It is vitally important that all businesses - local, state, national and international, both large and small - consider their impact on the environment. Agricultural, transport, engineering, food, health, construction, shipping, public, mining, IT, telecommunication, manufacturing, retail and other Australian industry sectors have a profound effect on the environment, far greater than the residential sector.

Business reforms must include water conservation strategies, use of 100% renewable energy sources, consideration of the entire waste lifecycle, good air quality and avoidance of chemicals. These are all important aspects in an efficient business sustainability policy. Decisions must be based on environmental sustainability and good purchasing choices, not the cheapest price or the bottom line.

Groupware strongly promotes our green policy throughout the company. A green office delivers the following benefits:

• more efficiencies are created, for example, using two sides of one piece of paper versus using one side of two pieces of paper
• environmental benefits e.g. saving trees by wasting less paper
• saving money by using less electricity
• saving waste by reducing, reusing and recycling
• reducing air and water pollution e.g. using less electricity creates less greenhouse gases
• positive action which motivates our staff in the knowledge their actions enhance their environment

Groupware Consulting are dedicated to the improvement of our environment and promote an environmentally friendly policy which includes:

• Subscribing to Green Power
• Support and membership to Australian Conservation Foundation
• Purchasing recycled copy paper
• FSC and recycled paper printed materials using vegetable based inks and environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing processes.
• Air quality testing initiated
• Recycling all used copy paper and cardboard
• Recycling bottles, glass, recyclable plastics, cartons, tins
• Recycling PCs by donating to charities, recycling centres or reselling
• Refilling printer cartridges rather than buying new cartridges
• Buying energy efficient equipment
• Turning off lights after use
• Making sure dishwasher is full before use
• Minimising chemicals used on the premises and using environmentally friendly products
• Using ceramic cups or glasses rather than plastic disposable cups
• Requested our building’s agent budget for toilets to be converted to dual-flush
• Printing double-sided documents rather than single-sided
• Re-using water on our pot plants
• Conversion to laptops
• Wireless office
• Donating any unused items e.g. crockery & dishes to charity
• Many of our staff walk to client sites for business purposes
• The majority of our staff ride bikes or catch trains or trams to work
• Purchase environmentally friendly products wherever possible e.g. Pilot Begreen Pens
• Long-term sustainability planning
• Researching/using 'Green Product' suppliers
• Purchasing a Bokashi Bucket for food scraps

Groupware Consulting Pty Ltd are currently investigating opportunities for staff to be involved in environmental activities e.g. Clean Up Australia Day.

Any queries about our Green Policy, please contact WENDY MAYER