9 for 9 - Nine Green Resolutions for 2009

Patagonia employees are encouraged to reduce their environmental impact with tips from a group of co-workers who call themselves the Green Team. For 2009, the Team shared a list of nine green resolutions anyone can keep. They're good reminders and very easy to share with friends and relatives who might need some encouragement.

Nine Green Resolutions for 2009

1. Resolve to stop using those plastic bags at the grocery store – leave your canvas bags in the car
2. Stop drinking water in plastic bottles – drink filtered tap water, it tastes great!
3. Review your home, one room a month, and detox – remove chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers and dispose of them safely
4. Pledge to have your recycle bin always be fuller than your regular waste bin
5. Just one more: One more day a week of commuting by bike or by carpool – you get the idea. Draw up written contracts with family members to each pledge to use alternative transportation a minimum of once a week
6. Start a compost pile
7. Grow your own – if you don't have room for a veggie garden, frequent the farmer's market once a week
8. Volunteer your services to a non-profit group you are passionate about
9. Follow your passions this year – find your cause

The Green Team doesn't just give suggestions, it accepts them. Employees can propose ways to reduce the environmental impacts of their specific jobs. If the idea is feasible, the company will act on it. Hit the jump for an example of how this type of employee feedback helped Patagonia save natural resources and a bunch of money.

[Photo: Patagoniac S. Mandl snapped this shot of her daughter on New Year's Eve. She says, "Although it was quite windy our daughter Zoe was very much enjoying our walk on Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay, CA. We entirely trust the Patagonia gear to keep her warm!"]

Through their idea of eliminating catalog inserts, Angela W., Lisa S., and Charlotte O. saved the company $468,948.64 in catalog expenses for fiscal year 2009, and at least 800 hours of labor. By reducing our paper consumption by 95 tons of paper – enough to fill five semi trucks – Patagonia realized these environmental savings:

• 1,989 billion BTUs – enough energy to power 21 homes for one year
• 122,701 gallons of water – enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool
• 326,747 pounds of greenhouse gases – equivalent to taking 30 cars off the road for one year
• 104,750 pounds of solid waste – enough waste to fill four garbage trucks

Have a green resolution of your own for 2009? Let us know in the comments.

Comments

[Bob]

Mmmh, 2009: trying to convince my employer to set up one remote working day per week. This way: two days of bike commuting, two days of public transportation, one day staying at home.

[Amber B.]

I plan on picking up more trash when I see it; on the beach, in the park, and anywhere else in might be.

[PatagoniaCommunity.blogspot.com]

Some of those are so easy to do too. Every little bit helps. Thanks for the tips.

[Panamasurf]

Definetely picking up more trash before and after surf sessions.

[Jeremy]

I love the idea of a "green team"... I would love it if someone from your Green Team could shoot me an email with some pointers on getting corporate approval and best practices.
jrbechthold {at} gmail
I feel like a one man crusader sometimes and could use some help forming our own program.

Thanks for the great ideas!

[Free]

Will do Jeremy. Stay tuned for an email.

Great ideas from everyone else too. Picking up trash on the beach was the subject of one of the first posts on this blog.

http://www.thecleanestline.com/2007/02/hierarchy_of_en.html

My resolution is to diligently hand back the plastic utensils that always come with to-go food and use the bamboo set I keep in my backpack instead.

http://www.bambooya.com/togo-ware-utensil-set.html

[P. Littler]

Bring your own pyrex container to restaurants, so you never need a brown paper bag or box or foamy containers to take home left overs.

[Nancy K.]

With our new tankless water heater it takes a minute for hot water to run from the kitchen faucet, so I catch the water,until it gets hot, in a watering can to water my potted plants.

[Steve K.]

for an eco- friendly cleaner & disinfectant, that just costs pennies, fill a spray bottle with half water, half hydrogen peroxide.
Works great for the kitchen & bathroom clean up!