Switch Hack

Just in case you hadn’t noticed the latest corporate fashion is the environment.

I was recently asked to approve the company’s (The Listening Company’s) corporate environmental policy.

This got me thinking.

There are construction companies, mining companies, logging companies and automotive companies. Even with the very best intentions these organisations cannot help but have a negative impact on the environment.

I understand why companies like these want to make reassuring sounds to make consumers feel better about consuming. But, the awful truth is that the only way we can make a long-standing positive difference to the environment is by consuming less.

This flies in the face of commerce which is all about selling more stuff to more people.

The Listening Company exists by simple virtue of its ability to reduce the amount of human and mechanical exertion required to perform routine and complex commercial transactions for other businesses.

So, I would argue that by their very nature call centres reduce the impact business makes on the environment.

However, call centres employ a lot of people and tend to be in out of town locations. This can mean lots of travelling for lots of people!

It makes sense to me that call centres should be located in popular conurbations to reduce the need for commuting. The Listening Company is based in Richmond in Surrey and Portsmouth in Hampshire. We are never more than 200 yards from a Tube or Bus station so it’s easy for staff to get to us using public transport. What’s more - our bike racks are stacked and our car parks are tiny!

I’ve been thinking about the power thing which is more difficult because as we expand our business we will invariably be using more power – although that should mean more efficiency for another organisation.

We’ll try a few initiatives

Lights out until they are needed
Company flask service
Recyclable waste collection
Etc etc

I’ll report back…