ecotips guide - cor.europa.eu guide/ecotips-guide-en.pdf · you can choose to opt for glass water...

2018Environmental indicators

2017 data

Contact: [email protected]@cor.europa.eu

Your Ecotips Guide

European Economic and Social Committee

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Let’s all try to reduce our environmental impact in our workplace. How? Take a look at our ecotips!You will be contributing to the objectives of our Environmental Management System (EMAS) and, more broadly, to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – 2030 Agenda promoted by the United Nations.

Energy

Water

Paper

Green purchasing

Sustainable food

Green buffets

Green events

Mobility

Waste reduction

Waste recycling

Biodiversity

Small steps can make big changes!


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Dim the lights in your office or turn them offOpen the curtains and take advantage of natural daylight whenever possible.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room equipped with a switch The lighting system is not always automatic in meeting rooms, kitchenettes and toilets. If your office is not equipped with a switch, you can turn off the lights directly from your PC.

Optimise your office temperature Set the office temperature to the recommended level (21°C in winter and 23°C in summer). Even a 1°C reduction in room temperature can help to cut CO2 emissions.

Turn off your computer and monitor when you leaveReduce wasted energy by up to 25%.

Clean your inbox regularlyGo through your inbox on a regular basis and delete old and outdated emails. This will save a considerable amount of energy.

Unplug personal chargers and appliances when not in useBattery chargers continually draw power when they are plugged in.

Consult the Energy Setting Guide for technical details on adjusting room temperature and optimising lighting, including specific advice for each building. The guide is available on the EMAS intranet.

ENERGY


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Spot the leaksIf you find a leaking tap, notify Helpdesk Facilities immediately at [email protected].

Drink tap water This reduces plastic waste and CO2 emissions. Try the refrigerated and filtered water from the fountains for a chlorine-free, high quality taste, and don’t forget to bring your own bottle or glass!

Alternative to plastic water bottlesAvoid using plastic water bottles during meetings, events and conferences. They can be replaced by water from our water fountains, or water served in water jugs or glass bottles.

Beware of what you throw down the sinkDo not dispose of medicines, paints or other pollutants in the sink.

For more information on water quality, visit the INFRASTRUCTURES intranet.

WATER


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Save documents and emails electronically instead of printing themThey can be saved on a shared drive.

Print 2 pages per page if possible And, of course, print on both sides!This will reduce the amount of paper used by up to 50%. It is always preferable to print in black and white rather than in colour.

Work with a OnePC laptop This replaces your office desktop, but you keep your screen(s), mouse and keyboard.When on mission, in meetings or teleworking, you can work directly on your documents and avoid printing anything.Info and request form: see IT intranet.

Use the EMAS notepadsThese notepads are made by the printshop from paper offcuts. Order them directly from the printshop: [email protected]

Recycle old postersFind alternative uses for old posters that go unused (e.g. bring them home for your children to paint them).

Identify paper consuming procedures in your unitMake a suggestion to your colleagues and head of unit on how these can be reduced.

For more information on computer/printer settings, contact Helpdesk IT at 9697 or email [email protected] / [email protected]

PAPER

Choose green productsChoose eco-friendly products from the office furniture catalogue. Not only will you be helping the environment, you will also encourage the market to innovate and develop eco-products.

Good to know: second-hand office suppliesThe office supplies service organises the reuse of items such as files and sorting boxes. So, if you order some of these items, you will probably receive a “second-hand” one.

Let’s green your public procurement proceduresAre you in charge of a public procurement procedure? Together we can make it green! Best practices at the EESC-CoR include:• eco-labelled paint for walls and doors• caring for indoor and outdoor plants using eco-friendly

products• purchasing 100% recycled paper• purchasing 100% green electricity• cleaning services, including the use of eco-labelled

products• sustainable criteria for catering services (see sustainable

food section)

For more information, contact the EMAS service


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GREEN PURCHASING


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SUSTAINABLE FOOD

Go organic!Over the last ten years, consumers have more than doubled their consumption of organic food. The EESC and CoR canteen became one of the first in Belgium to offer certified and labelled organic dishes. Organic farming uses natural methods of fertilising the soil instead of chemical fertilisers or pesticides, as well as respecting biodiversity and animal well-being.

Go vegetarian! (even if you love meat) You don’t need to be a full vegetarian… Become a “flexitarian” once a week.A vegetarian diet greatly reduces your carbon footprint. By choosing a dish without meat or fish once or twice a week, you will also reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. If you are a meat lover, always try to opt for white meat (e.g. poultry), which is less damaging to the environment than red meat in terms of carbon emissions, and labelled products. Labelling means that the meat and fish were raised with due regard for both them and the environment. Keep your eyes open especially on (Veggie) Thursdays: you can choose between two vegetarian dishes instead of there being just one.

Go seasonal and local! Tomatoes taste better in the summer and pumpkins in the winter!Eating a tomato that has ripened naturally in the sun has 20 times less impact than a tomato produced under non-natural conditions such as heated greenhouses. In addition, seasonal vegetables are richer in vitamins than forced ones.

Go fair trade! By buying fair trade products, you can make a difference!You can easily identify fair trade products that carry a fair trade logo such as those certified by Oxfam, Ecocert Equitable or Fairtrade International.

Plastic-free canteen Ours is the first plastic-free canteen in the European institutions This is not the end goal; it is part of the process of reducing waste. You can help by avoiding single-use items such as wooden coffee stirrers and cardboard coffee cups.

For more information, contact [email protected]


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GREEN BUFFETS

Before the event, estimate the number of participants as accurately as possible If you intend to plan a coffee break and/or lunch, ask participants to confirm attendance at the buffet and to notify you in the event of cancellation.

