Reduction of water consumption. Proper use of dishwashers can produce a three-fold reduction in water usage compared to washing up by hand.
Power strips for grouping devices that can be switched off from stand-by mode. Devices left in stand-by mode consume electricity. It is recommended to plug in devices to one power strip which can be turned off with one click of a button. Additionally, in computers, it is worth using the energy-saving function.
Multi-purpose devices. It is worth investing in one piece of equipment which combines many functions, e.g. printer, copier and scanner.
Eco-friendly detergents. Choose products with the EU Ecolabel certificate or those based on natural ingredients and that are not tested on animals. It is worth paying attention to eco-friendly packaging, it should be large, suitable for refilling and made of recycled plastic or recyclable material, e.g. glass. Ecological cleaning products are often more expensive, so you can introduce them gradually. It may turn out to be a good moment to verify the current duties of the cleaning company, e.g. offices could be cleaned less frequently but with eco-friendly detergents.
Eco-friendly packaging. The main purpose of packaging is protection, so it should be relatively durable. Paper packaging can be reused many times. If you plan to buy some more, choose recycled paper. For parcels that require protection against moisture, use recycled plastic for packaging. Also, inform the recipient of the parcel that the packaging can be reused. For filling, you can use products such as Skropak (starch-based filling material) or paper, instead of plastics. Avoid packaging made of different materials that are difficult to separate from each other, such as padded envelopes. They are difficult to segregate. Also, avoid the so-called oxo-degradable plastics made from petroleum, which degrade into miniature particles of plastic and get into water systems causing more harm than ordinary plastics. If you do not know what packaging to choose, look for FSC, PEFC, SFI-certified packaging. (see: ECO-ETHICS OF COOPERATION).
Ecological paper. It can be unbleached, non-chlorinated or recycled paper, obtained from responsible plantations, or with an appropriate certificate (see: ECO-ETHICS OF COOPERATION). It is worth using paper with the lowest possible gsm.
Sustainable transport. Have bike stands installed near your institution or apply for a city bike station.
