Green Office Week Press Releases

Office Workers Leave the Environment on their Doorsteps

Mon, 14 May 2012

Office workers’ green habits go out of the window the moment they leave home and set off for work, a national survey has revealed.

Commissioned as part of Avery Green Office Week, the study found that while we are generally green at home, happily recycling as much as we can and conserving energy, when we get to work we are likely to bin unused printer paper, chuck away food wrappers and drinks cartons and even leave windows open with the heating still on.

The study also revealed that nearly a quarter of us print things out when we don’t need to and four out of ten of us forget to use our company recycling bin. This is compared to eight out of ten who manage to separate recyclable goods from non-recyclables when at home. In fact, we are twice as likely to be greener at home than we are at work despite most of us wishing otherwise.

The research was commissioned by Avery as part of Green Office Week, taking place May 14th- 18th. The week aims to empower workers across theUK to change their office practices for the better, helping them to find greener ways of working. With nearly half of office workers feeling that their companies do not take their environmental responsibilities seriously enough, Green Office Week focuses on the simple and practical things that we can all do to make a real difference.

In fact, eight out of ten office workers are disappointed that their own company is not leading the way with more green initiatives. And, despite a quarter of us believing that we would feel less loyal to a company that doesn’t want to be green, 41% of us have previously been in an awkward situation with a manager simply for trying to implement green practices at work. This is despite evidence demonstrating that being green can bring real cost-saving benefits to companies.

With a third of our lives spent at work, Green Office Week aims to change all this and champion change across the UK. Bigger and better than ever before, Green Office Week 2012 will feature a unique Green League with points and prizes for the greenest office workers and a special Junk Modelling Challenge that will prove being green can be great fun too. The week will also be full of hints and tips to help you green your workplace, with daily themes to help guide you on some of the most important things you can implement practically. To find out more and to get involved with Green Office Week 2012, simply register at greenofficeweek.eu or visit the Green Office Week Facebook page.

THE ECO SIN-BIN: THE TOP 10 NON-GREEN THINGS WE DO AT WORK

Chucking away paper rather than recycling it
Not having a recycling bin
Throwing away food packaging
Throwing away cans and cartons
Not printing double-sided
Leaving things on standby
Using non-environmentally-friendly products
Forgetting to turn off the lights when leaving the office
Leaving the heating on and opening windows
Not reusing envelopes or jiffy bags

Being Green is Key to a Happy Working Life

Wed, 14 Mar 2012

More than half of the UK’s office workers feel they would be happier and more positive at work if the companies they work for were more supportive of their efforts to be green, a national survey has found.

Commissioned as part of Avery Green Office Week, the new research demonstrates that companies who take their environmental responsibilities seriously are far more likely to benefit from a productive, happy and motivated workforce.

Despite the clear link between being green and being happy, 41% of office workers said they had previously found themselves in an awkward situation with their bosses in the past simply for trying to positively implement green practices at work. A further 40% say they would avoid suggesting greener working initiatives because they wouldn’t want to be seen as ‘nagging’, which could reflect badly on their career prospects.

The importance of companies supporting their employees’ environmental efforts doesn’t stop there. One in ten office workers go as far as stating they would look for another job if they felt their company’s environmental efforts were not being taken seriously enough. And, a staggering 60% of office workers say they are influenced on whether to apply for a job or not by a company’s environmental credentials, meaning companies who don’t take the environment seriously enough may be missing out on top working talent.

Time for Change
Determined to champion office workers and empower them to find a better way to work, Avery Green Office Week 2012 (May 14th-18th) will unite workers across the country in an effort to support their environmental efforts. Bigger and better than ever before, the week will feature a unique Green League with points and prizes for the greenest office workers, a junk modelling competition featuring a Dragon’s Den winner and lots more besides. There will also be a unique opportunity before the week kicks off to ask your own questions at a special one-off ‘Green Working: Ask the Experts’ Q&A panel during the Business 2012 event at the O2 arena on March 19th.

To find out more and to get involved with Avery Green Office Week 2012, simply register at greenofficeweek.eu or visit facebook.com/greenofficeweek

Green Office Week Set to Show a Better Way to Work

Thu, 01 Mar 2012

Work forces across the country will be going green this May as office and consumer products champion Avery launches this year’s Green Office Week.

Green Office Week 2012 takes place May 14th-18th and looks set to be bigger and better than ever before, full of fun, practical ideas to help offices to work in more sustainable ways. With environment and cost savings more important to businesses than ever, this week is an excellent opportunity for the industry to demonstrate its innovation and support for greener working habits. Avery is encouraging customers to get right behind the campaign to demonstrate to consumers their commitment to the cause and to boost sales of environmentally-friendly Avery products.

