LIVING an environmentally sustainable life isn’t always convenient and is perhaps rarely ever fun.

However, it is increasingly becoming the only way to live, certainly if you consider your own immediate future and that of your children and grandchildren.

Most everywhere present is the evidence of the need to embrace eco-friendly living. Climate change that threatens to undermine livelihoods and disrupt lives; and natural disasters that take lives and destroy property are but two examples of this reality.

It is against this background that I share with you this week, 10 things that companies can do to promote environmentally sensitive living among their staff while reaping some financial benefits.

1. Use energy saving light bulbs.

2. Ensure staff members turn off lights and their computers at the end of the work day.

3. Take the lead in encouraging staff to recycle by placing recycle bins, such as for plastic bottles, at various points on your company property.

4. Consider rainwater trapping for use in flushing toilets.

5. Utilise the services of other eco-friendly companies.

6. Consider the use of filtered water instead of purchasing gallons of bottled water.

7. Encourage staff to print only required documents and, where possible, use both sides of the paper.

8. Ensure that office appliances, such as refrigerators and microwaves, are energy efficient models.

9. Car pool as much as is possible in conducting company business.

10. Where possible, encourage an office dress code that does not require attire that has to be dry-cleaned.

Try them and see how they work.