Environmental Policy

     thesecondopinion incorporates sustainability into our core business operations through internal and external efforts. Specifically, we shall adopt the following policies and practices:

1. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
2. Purchase environmentally preferable products
3. Conserve energy, water and natural resources
4. Practice green business policies on checklist

Employee Education:

thesecondopinion educates employees on resource consvervation and pollution prevention by-

• Hosting only zero waste events i.e. ensuring that no waste is generated during company picnics, meetings.
• Informing employees of environmental issues in company newsletters, training material and staff meeting discussions

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle:

thesecondopinion reduces waste at the source by-

• printing double sided when possible, buying in bulk, and eliminating disposable products such as dishes and single serve water bottles
• Reusing equipment such as desks, lamps, furniture, or donate usable items to charities
• Strive to reach Zero Waste by recycling all resources such as paper, plastics, cardboard, glass, and aluminum AND composting all food and plant discards.

Toxics Reduction:

     thesecondopinion reduces use of toxic materials to protect employee health and the environment by-

• Only purchasing low toxic janitorial cleaning products accepted on S Fapproved, Green Seal or have an 8.1 rating or above on Good Guide.
• Batteries – Purchasing rechargeable hybrid batteries.
• Lamps – Purchasing T8’s or T5’s, low mercury fluorescent lamps, CFLs, LEDs and/or low wattage halogen lights.
• Disposing of all toxic products safely such as old paints or non-approved cleaning products and recycle CFL’s, fluorescent tubes, and batteries.
• Avoids purchasing toxic substances and any aerosol cans.

  Environmentally Preferable Purchasing:

  thesecondopinion purchases/uses-

  • Remanufactured toner cartridges
  • Chlorine-free office and computer paper, business cards, marketing materials, collateral, etc. with minimum of 50% post-consumer recycled content
  • Chlorine-free janitorial papers (toilet paper, facial tissues, napkins with minimum 20% PCW, paper towels minimum 40% PCW)
  • Promotional materials with soy or low-VOC inks
  • Energy Star rated refrigerators, appliances and office equipment
  • EPEAT certified computers, laptops, and monitors (http://epeat.net/)
  • The most water efficient toilets, urinals, showerheads and faucet aerators
  • The most environmentally friendly vehicles
    

    Conserve:

    thesecondopinion conserves fossil fuels by-

  • Promoting the use of public transit and commuter alternatives
  • Offering telecommuting options
  • Participating in spare the air campaigns and emergency ride home
  • Using energy-conserving hardware programs and unplugging equipment
  • Reusing and refusing packaging materials
  • Emphasizing repurposing of items in lieu of purchasing new items