In 2012 this campaign invites office consumers to demonstrate their environmental prowess by participating in the unique Green League, collecting points to win prizes for taking part, encouraging them to download product and environmental hints and tips as well as rewarding purchase of Avery environmental products. The week includes Dragon’s Den star and junk-model extraordinaire Max McMurdo, who will lead a fun competition designed to engage office workers nationally, with the opportunity to win one of his amazing recycled trolley chairs.

Green Office Week launches at the Business 2012 Show, O2 Arena, incorporating a Green Working: Ask the Experts’ Q&A panel on March 19th, where a panel of environmental experts will answer key questions on being green at work.

The award-winning week, now in its fourth year, has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the office products industry’s key annual events. Previously, the week has gained national, local and regional recognition and it offers Avery customers a unique opportunity to get involved, motivating consumers to take part, whilst also boosting sales of Avery environmentally-friendly products, which are also part of the Avery Reward scheme, rewarding consumers for buying Avery.

For further information, visit www.greenofficeweek.eu or contact the Avery Trade Helpline on 0800 587 0505 to find out how you can benefit from getting involved in one of the biggest events in the office products industry’s calendar.

Needs must as economic crisis makes us greener in the office

Mon, 09 May 2011

The age of austerity is making us more environmentally conscious at work, a national survey for Green Office Week has revealed.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by office products manufacturer Avery, found that nearly half the UK's office workers (47%) said their offices have actively become greener as a result of the economic downturn as staff put more effort into recycling, turning off unused lights and saving on the heating bill.

Fifty per cent of office workers say they have personally become more green and 24% say they could be even greener at work with more encouragement from managers.

Nearly six out of ten (57%) believe a greener workplace has more chance to save money.

Nicky Amos, an expert in Corporate Social Responsibility, said: "It's clear that the current economic situation is forcing many workplaces to become greener. More and more office workers are behaving in an environmentally sound and more efficient manner. This survey reinforces what many companies are finding - that a greener office can help the bottom line."

The survey found the most common practical ways that office workers were personally greener in the last year included recycling paper (69%), turning off computer equipment and machinery when not in use (67%), switching off unnecessary lighting (61%) and choosing double-sided printing (48%).

Other green actions included re-using cardboard boxes (42%), choosing more environmentally friendly office products such as recycled stationery (20%), turning down the heating or air conditioning (22%) and finding uses for shredded paper (14%).

However, despite this, only 17% of respondents said their office was ‘very or completely green'. Only two per cent said their office was ‘as green as possible' and more than a quarter, 28%, said their office was ‘not very green' or not at all green.

A number of factors prevent people being greener in the office. A quarter of office workers (24%) highlighted a lack of encouragement as a reason why themselves and colleagues were not greener in the office, 19% said there was too much effort involved, 18% referred to cost and 16% blamed a lack of information on how to go about it.

Avery's third annual Green Office Week is an award-winning initiative designed to address some of these concerns and encourage office workers to spring into action and adopt practical ways to help the environment.

Between Monday 9 and Friday 13 May, a series of daily tips can be found at www.greenofficeweek.eu along with downloadable resources to help make workplaces greener.

At the same time, a voluntary network of Green Office Week Ambassadors up and down the country will promote daily themes involving energy, transport, waste and other green issues. They will post blogs about their activities and share good practice with other green-minded individuals.
As well as raising awareness, the week will encourage offices to review purchasing habits in line with environmental targets, devise action plans for the future and celebrate the achievements of people who consider the environment at work.

Avery won the ‘Green Champions (Customers)' Award for last year's Green Office Week at the 2010 Green Business Awards, the UK's most comprehensive awards scheme for environmental business performance.

Editor's notes
[Avery/GOW boilerplate]

In other findings from the YouGov poll, only a third of respondents (33%) are confident their managers are clear about the practical steps that can be taken to make the office greener, yet just over half (52%) accept it is a shared responsibility between staff, management and the government equally.

Almost a third (32%) think senior management has most responsibility for ensuring an office is green. A tiny fraction, three per cent, think government has most responsibility for ensuring an office is green.

Nearly four out of ten respondents (39%) believe the Coalition is doing about the same as the previous government in encouraging people to be greener at work. Only 11% say it is doing more, while 20% say it is doing less.

Eight per cent of respondents said themselves and colleagues were put off trying to be greener for fear of being called the office do-gooder.
Regionally, 65% of office workers in London say their office has become greener as a result of the economic crisis compared to just 40% in Scotland. London also has the highest percentage of office workers (65%) who say they themselves have become more green as an individual in the office.

Office workers in London and Scotland (75%) are the most likely to have recycled paper in the last year, while those in the Midlands (66%) are the most likely to have switched off unnecessary lights. Thirteen per cent of office workers in the North say they have not done anything to be greener at work in the past year compared to just six per cent in London.

