Since the late 1960s, concern for the state of the planet has grown from a radical movement to a mainstream concern for hundreds of millions of earth’s inhabitants. So it’s no longer the dope smoking, dreg logged hippy but the mums and dads of nations that want to do the “right thing”.

Why it’s good for the planet if we were all “green”

There are many ideas that appear to be used frequently in this dialogue. All the way back in 1987 the Brutland Commission succinctly identified that being green, or sustainable meant, “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

This identifies the aim with precision. What it really means is that governments need to lead, companies need to green innovate, consumers need to become green consumers and communities need to encourage and inform, so they all change behaviors to to be sustainable.

Being green demands that,  ways of doing things, like, business practices and government decisions should be carried out with the idea in mind that they will have an impact on  the planet, its resources and its future inhabitants. Widespread behavioral change is an imperative.

How to green our beautiful blue planet

Opportunities for your organization from going green, and being green will help you stand out from competitors in your industry. When you’ve done some work on greening your business, you will perhaps have some innovative green products to put to market. In marketing those products, be sure to ”put on the table” only the green credentials able to be corroborated.

With the current global climate crisis, green business is roaring ahead and it is becoming more in the minds of consumers. Whilst the Global Financial Crisis has caused the industry to slow its growth, there are still many, many opportunities for businesses with green gifts and other fare, to creatively present their green consumer goods, especially where they are well priced.

The procedures for forming green businesses is no great surprise. But green business needs green consumers, so both MUST grow in parallel.

As this is more widely understood, the planet will slowly move to being”greener”.

Spills and leaks if not dealt with in a timely manner can have a serious impact on the environment. There are many potential for spill and leaks during field operations or at municipal facilities. If fuels, oils, lubricants, antifreeze, solvents, cleaners, detergents, degreasers, paints, thinners, lacquers, stains, acids, caustics, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals are

• Stored
• Handled
• Transferred
• Used
• Repackaged

at a facility, then an appropriate spill response plan must be developed. All employees, as well as contractors, must be trained in these methods and in the use of necessary equipment.

Activities With High Spill Potential

• Chemical transfer
• Equipment and vehicle fueling
• Fertilizer ApplicationPesticide Application
• Painting, Staining, Stripping

Required Spill Management Practices

• Use, handle, repackage and transfer all chemicals indoors or protected from the weather whenever possible.
• As soon as an outdoor spill or leak is discovered, supervisory personnel are to be notified.
• Speciality trained personnel may be required for cleanup if the material is hazardous or the spill is considered big.
• Dry methods should be used for cleanup of non-hazardous materials.
• Do not ‘wash down’ or ‘hose down’ spilled or leaked materials.
• Use the Three Step Method for cleaning up non-hazardous liquids.

1. Using loose absorbent sheet, pigs, or socks cover the spill with abssorbents.
2. The absorbed material must be sweeped up.
3. If any residue remains, mop it up and dispose of mop water in sanitary sewers

• Clean up all spills promptly and thoroughly.
• Delayed cleanup could result in a spread of the waste or materials by wind, rain, and traffic and it can become a safety hazard.
• If you must dleay the cleanup process, the area which the spill occured must be blocked off to prevent any sort of foot or vehicle traffic.

Spills of Hazardous Materials

• Spills must be cleaned up promptly by appropriately trained personnel.
• If the spill or leak threatens to flow into a storm drain or a surface body of water, it must be contained before cleanup is started.
• Place absorbent pigs and socks to block the flow and also around all threatened storm drain inlets.
• Use drain seals which are at least 3 inches bigger than the drain’s diameter.
• If a portable container is the source of the leak or spill, place the entire leaking container into a larger containment berm or sump.
• If the leaking container can be repaired safely, this should be done and the container placed with the repaired area on top.
• Move the container indoors.
• If the spill or leak of a hazardous substance escapes, local fire officials as well as state and federal authorities must be notified.
• Clean or dispose of all clean-up equipment and supplies in the proper manner in compliance with 40 CFR 112.

Spill911.com an industrial suppply company.com carries a full line of supplies for both spill containment and cleanup. There are Repair Kits for Drums, which contain a variety of plugs, patches, wedges and tools to quickly stop leaks.

The Exair Drum Vac is the ultimate drum and pump which is great for recovering coolant, hydraulic oil, waste sludge and chips, tramp oil and most non-flammable liquids, up to 55 gallons. 

The Gator Spill Containment Caddy is good for moving drums but it can also contain a leaking 66 gallon drum.

When you are first opening a new office there are a lot of factors that you need to think about, there is the employing of staff, finances and personally I feel that decorating with pine furniture should be the most important.

By making your office look modern, clean and sleek you are going to get a lot more work out of the team. I mean would you be happy if you literally had to sit in an office that was falling apart around you? I doubt it, but another thing to think about is the actual way that you are going to greet clients when they come for meetings, do you think that they would be more interested if the office looked elegant or dirty?

So let us take a look at some of the most important pieces of office furniture that you need in the office.

Luxury Chairs
These are essential to have as if your employees are not comfortable whilst working then the performance will be affected which at the end of the day you will end up paying for.

Desks
There is not really any point getting a nice chair without getting a desk to go with it.

Temperature Levels
There should be air conditioning and central heating in an office because we all know that winter times can get very cold and when you are sitting down all day you really do feel the chill. The same can also be said for the summer months, when the sun is out the offices tend to get very hot and unbearable.

Opening a new business can be rewarding, but at the same time be very stressful so make sure you have the right priorities in place.

For great oak dining chairs and oak chest of drawers