Green Business Certification – Seal of Good Practice
In order to empower our clients with focused and meaningful goals, Green Workplace created the Green Office Champions Seal of Good Practice. This green business certification is available to any of our consulting clients for free who fulfill the following verified criteria that includes developing a green procurement policy:
CONSUMABLES & GREEN PROCUREMENT POLICY
- As part of a green procurement policy the majority of standard office consumables (pens, staplers, peripheral paper products including: notepads, envelopes, folders, and post-it notes) must possess verifiable environmental benefits over conventional office
products (‘majority’ measured in total units) - all letter and legal sized copy & printing paper must contain 100% post Consumer Waste (PCW)
- Client must supply adequate reusable kitchenware and refrain from purchasing any Styrofoam cups, disposable cutlery, dishware, etc.
SUSTAINABILITY TRAINING
- All procurement staff must demonstrate knowledge of green purchasing opportunities in
accordance with the consumables criteria above - All staff must be knowledgeable on duplexing and paper reduction strategies
- All staff must understand workplace recycling and waste diversion programs and opportunities
WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Our green business certification has a definite focus on waste reduction
- All kitchen dish and hand soaps must have verifiable green advantages
- If the client is a direct employer of workplace janitorial staff, all cleaning products must be non-toxic
and possesses verifiable green advantages over conventional cleaning products - A comprehensive recycling program must be in place including: staff sustainability training
and awareness of recycling procedures, well-marked blue bins in every kitchen (or on every floor)
and a paper recycling box at every paper-producing work station - Client must have an office-wide household battery, cell phone, ink cartridge and office electronics collection
bin including end-use recycler in place; this is to be communicated to all staff
COMMUNICATION
- In addition to the communication requirements already listed, clients eligible for green business certification
must email Green Workplace’s Sustainability Best Practices sheet to all staff. This helps ensure that
sustainability training and green procurement policies are communicated throughout the organization.
LIGHTING
- Clients must have majority high efficiency lighting (T8, CFLs, LED’s etc.)
in place (majority measured in total # of fixtures) all exit signs must possess LED lamps
TRANSPORTATION
- All clients possessing 25 or more confirmed monthly transit pass holders must offer
TransLink’s employer discount program (if in BC or comparable program in their city
or province). - Client must explore the feasibility of an employee ride-share program.