Tips for a Greener Corporate Relocation

Like it or not, corporate relocation has a huge impact on the organization’s carbon footprint perhaps more so than the usual day at the office. Why? Think of all the packing paper, boxes and tape that will be used and will eventually end up in the trash, not to mention the ecological impact of the moving trucks and the renovation materials in the new offices, among others.

Fortunately, the organization’s carbon footprint can be minimized by planning a greener office relocation project. Such an eco-friendlier moving plan shall not only lessen the carbon footprint but will also save on costs – recycling, reusing and reducing has that overall effect – while enhancing your goodwill in the community. This is a win-win situation that can truly benefit everybody involved in the relocation.

Getting Rid of Items

Every corporate relocation project is an opportunity to make a comprehensive assessment of the company assets from the inventory of products to the office supplies, furniture and equipment, among others. Said assessment will yield various items that the company should have been rid of months ago for several reasons like the costs of storage have outpaced the possible profits, the items are obsolete, and the assets are considered as non-performing resources.

Instead of throwing everything into the trash, try these options for a greener office relocation project:

• Do your research. Ask around the community, browse the Internet and ask employees for suggestions where the to-be-discarded items can be donated for a good cause and sold for a good profit on the depreciated values.

• Donate the items in good condition to local charities and organizations where these assets can be put to good use. Examples include donating the computers to local schools, the furniture to small businesses, and the food inventory to the food bank.

• Sell the stuff. You will be surprised at the eagerness of many individuals in buying items from organizations that can be reused in their own premises. Not only will you be able to lessen your impact on the landfills but you can also make money off the items, said money of which can be used as part of your corporate relocation budget.

Of course, you should also reuse and recycle many of the items in your new office. You can then skip on buying new items, thus, saving on relocation costs while also providing a sense of familiarity for the employees in the new premises.

Using Eco-friendly Packing Materials

Corporate relocation projects are most often on a larger scale than home relocations for obvious reasons. The result: More packing materials are used, thus, increasing the carbon impact. The solutions:

• Avoid packing items that can be moved in their own coverings, so to speak.

• Use reusable containers.

• Ask the moving company for eco-friendly options. (In fact, you will want to choose the moving company based on its green approach to its job such as planning the move via the shortest possible route.)

In the end, a corporate relocation project will only be as eco-friendly as your steps to make it so. Start planning your steps and start doing your share for our home planet!