Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

EthicsESGLatest NewsHR strategy

TUC outlines ten steps to a greener workplace

by Mike Berry 5 Sep 2006
by Mike Berry 5 Sep 2006

The TUC has today proposed 10 simple steps that employees can take at work to cut energy use and help to protect the environment.

UK workplaces and work-related transport generate around two-thirds of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions, more than 66 million tonnes each year, the union umbrella group claims. And for many organisations, a 20% cut in energy would be easy to achieve, and would be the equivalent of a 5% increase in sales, the TUC claims in its Greening the Workplace guide.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, said: “More people are recycling and reducing energy use and waste at home, but for many people work is still a green-free zone, despite being the biggest polluter and power user in the UK.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“It may seem daunting at first, but if employers, employees and unions get together problems can be solved and good practice can be spread across the whole organisation.”

Ten steps to ‘greening the workplace’
  1. Switch off all computer equipment, appliances, motors and machinery when not in use.
  2. Take the stairs not the lift.
  3. If your workplace is too hot, turn the heating down instead of opening a window.
  4. If it is too cold in winter, ensure radiators and heaters aren’t obstructed and ask your employer to install better insulation or even combined heat and power.
  5. Check if lighting is on unnecessarily in the middle of the day – 80% of the UK’s lighting energy is used at work.
  6. If you are the last to leave, make sure you turn everything off behind you, including machinery, printers, drinks machines, fans, lights, etc.
  7. Set up a green travel plan. Some employers offer incentives for lower energy ways of travelling, such as cycling, public transport, car-sharing and walking.
  8. Apply the three ‘Rs’: Recycling is great, but Reducing waste and Re-using is even better.
  9. Reduce water use at work through publicity and simple adjustments to taps and toilets.
  10. Work together for a greener workplace.

The report Greening the Workplace is available online at www.sustainableworkplace.co.uk.

TUC
Mike Berry

previous post
HR solutions for poor performance
next post
Online recruitment set to increase

You may also like

EHRC submits new code of practice to government

5 Sep 2025

Lloyds Banking Group to target underperformers for job...

5 Sep 2025

How to manage workplace investigations effectively

5 Sep 2025

Manager who called bosses ‘dickheads’ was unfairly dismissed

5 Sep 2025

Jaguar Land Rover staff sent home after cyber...

5 Sep 2025

Agency crackdown won’t cure NHS staffing crisis alone

5 Sep 2025

‘Terrible’ Employment Rights Bill returns to Commons

4 Sep 2025

Connect to Work scheme to benefit 15 areas...

4 Sep 2025

Sandie Peggie launches fresh legal action against NHS...

3 Sep 2025

How to stop flying blind with workforce planning

3 Sep 2025

  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits Live
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise