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Young World
We can make a difference
MAITHILY ERANDE
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Corporates talk of going green. How true is this?
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Photo: M. Vedhan
Good water: But, what about the plastic?
In the last few years, I have been trying to get myself to be conscious about the destruction of the environment around me. One thing that has bothered me terribly is the indiscriminate wastage, and in particular the unnecessary use of plastic I see around me.
Being a part of the corporate sector, I often feel that while we claim to go towards a “greener” environment, knowingly or unknowingly, we add to the wreckage by trying to provide a clean working environment.
For the the past four months, I have been working in a clients’ office. One, who claims to be moving towards greener work space. I will describe an experience, and leave it up to you to decide on the kind of working place it is.
In real life
The office has stacked mineral bottled water ready for its employees and consultants. This is the case perhaps, with all the 200 of its branch offices, where there are approximately 500 employees each. Now, given that everyday, a person drinks at least two bottles of 500 ml each, the math is pretty simple — we are throwing away 1000 bottles of plastic per office!
Now, you might say that if we segregate and recycle plastic, what’s the problem in generating it? I would then ask whether this actually happens? But, the bigger question would be: Is there any need to generate this trash or is there an alternative? A water dispenser or filter with each person using his/her glass would solve the problem, isn’t it? All the employees would still get the clean water!
As I think about this, I receive emails with a standard signature asking me to think before printing the email to save paper! All this brag about the “Go Green” seems like mere corporate mantra to be ignored when each of us in the office doesn’t think twice before using and throwing at least two to four plastic bottles a day. It is such a contradiction. Till now, like most others, I sat quiet on issues like these. But now I have decided to respond within my limited space. I emailed the Chairman and the chief environmentalist of the company with the details and requested action. As I await a response, I wonder, wouldn’t it make a difference if each one of us started raising our voice against the waste happening around us? Without moving out of our own set ups? Give it a try.
In collaboration with Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group
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