Here at Sleeping Giant Media, we make it our business to be clean, green, and not at all mean to the planet. 

One of the ways we do this is through our ‘Green Squad.’ A Green Team, or Squad if you’re trendy like us, is a dedicated collection of individuals from all areas of the business who come together to drive the business towards an eco-friendly future.

We believe that every business needs its own Green Team — not only to Green spearhead its efforts to protect the environment but also because it’s really really cool. Read on to find out more about our Green Squad and the reasons why your business needs to get one started (like, right now!)

An eco-conscious office space

Having a team dedicated to making your company as green as it can works wonders for your workspace. From ethically sourcing materials to making recycling the norm, there are a whole host of things your Green Team can implement in the office.

Here are just a few of the Green things we have in Giant Towers, courtesy of our People Team and Green Squad:

• Recycling bins for paper, cans, plastic, and glass on every floor so it is no hassle to recycle.
• ‘Switch It Off!’ light switch reminders (everywhere) and timers on each power source to turn off when not in use.
• Exclusively recyclable materials from Muffle in our soundproofing on the 8th-floor focus space.
• A constant supply of vegan alternatives at all our social events.
• Cork coasters, because who needs plastic?
• A push towards powerlessness and (subsequently) a very inactive printer.  
• Shelves full of reusable branded cups and tote bags to reduce single-use plastics.
• Biodegradable wipes to keep our surfaces and consciences clean during the pandemic.
• Tissues made sustainably from CheekyPanda X Who Gives a Crap?
• Refillable dish and hand soaps from companies like Method along with eco-friendly dish scourers.
• Milk alternatives (oat milk) ordered from carbon neutral company, Minor Figures.

Though, in isolation, these changes seem small, when combined and maintained by a group of committed individuals, it becomes easy for your workspace to be greener.

Corporate responsibility 

As a public player in your local community, your business has a commitment to the environment. Your company has a responsibility to play its part in the fight against climate change. And, as of 2022, this responsibility may well be legally upheld.

In September of 2021, the UK government rolled out its ‘Green Claims Code’ to crack down on companies that misleadingly ‘Greenwashed’ their products and services without actually being environmentally friendly at all. 

Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive of the CMA, said, “More people than ever are considering the environmental impact of a product before parting with their hard-earned money. We’re concerned that too many businesses are falsely taking credit for being green, while genuinely eco-friendly firms don’t get the recognition they deserve.”

With an active and visible Green Team, it has never been easier for your business to contribute to a greener future and authentically brand yourself as an eco-friendly business.

Focused change 

Having a specialised, core unit in the business dedicated to environmental issues is a surefire way to catalyse change.  Often, with environmental action, it takes the efforts of a small group to inspire the masses to make changes — and your Green Team can do just that. 

Your Green Team can act as a funnel of information, attending events and feeding back or disseminating research and resources to the rest of the workforce, making action easier. 

As Liz puts it, “Being more green can feel overwhelming a lot of the time, with so much information and do’s/don’ts and, honestly, judgement being thrown around. I like the idea that the squad can help simplify things for people and make it feel accessible.”

Here’s some action that our Green Squad has recently inspired:

• Attended local forums like the Kent Plan Bee Summit to align our efforts with those of local initiatives.
• Created informational content about the climate emergency to circulate to fellow GIANTS.
• Conducted research into working from home to better inform our current practices. 
• A few of our members became activists for sustainability over the festive period in the ‘Green Christmas’ campaign.

Company Image

Though not the main motive for assembling a team of Green avengers, the image of the company is strongly affected by the activism of its employees.

According to recent research by Smart Pension, consumers are now up to 58% more likely to purchase from a business if the business is seen to care about the environment. What’s more, studies also show that customers are willing to pay up to 20% more for environmentally-considerate products and services. 

So, it really does pay, then, to be seen making strides towards a more environmentally-conscious future — and what better way to do it than with a visible, active team producing measurable results. 

Here at Sleeping Giant Media, our Green Squad play to their strengths. So, while commercial manager, Shaun, delivers outreach talks in the community, Liz and Kitty from content write shareable, informational blogs. 

Here are just a few things we’ve been doing recently to enhance our greenness as a business:

• Sourcing our snacks and drinks from local businesses like Kendrew Coffee instead of large multinationals. 
• Participating in organised litter picks along our local beaches and roadsides.
• Giving educational talks at local climate events like the Zero Carbon Tour.
• Encouraging our GIANTS to try out a vegan option or two! From always providing a plant-based dish at our company events to running a vegan cook-along in Purple Week, we aim to raise veganism as a viable option whenever we can! If you’re thinking about trying out some vegan snacks, read our latest blog, ‘4 Festive Vegan Recipes You Should Try’.
  

Strengthen business bonds

A happy accident of forming a Green Team is the sense of community it brings. Since individuals from all parts of the business can join, the Green Squad has occasioned a series of unlikely friendships and has encouraged people with different specialisms to work together. 

Our Green Squad, for example, includes passionate individuals from all over the business, right from newly-recruited executives to the CEO!