Netherlands: “inspiration book” on everyday ecology on workplaces

The inspiration book (“inspiratieboek”) for “sustainable work” published by the FNV in mid-November is presented under the form of a small treaty on ecology at work. It is the result ff a pilot-project launched by the FNV in January 2009 which involved 15 businesses and organizations.  These include Tata Steel/Corus, the steel group, KLM/Air France, the airline, the DSM pharmaceutical and chemical group, the Dutch subsidiary of the Norwegian chemical group Yara Sluiskil, Sogeti, computing firm, Tijn Aramid, aramid fibers textile mill, the Stichting Kinderpostzegels Nederland children’s foundation, the Court of Rotterdam or even Rova NV, which collects and treats waste in 20 towns.  The book contains reflection tracks and practical ideas, such as systematizing ‘carpooling,’ sorting out waste, unplugging a pump during the weekend to save energy, or save heat from industrial waste.  The brochure aims to be a model across all sectors, with two questionnaires developed by the FNV and a protocol called “Werkplekcheck” (workplace check) allowing employees to quickly point possible energy savings in the company.  The FNV’s reasoning is simple: “Three in four Dutch people want to defend the environment while businesses are charged for 70% of national electricity consumption.”  Hence, the idea, rather consensual in the Netherlands, that it’s time to act.