Employers urged to set up ‘green initiatives’ for workers.
Employees should be given more encouragement to work to reduce energy wastage in the workplace, the UK’s biggest union has argued.
Claiming that workplaces currently account for around 50 per cent of total UK carbon emissions, Unison has called for the government to do more to encourage employers to offer green initiatives and make ‘green champions’ out of their workers.
General secretary Dave Prentis explained that businesses can help in the fight against climate change by setting up initiatives such as cycle to work schemes or fair trade coffee breaks. He also pointed out that encouraging employees to switch off electrical appliances when they are not in use or switching to energy-saving light bulbs will help firms reduce their overheads.
“Unison already has a similar project running at Great Ormond Street Hospital for children and three other projects planned for launch later this year. These projects will help us to develop best practise green guidance that can be rolled out to workplaces nationwide,” he added.
Thanks to Mark Stephens