For the employees of the Jurong-Clementi Town Council (JRTC), taking steps to protect the environment has become a daily habit. From the acquisition of office equipment, stationery, paper products and cleaning detergent with green certification to sending eco-ambassadors for training and courses to spearhead the green movement, the work routine of the JRTC staff is done with environmental protection in mind.
Acts of their office eco-friendly practices were given a new endorsement when JRTC received its first Eco-Office (Champion) certification this year under the Project Eco-Office, a joint initiative by the Singapore Environment Council, Singapore’s largest environmental NGO, and property developer City Developments Limited. First launched in 2002, the project aims to help companies recognise the importance of an environmentally friendly workplace. The initiative assesses criteria such as the management of energy, water and waste.
Having been first recognised as an Eco-Office back in 2012, JRTC received the second-highest award tier – Eco-Office (Champion) – this year based on an enhanced scheme, Eco-Office Plus, which measures staff engagement on top of the original initiative’s assessment. JRTC is among nine companies in Singapore to have been ranked Eco-Office Champion. Recipients of the Champion tier need to receive an assessment score of 80 to 89 points.
In order to achieve the highest tier – Eco-Office Elite – certification within the next five years, JRTC aims to enhance its environmentally friendly practices. These include establishing a green procurement policy by stating preferred requirements for environmentally friendly equipment as well as sourcing for eco-conscious vendors or services, wherever possible. It will also participate in environment-related activities organised by third-party organisations, as well as acknowledge green efforts at the office and give out green awards to reinforce positive behaviour towards environmental protection.
Environmentally friendly actions need not be done in a huge way to have an impact. Small actions ranging from turning off computer monitors when they are not in use to switching off lights during lunch hour to save on electricity consumption, environmentally friendly practices can be effectively incorporated into the daily lives of office workers at workplaces.