Respondents in the East of England (34%) are most likely to cite a lack of encouragement as a barrier to going green in the office, while those in the Midlands (28%) are most likely to highlight cost as the main obstacle.

Scotland has the highest number of office workers (44%) who think senior management has most responsibility for ensuring an office is green. The South has the highest proportion (57%) saying it is a shared responsibility between staff, the government and management.
On the Coalition's performance in encouraging people to be greener at work, 25% of respondents in London think it is better than the previous government's record compared to just six per cent in Scotland.

All figures are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,255 adults of which 751 were respondents who work solely or mainly in an office. Fieldwork was undertaken between 7 and 10 January 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

Media enquiries to Sadie Edwards and Scott Sinclair at Footprint Communications on 01962 738718. Email sadie@footprint-comms.co.uk or scott@footprint-comms.co.uk.

Countdown begins to Green Office Week 2011

Thu, 21 Apr 2011

Staff at hundreds of businesses across the UK are preparing to spring into action for the environment during Green Office Week.

Now in its third year, the initiative from office product manufacturer Avery is designed to help people take simple, practical steps to be greener at work.

Avery hopes this Green Office Week (9-13 May 2011) will be bigger and better than ever and has put a range of tips and downloadable resources on the campaign website at www.greenofficeweek.eu.

Green Office Week supporter Alistair McGowan, the impressionist, actor and environmental campaigner, said: "If, like me, you spend most of your waking hours at work, I'd encourage you to take part in Green Office Week.

"It's not about being downhearted regarding climate change - it's a prompt to think and act just a little bit smarter.

"Green Office Week makes the point in a clever interactive way that we can all do simple, practical things to make a positive difference to our environment.

"By getting involved and embracing the various tips and ideas in the campaign and on the website, we can all change our behaviour for the better and, in our cuts-driven world, save a lot of money!"

People can become Green Office Week Followers or Ambassadors. Followers have access to all the online advice and resources while Ambassadors go a stage further and volunteer to ‘spread the word' within their organisations and share updates on their activities via Twitter, Facebook and the campaign site.

Ahead of this year's Green Office Week, a YouGov poll shows only a third of office workers (33%) are confident their managers are clear about the practical steps that can be taken to make the office greener, yet just over half (52%) accept it is a shared responsibility between staff, management and the government.

For more information on Green Office Week go to www.greenofficeweek.eu.

Notes to Editors

Green Office Week
Green Office Week empowers UK office workers to make a difference and to help their office environment work for the natural environment in practical ways. Research has shown that office workers are not apathetic towards green issues but are disempowered by lack of knowledge and facilities. Taking place on May 9-13th, the week aims to unite offices around the country in an effort to change this, raising awareness of the issues and offering practical help to office workers to begin to make a difference. For more information, log onto www.greenofficeweek.eu.

Avery
Avery Dennison Office Products markets products under the well-known Avery brand name and is one of the world's leading manufacturers of self-adhesive labels and paper products for laser and inkjet printers, labelling software, index dividers and a wide range of other products for both consumer and industrial markets. Avery Dennison Office Products Europe, a business unit of Avery Dennison Corporation, has manufacturing operations in UK, Germany and Italy and sales and marketing offices in more than ten countries across Europe. For more information about Avery products, consumers can visit www.avery.eu.

Avery and all other Avery brands and product names are trademarks of Avery Dennison Corporation.

For more information, please contact: Scott or Sadie on 01962 738718 or scott@footprint-comms.co.uk sadie@footprint-comms.co.uk.

National office survey finds managers failing to go green

Tue, 08 Feb 2011

Most office workers have little or no confidence in their managers when it comes to making their workplaces greener, a national survey has found.
The YouGov research, commissioned by office products manufacturer Avery, found only a third of those surveyed think their managers are clear about the steps that can be taken.

The poll, carried out for this year's Green Office Week, also found that only 17% of respondents think their office is ‘very or completely green', with more than a quarter, 28%, saying it is ‘still not very green'.

A number of factors prevent people being greener in the office. A quarter of office workers (24%) highlighted a lack of encouragement, 19% said there was too much effort involved, 18% referred to cost and 16% blamed a lack of information on how to go about it.
Avery's third annual Green Office Week is an award-winning initiative designed to address some of these concerns and encourage office workers to spring into action and adopt practical ways to help the environment.

Between Monday 9 and Friday 13 May, a series of daily tips can be found at www.greenofficeweek.eu along with downloadable resources.
At the same time, a voluntary network of Green Office Week Ambassadors up and down the country will promote daily themes involving action on energy, transport, waste and other green issues. They will post blogs about their activities and share good practice with other green-minded individuals.

To support the campaign, all you need to do is visit the website www.greenofficeweek.eu and register.

As well as raising awareness, the week will encourage offices to review purchasing habits in line with environmental targets, devise action plans for the future and celebrate the achievements of people who consider the environment at work.