When we decided it was time to create a greener and more efficient Hodes it meant encouraging people to change their habits and showing how everyday actions as well as the bigger decisions could add up to a more sustainable business.
Here’s the story so far.
Chapter one: Waste
We put recycling bins next to all our photocopiers and printers. We also gave everyone desk-sized recycling bins and set some of our printers to the double-sided setting. Our emails now encourage recipients to think before they print, and our printer cartridges are recycled.
Chapter two: Ethical purchasing
All of our printed materials are produced on paper from sustainable sources, our kitchens are stocked with fair-trade products and drinking glasses replace plastic cups.
Chapter three: Energy consumption
Our poster campaign reminds everyone to turn off their computers and lights. On the practical side, our ladies and gents’ rooms have with automatic light switches that only go on when needed. As for air conditioning, the reception area is the only place you’ll find it.
Chapter four: Carbon footprint
From using locally sourced produce in our canteen to offering subsidies to colleagues that cycle to work, we’re determined to reduce our carbon footprint. By encouraging teleconferencing with our clients, we’re also able to reduce the number of journeys our people take. It’s the same with letting people work from home when their schedules allow.
Chapter five: Social awareness
We put recycling bins next to all our photocopiers and printers. We also gave everyone desk-sized recycling bins and set some of our printers to the double-sided setting. Our emails now encourage recipients to think before they print, and our printer cartridges are recycled.
We try to be a giving bunch and support a number of charities including Breast Cancer Awareness and Comic Relief through office fundraising days. We also send advertising books and software manuals to Oxfam and donate our Christmas card budget to a different charity each year (2009 being the Great Ormond Street Hospital). But that’s not all, every year a team of eight cycles from London to Paris in support of the British Heart Foundation. And in February we raised over £4,500 for Haiti.
