www.gogreen-project.eu This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] and all its contents reflect the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. [Project number: 2020-1-CY01-KA202-065983] ▪ Introducing a paper recycling policy and supporting it with recycling facilities in the office ensures that less paper ends up in landfill and can be marketed by the company as part of its sustainability and green actions (CSR strategy) ▪ Significant Cost Savings: Keeping everything stored in a digital format. Whether on computer drives, flash drives or in cloud-based systems, it is cheaper than printing and storing it on paper. This eliminates the cost of shredding services for paperwork with sensitive information. Some businesses have entire rooms and storage units devoted to archiving paper. Paperless systems eliminate this cost. ▪ Speed of Information: When everything is stored digitally, versus on paper in files, accessibility becomes quick and easy. Employees, consumers, and business owners have access to all data, contracts, and consumer files with just a few mouse clicks. This eliminates having to locate the files or forms, which saves everyone time. ▪ Mobile Workforce: Moving from paper to digital storage, particularly through cloud-based technology, keeping information based on the internet has made it easier to have mobile employees. There is more flexibility to meet with clients outside the office or to spend a day working from home. Employees can access all information online, quickly, and easily. Often, remote workers don’t even work in the same city as the business owner, which means a new pool of talent is available to employers, as well. Roles Three main roles are entailed in the current scenario and they are described below: 1. The Business Owner is not sufficiently informed about the environment or environmental practices at present and therefore not motivated to change. The Business Owner believes that using paper is essential and critical to their operations. From a compliance and regulatory point of view, he/she does not trust technology sufficiently well to consider moving paperless. The Business Owner is also very happy with how things are and currently working, systems that have been in place for years and thinks the move to paperless offices is just the latest in a long line of inane trends. 2. The Office Manager is a well-informed person who believes that using paper is fundamentally wrong, damaging to the environment and not necessary at a time when technology, security systems and computer applications provide a viable alternative that has a reduced environment footprint. Not only is a move toward a paperless office more cost effective, it also saves time and offers more efficient work practices and makes a positive environmental contribution. Also, the Office Manager is familiar with the business actions already taking place. Perhaps he/she agrees that a change in business policy will be a positive step for the company, but he/she also has to support the business owner and might not be willing to take the risk of changing. He/she may agree to keep business as usual, despite the fact that he/she understands the missed opportunities, acknowledges the bad marketing image and everything noticed by the environmental officer. 3. The Environmental Officer is employed by the Local Authority to enforce the waste management plan for the region (impose fines and penalties) but also work with the business community and companies to inform them of their responsibilities, incentivize them to make positive environment changes and highlight the good practices that are taking place at regional level (marketing and supporting CSR). He/she can also refer to that others (competitors/partners/suppliers) have started to take action and change their policy or consider the increased green expectations of their clients (or the community).
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