Give details about the buffet On the invitation/registration form, provide details about the buffet (organic, totally or partially vegetarian, seasonal and local products, etc.).

Adapt the final number of participants Be aware of the deadlines set by the catering company: up to 4 working days before the event, it is possible to change the final number of participants (within a limit of 20%). Order for less than the number of registered participants, according to your own experience.

Contribute to the Committees’ food donation projectOn the day of the event, estimate the current number of participants. If you see fewer participants than expected, inform the catering company as soon as possible. Do not ask the caterer to put everything on display; they are instructed to keep as much food refrigerated as possible. This will enable them to donate the food to a charitable organisation.

Glass water bottles You can choose to opt for glass water bottles rather than plastic bottles. Ask our caterer and they will provide them.

External catererIf you employ an external contractor for your buffet, please ask them to comply with the Committees’ waste sorting policy.

Green Buffet Guide Consult the Green Buffet Guide on the Catering Service’s Banquet page.

Are you organising a buffet? Contact the Catering Service for support.


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GREEN EVENTS

Consider the videoconference option You will save on travel expenses and reduce participants’ environmental impact. Type “videoconference” into the intranet search engine.

Go paperlessAvoid printing documents and displaying paper copies. Instead, provide a link to your website and upload electronic documents to your event page. You can also consider using a flyer with a QR code.

Minimise gadgets and gifts for participants If necessary, preferably use ecological and reusable products. Avoid distributing USB keys: like all electronic devices they have a high environmental impact!

Choose an alternative to plastic badges • This can be either paper or fabric stickers• If you give out plastic badges, make sure you get them

all back after the event: transparent collection boxes are available in the JDE and VMA entrance halls.

Eco-mobility Encourage participants to travel to your event by public transport. Provide them with an access plan to the Committees’ buildings.

Eco-accommodation Inform your participants about eco-labelled hotels in Brus-sels. A list is available on the Visit Brussels website.

Are you an event organiser? Consult the Green Events Guide on the EMAS intranet for more detailed advice

Use public transportApply for a public transport subsidy (up to 50%). Type “season ticket” into the intranet search engine.

Ride your bike Good showering facilities and safe storing facilities are available in all buildings. Type “transport plan” into the intranet search engine.

Use the service bikes during working hours Service bikes, bike helmets and fluorescent jackets can be borrowed free of charge during working hours from the BvS and B68 car parks. No advance reservation required! Ask your mobility coordinator (Human Resources Department).

Organise a videoconferenceYou will save on travel expenses and reduce participants’ environmental impact. Type “videoconference” into the intranet search engine.

Register for teleworkingSign up for the teleworking scheme and reduce the number of times you commute. Type “teleworking” into the intranet search engine.

Try car pooling Look at car-sharing options like Cambio and Carpool.be, or rent a car occasionally instead of buying a (second) car.

Brussels has many shared mobility options Kick scooters and self-service bikes are eco-friendly services that are easy to use.

For more information, contact the EESC and CoR mobility coordinators


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MOBILITY


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WASTE REDUCTION

Bring your own mug and avoid using disposable cupsYou get a EUR 0.05 discount at the cafeteria, and you can use it with vending machines too!

Use the open libraryDonate or borrow books for free - no prior registration needed!The open library is located on the ground floor of the B68 building, close to the Document centre in the JDE and on the 5th floor of the VMA building, next to the elevators.

Drink tap water Save hundreds of plastic bottles per year. Tap water at the Committees is regularly tested. For a better taste, refrigerate it so it loses its chlorine taste. See more details in the “water” section.

Not very hungry? Opt for the smaller “fight waste” portion Every day, there is a different dish which offers this option. You will avoid food waste and pay less.

Do you prefer to choose the exact quantity of food you really need? Make your own selection from the salad or fruit bar. Mixed salads and fruit will be charged by weight.

For more information, contact the EMAS service


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WASTE RECYCLING

Set-up a “Reuse corner”Arrange with your secretariat and/or your EMAS contact person to set up a place on your floor to store and exchange reusable office supplies, such as binders and envelopes.

How to sort your waste:• Paper/cardboard > yellow bins, in each office and

meeting room

• Plastic bottles, metal and drink cartons (PMD) > blue bins located in most of the kitchenettes and cafeterias

• Glass bottles > green bins located in the cafeterias

• Batteries > BEBAT boxes

• Corks > collection point in the B68 cafeteria

• Pens/markers and plastic bottle caps: special collection boxes (see the list on the EMAS intranet page)

• Plastic bottle tops

- Coffee cups and plastic cups: use the black bins for residual waste (NOT the paper or PMD bins)- Light bulbs: contact the helpdesk facilities to replace them.

For more information, consult the EMAS intranet or email [email protected] / [email protected]

Bees and green roofsThe EESC has been hosting two beehives since 2012. In this way, the EESC is supporting urban biodiversity while raising awareness among staff and guests about the global importance of protecting bees for our environment and food security. The green roofs on the JDE and BvS buildings are planted with bee-friendly flower species which are an excellent food source for them!

Where can you see them from? Go to room JDE70 and walk down the corridor behind the interpreters’ booths. The beehives can be seen on the rooftop through the windows.

What can you do for bees and pollinators?• Grow bee-friendly plants on your balcony or in your

garden • Avoid using chemical pesticides• Buy organic (chemical pesticide-free) products

Community gardenThe Committees have set up raised garden beds, where willing staff members can work and grow vegetables, fruit and flowers during their free time.

Where: terraces of the JDE canteen and the B68 cafeteria

Do you want to be part of our project? Contact: [email protected]


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BIODIVERSITY

© European Union, 2019

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EMASS E R V I C E

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