National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is March 3-9.  This is an annual campaign, coordinated by government agencies and non-profit organizations to encourage the public to know and exercise their rights as consumers and to make better-informed decisions.  Last year, the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General sponsored several “shred-a-thons” with partner Doc Shredding Corp. a National Association for Information Destruction certified information destruction contractor. Rhode Islanders turned out in droves to safely dispose of confidential documents. It was so successful that Attorney General Peter Kilmartin has announced an expanded schedule of shred-a-thons this year across the state.  

The Attorney General’s Office reported that last year’s effort resulted in shredding nearly nine tons of materials, which was then recycled and kept out of local landfills.  The events also collected over 600 pounds of food for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. As great as it is to divert 9 tons of waste from landfills, here are some impressive statistics on what else this means.  According to the EPA, just ONE ton of paper recycled is equivalent to the following: 

Green teams take note.  You can encourage your employees to participate in similar events during National Consumer Protection week that are scheduled in your local areas.  Check out the NCPW website for leads and links.

For information and details on locations and hours for the Rhode Island shred-a-thons, see Attorney General Kilmartin's web page. Click here.

This is the fourth blog this year in the series about fragrance in the workplace.  In the last blog on this topic, I provided some resources of recommended steps an office should take when considering adopting a policy.  The steps include collecting information and input from employees, conducting educational outreach to explain the issue and how scent-sensitive people react to chemicals and odors in some scented products.  I also recommended that green teams and HR professionals exercise due diligence to maximize understanding and support from staff. 

In the examples below, the policies range from requesting employees to refrain from wearing scented products to outright prohibition.  But all of them set forth a clear direction.  The trend to acknowledge and address scented products and their chemical ingredients’ impact on indoor air quality is a breath of fresh air.  Up to now, an enlightened office has been one where complaints or medical conditions have been addressed on a case by case basis.  What we are beginning to see is a trend for employers to recognize the potential harm to the health of the workforce generally by uncontrolled and multiple exposure to scented products and to take action to minimize the risk.  Chalk one up for indoor air quality!

The City of Portland—employees are requested to refrain from the use of scented products and managers and supervisors are expected to enforce the rule and ensure compliance.

State of Missouri Council on Disabilities—staff and visitors are requested to avoid using scented products. The policy specifically mentions air fresheners and that it includes the use of the least toxic cleaning products.

The Society of Human Resource Management—provides a short template policy for members.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety—offers a sample policy and much more. The site is an excellent roadmap for developing a successful scent-free program.

The Canadian Lung Association—another excellent resource with suggested policy options for a complete prohibition or one that sets certain areas out as scent-free.

The University of Washington—saving the best for last.  This site has links to many public agencies, hospitals, and colleges and universities in the US and Canada that have adopted scent-free policies. 

This is the third blog on the topic of fragrance in the workplace.  The first two set the foundation for why this issue should have the attention of green teams.  See Clean Air--Indoors and When Scents Don’t Make Sense. If your green team wants to pursue a scent-free policy or guidelines for your office, there are some key steps that should be taken first.  I think it’s important to proceed with care because the issue intersects environmental science, health and safety programs and potentially labor agreements; and some employees will have strong opinions.  Far better to take the time to gain the informed input and support from management and employees in advance to smooth the way for the policy or guidelines that are ultimately recommended for adoption.  

I found two excellent “roadmaps” to share with you.  The first is from the Canadian Lung Association, and the second is from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).  The US National Institute for Safety and Health’s Centers for Disease Control offers a solid foundation for what to do today with respect to chemicals and odors in the workplace generally.  As we are narrowing our focus on scented products, e.g. cologne, perfume, air fresheners, and how to go about developing a policy to address multiple concerns, I favor the planning process outlined by the Lung Association and the CCOHS. 

The Lung Association has published a white paper, “Policy for Developing a Scent-Free Workplace.”  It is a step by step outline. Educate the workforce on the issue of scented products in the workplace, survey all staff to collect information and opinions, and include all stakeholders in the formulation, revision, and final draft of a policy.  What’s great about the white paper is that it includes suggested survey questions and sample policies. 

