Green Practices
The values of sustainability are deeply embedded into every part of the Green Pages, both as a business and as a community. Green Pages was built for the environmental community, by the environmental community. This means we are completely devoted to maintaining the best practice sustainability standards throughout all of our operations and with all the organisations we are involved with.
No Vibes were Harmed Making this Website
Vibes are important. They are the fertile soil in which innovation and creativity can flower. It is of utmost import to us that all our relationships with partners, shareholders, staff and clients manifest good karma all round and everything we do is conducted with positive energy and good intent.
Green Pages Environmental Features
Solar Powered Offices
Our offices have solar panels and a solar hot water system on the roof that powers nearly 100% of the office’s energy needs.
Ethical Banking
We bank with the Bendigo Bank and the NAB which both have strong sustainability policies. They rank highly on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and are members of the Principles for Responsible Investment. Bendigo Bank has recently built an innovative a 5 Green Star head office, offers a green home loan product and supports a number of community driven environmental initiatives.
Green Office
We have always chosen green offices that do not require mechanical heating or cooling that are also located close to public transport. Our first office was within the 60L Green Building in Melbourne, one of Australia’s most innovative first green commercial buildings.
Eco Friendly Cleaning Products
All cleaning products used in the office are natural, eco friendly and/or eco label certified.
Green Events
All of our events have upheld the highest environmental standards. We use organic catering, a native florist, green venues, serve wine from bio-dynamic vineyards and the list goes on. We pay attention to each very special detail, even as far as ensuring name tags are printed on organic cotton with vegetable based inks. At out first launch, we created a stunning five metre high chandelier made entirely from green and yellow sliced wined bottles, lit with energy efficient LED lights. A true masterpiece of eco-friendly innovation.
Vintage & Reclaimed Fitout
Our furniture and fitout comprises of mostly reclaimed or vintage materials. We seek out funky chairs, couches lights and tables from e-bay and always avoid buying first time use goods.
Paperless
We are committed to running a 100% paperless office so we tend to create very little waste or ever need to purchase paper. On the occasion that we do require paper (business cards for example) we use 100% post consumer recycled paper.
Energy Efficient Computing and Servers
We use cloud hosting and cloud based software which is considerably less energy intensive than non-cloud hosting and software or keeping local servers running 24 hours per day.
Office Composting
We have a bokashi bin and a worm farm to ensure all office food scraps are composted.
Onsite Permaculture Garden
Behind our office is a small garden where we grow herbs and vegetables. We use a permaculture system that utilises a dome shaped chicken enclosure that houses seven lovely hens and rotates throughout the garden area.
Carbon Offset
We use Climate Friendly to offset any additional carbon emissions from flights, transport or server hosting. Climate friendly use gold standard carbon credits from wind and solar farm projects.
Third Party Environmental Certification
We are strong supporters of third party environmental certification and we actively seek to purchase only products that are certified by organisations such Forest Stewardship Council, Good Environmental Choice and Australian Certified Organic.
The World’s Best Place to Work
Great companies are built by great people. We are aiming to create ‘The word’s best place to work’ which involves building an organisations that is values-centric, supportive and sustainable. A workplace should also be fun, inspirational and educational.
Here are few examples of our environmental program for people:
Fresh Organic Food
A box of fresh organic fruit, vegetables and nuts is delivered to the office every week.
Sustainable Superannuation
All of our staff superannuation is with Vic Super’s sustainable superannuation fund. The superannuation is invested into clean tech industries such as green power and companies that rank highly in sustainability performance.
Desk Plants
All desks have at least one large indoor plant near them. We aim to make our office a bit like a jungle. Indoor plants assist in well-being, air purification and temperature regulation.
Team Green Innovation Days
Inspired by Google but with a green twist, we allow all staff to devote one day per week to an ‘environmental innovation’ project of their own choice. We encourage green creativity within the team and believe in the power of imagination to change the world.
‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’
- Margaret Mead
