TUC urges workers to embrace green practices

Britain’s largest trade union group says its members must take action to create sustainable workplaces

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) yesterday called on its members to do more to limit the carbon footprint of their workplaces, after it emerged that few employees are taking green issues seriously at work.

The trade union group, which represents almost seven million workers, said that research for its Sustainable Workplaces initiative had found that while domestic energy consumption has fallen five per cent in the last year it is continuing to rise in UK workplaces.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said employees and union reps have a major role to play in working with employers to limit the environmental impact of business.

"When it comes to tackling climate change, people tend to look towards international agreements or what they can do at home," Barber observed. "But more than half of the UK's carbon emissions are produced at work or through work-related transport. There's a lot more we can all do to reduce our workplace's carbon footprint."

The TUC has drafted a green guide for employees and union reps on how to improve the environmental performance of workplaces and yesterday released ten New Year's resolutions that it urged its members to embrace. These include recycling and reusing paper, ensuring workplaces are not overheated, embracing flexible working options, turning off unused electrical equipment and making sure furniture is not blocking heating or windows.