The CCOHS website covers many of the same points as the Lung Association paper but includes some additional reminders, such as not limiting the policy to perfumes and colognes, noting that many cleaning and personal care products contain scents.  This resource also includes suggested questions and actions. 

In the future, I will revisit this topic by including sample policies I come across and expanding the series to include other aspects of indoor air quality.  Meanwhile, I leave you with the scent-free policy adopted by the City of Portland.

 

The latest report on global climate change was released in mid-January by the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), which “coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in the global environment and their implications for society.”  The report is more than 1,100 pages long, thirty chapters, and covers water, energy, transportation, agriculture, forestry, ecosystems, human health, land use, urban systems, rural communities, regional impacts, oceans, and mitigation and adaptation strategies. The report includes a comprehensive executive summary, an agenda for the future, and a summary description of the science of climate change. 

I have read portions of the report and true to its billing as “scary to read”, it is.  In short, and this does no justice to the report, it’s getting hotter, rainfall is more intense and erratic, sea levels are rising and vital arctic ice is melting (summer sea ice loss is equal to half the size of the continental US).  The changes are part of a pattern of global climate change, which is being driven largely by human activity.  The effects of the changes are impacting Americans’ health, livelihoods and the ecosystems that sustain us. 

It’s not pretty, but face it we must.  I strongly urge green teams to make this report required reading among your committee members.  It’s vital.  Sustainability programs exist for any of several reasons—to be eco-friendly, to do no harm to the environment, to support green building projects, to save money, to reduce paper waste and improve recycling, to reduce our carbon footprint, and to comply with laws and ordinances, etc.  But the context in which we have mobilized our efforts is climate change.  This new report presents an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the current status of the challenges we are facing as a nation and stewards of planet Earth.

The new National Climate Assessment report underscores the importance of the work of green teams.  Share its contents with your employees.  Help inform people about what’s happening to our world.  Use the information to champion new and stronger policies to lower greenhouse gas emissions caused by the products and materials your office purchases, the paper and print toner consumed, the equipment and energy used, and the vehicles staff use to travel.  Use the regional impact information to inform employees on how climate change is impacting your communities and economies, and to increase their interest and attention to local planning issues on land use, agriculture, water, fish and wildlife.  Link to the report on your office Intranet, and make individual chapters the topics of monthly green bag lunch groups.  Help your employees to live and work more sustainably by educating them. 

Access the full report from the US Global Change Research Program which includes the executive summary, table of contents, and appendices:  http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/

One of my objectives in writing GreenWorksGov is to bring news and information to busy readers, whose work on green office efforts is typically on a volunteer or part-time basis.  It’s the start of a new year, so it seems appropriate to review the biggest trends of 2012 and what will spur or impede sustainability efforts in 2013.  This week’s blog comes courtesy of GreenBiz.com, a wonderful website that should be a favorite link on your browser.

GreenBiz surveyed executives from a range of companies about their accomplishments, frustrations, and lessons learned in 2012 and what trends they anticipate in 2013.  Here’s a sampling of what they see ahead—water as a business risk. Companies appreciate that water conservation will be more important and are looking to improve water, chemical, and energy usage in facilities HVAC systems.  Weather and the need to include severe weather events, which are on the upswing and attributed to climate change, in operations planning.  Government agencies should translate this in terms of emergency preparedness and services resumption.  Good news trending—CEOs are more interested and involved in sustainability efforts as part of the core business program.  Concerns continue with unstable global financial markets and lowered revenues impacting budgets for investments directly or indirectly related to improving sustainability. 

The 2013 GreenBiz Forums are scheduled for February 19-21 in New York City and February 26-28 in San Francisco.

This annual event is an opportunity to hear from noted thought leaders and sustainability executives on environmental trends, challenges, and opportunities.  The program of speakers and experts on sustainability issues and solutions is impressive.  This looks to be a great networking opportunity.  Check out the conference information and registration pages for particulars on the programs in New York and San Francisco.  The 25% Early Bird discount expires January 15.  This conference promises to kick-start or re-invigorate your green efforts.