Greening the workplace and calling for fundamental behavioral change
Nowadays, everyone is looking at what can be done to help build a more sustainable and environmentally friendly society. We expect individuals to ‘live green’ and we also expect businesses and organizations to perform their part. Universities are no exception.
Opt for going green is not a mere fashionable trend for universities worldwide. Institutions have to do a lot to become more sustainable. It is about driving the behavioral change of staff and students – how they use energy, what they consume and purchase, and how they support carbon reduction and 3R, i.e. reduce, reuse and recycle. However, the most important thing is about getting the entire university community on board and pick up the appropriate green values which have a long-lasting impact on them throughout their lives, their social network and the next generation.
In The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), efforts in advocating green and sustainable initiatives have been stepped up in the recent decade. Mr. Joseph Chan, Head of Campus Sustainability, said PolyU has signed up to meeting commitments on energy use, waste reduction and construction standards, and the University is also introducing sustainability into the teaching curriculum. Sustainability principles are evident in all levels of the University’s planning, capital development and infrastructure. However, he added there is still considerable progress to be made, particularly the area of educating and motivating the campus stakeholders through different campaigns and training.
Large-scale educational campaigns such as the annual PolyU Campus Sustainability Weeks to expand awareness on sustainability are frequently arranged on campus
PolyU currently leads an active network of Green Officers coming from around 70 academic and administrative offices and units, who are enthusiastic staff nominated by their Heads of offices to proactively drive continual improvement in environmental workplace practices. “Sitting in an office environment may appear distant from the general environmental issues. However, the truth is we all have a responsibility to ensure that our everyday decisions and operations bring as little as possible adverse impacts to the broader environmental issues. Offices are the core and fundamental business components of the University and we believe the participation in a sustainable office environment will no doubt have positive effects on the individual, and gradually an individual can easily apply similar practices to their home as well,” Joseph explained.
The first-ever Green Officers Inauguration was recently held on the PolyU campus to commend these Green Officers, and also to encourage a stronger sense of ownership within the staff members of those environmentally friendly work alternatives. “The key ingredient of any university is students and staff. Staff plays an important role on the education and administration side. We will need a platform that brings together sustainability assessment tools, systematic training modules and resources to support colleagues in implementing environmental work practices. That is why we have established the network of departmental Green Officers and have introduced the Green PolyU Awards (GPA) – Green Office programme this year,” further supplemented by Joseph.
Green Officers receiving bolo ties from the Senior Management as a recognition of their work at the Inauguration
Steered by the Campus Sustainability Committee and the Campus Sustainability Office, this brand new Green PolyU Awards – Green Office programme is intended to be a campus-wide campaign which offers a great way for staff to learn more about environmental issues through training sessions, seminars, workshops, visits and the provision of information kits and manuals. It also provides an opportunity for staff to engage in behavioral management and work as part of a team to promote green culture proactively in the workplace. Phase One of the programme operates from July to December 2016. PolyU offices and units are invited to participate voluntarily and make use of self-reporting assessment tools to calculate the effectiveness of green office recommendations and practices. These offices, no matter how big or small in size, will develop appropriate environmental practices for themselves, and determine their baseline status and achievable ‘green’ work targets from areas of energy saving, water conservation, waste management, paper consumption to green procurement. By doing so, they will get to know to what extent they perform in making their offices a sustainable work environment, and what are to be done to exercise improvements and progress.
Information about the Green PolyU Awards – Green Office programme and the corresponding resources can be accessed from the PolyU Green Concepts website (http://www.polyu.edu.hk/greencampus)
This Green Office programme echoes well with PolyU’s sustainability goals, and it is evident to be a great leap forward in helping the University to achieve its strategic plan. Joseph made a detailed explanation of the benefits of this programme and emphasized on the intrinsic values that it brings to the campus community, “Most people have positive attitudes towards protecting the environment, but do not always behave the way they know to protect the world, or simply don’t know how. By launching this programme we aim to engage our staff in taking practical steps and appropriate actions. Those who successfully comply with the requirements of the programme will be recognized with dedicated Green Office Award labels and certificates to commend their work. We believe our staff will be able to pick up useful and practical environmental practices and tips through their lessons learned. In essence, this is a cultural change programme attempting to promote a shift in behavioral management towards more environmentally sustainable work, and potential home, practices. They will take pride in a job well done and be able to enjoy a greener life.”
Staff gathered to celebrate the launch of the brand new Green PolyU Awards – Green Office programme
A Guidebook is already available to aid Green Officers, Office Management and staff members to proceed with each step of registration, baseline assessment, targets setting, measures and implementation tips. Ongoing support and resources are planned into the programme to help them complete their goals and maintain their performance. The Campus Sustainability Office will sample some of the participating offices for visit and audit to assess their performance as well. Phase Two of the programme is scheduled in early 2017 when all offices and units will assume full responsibilities to participate and together reduce their environmental footprint.
Needless to say, true sustainability happens when it is embedded into routine operations, daily businesses and more importantly, the mindset of everyone in our community. Bringing green practices into the workplace can require significant changes, yet it is worth doing so as we all have a role to play for a sustainable society and environment, for now and for the future.
Physical tags on the trees
“PolyU Tree Map” signage near the Stephen Cheong Kam Chuen Memorial Plaza
The Campus Sustainability Office has recently released an updated guideline on green practices in organizing as well as promoting campus events and activities. This guideline is developed and links to the goals and implementation of PolyU’s Energy and Greenhouse Gas, Green Procurement and Waste Management Policies as set out by the University. All event organizers of Faculties/Departments/Offices are encouraged to adopt these green practices. Some important principles include:
Lagerstroemia speciose (No. 18, 
Flower of Lagerstroemia Speciosa (Photo Source: 
Officiating guests kicked-off the Green PolyU Awards – Green Office prorgramme at the ceremony
Details of the Green Office programme were elaborated
UrbanFarming@Y6 – Phase 2 returns this summer
Participants were busily preparing their planter boxes
Mr Joseph Chan, Head, Campus Sustainability, introduced the Green Column at the podium of Core P
Participants derive enjoyment through upcycling plastic bottles into beautiful bracelets of their own
PolyU House of Innovation opens to public this summer
House of Innovation showcases PolyU’s research excellence
Green workshops were held in Tamar Park to encourage the public to lead a low-carbon life. (Image source: Environmental Campaign Committee at 
‘Green Run’ was held on World Environment Day 2016 to encourage ‘Go Green, Act Green’. (Image source: Hong Kong Green Day at 
