power-down“ modes and other energy saving features.
All printers are configured for double-sided printing. Documents are often printed double-sided, with two pages per side—cutting paper use per print job by 75 percent.
We send all printer toner cartridges back to the manufacturer for recycling.

Catering and Kitchen

Worldwatch has a policy of not using any disposable (including plastic or styrofoam) cutlery, plates, bowls, or cups for our press conferences, briefings, or other events hosted within or outside our office. When planning events, we budget for reusable utensils and arrange for staff participation or outside help in cleaning these items.
We purchase organic foods for events whenever possible.
We buy shade grown, fairly traded, organic coffee, and collect the used coffee grounds for recycling. (Lori Brown, our research librarian and a part-time organic farmer, composts them on her land.) Ceramic mugs are provided for staff and guests.
We separate and recycle all plastic, glass, and aluminum cans.
Our water cooler is fitted with a filter, eliminating the need to order plastic refill jugs.
We use a single-cup hot water dispenser that heats only as much water as is needed.
We buy environmentally friendly hand soap, dishwashing soap, and dishwasher liquid. (The dishwasher is run infrequently, and only when it is full—usually after large press events.)
Cloth towels are provided for drying dishes and surfaces, in an effort to prevent excess paper use. Staff bring the towels home to launder on a rotating basis.

Pest Management

The Worldwatch office houses numerous live plants to improve the general office environment and to boost air quality. Under the Institute's pest management policy, we aim to minimize the spraying of toxic chemicals. Pest management activities include:

Seeking to maintain good office hygiene, preventing pest outbreaks by eliminating anything that might attract or harbor pests.
Using organic pest control for office plants and spaces when necessary. We use either a soap-water solution or a soap-chili pepper-water solution against most insects, including gnats, red mites, and aphids. Several applications over one week are usually sufficient.
Using a more powerful chemical only in the event that the office is infested and this is required. We aim to use the least toxic chemical available, informing staff members in advance and spraying only when the office is vacant and the exhaust system is on.

Commuting and Transport

Currently, more than 90 percent of Worldwatch employees bicycle, run, walk, carpool, telecommute, or take public transportation to work. Showers are provided in the office suite.
All staff have access to the government-sponsored Metrochek Commuter Program for subsidized public transit.
All staff are now able to access their e-mail and the office computer network remotely, to facilitate telecommuting. Currently, 18 percent of staff work permanently off-site.

Lighting and Interior Space

We use only low-toxicity paints for touch-ups and renovations.
Hallway lighting is used on a limited basis.
Staff avoid using their air conditioning/heating units and overhead lighting in individual offices wherever possible. All offices are fitted with dual lighting switches to minimize unnecessary use.