O2 takes environmental action, launching GO2GREEN

As waste generation has continued to escalate due to the kingdom rapid growth and urbanization, O2 has taken a different approach when it comes to recycling and has designed and created two fresh and fun paper recycling boxes 'GO2Green' for its offices in the region including Bahrain, to help reduce waste generated in its offices.

With the average daily web user printing an estimated 28 pages per day, Mr. Johmani, O2's MD, launched the paper recycling initiative to create environmental awareness amongst employees.

With one of the highest carbon footprints in the world, the recycling initiative is just one of many environmental initiatives O2 plans to implement over the next few years as part of its CSR program.

"Since 2005, when I established O2, my vision for the company has remained the same, said Mr. Mohammed Johmani, O2 Managing Director, to become a global player in the marketing communications industry and to ensure that O2 is socially responsible and adheres to international standards."

To-date, O2 already has offices in Bahrain and Dubai, , another branch in Abu Dhabi that will be opening soon and branches are planned for Sydney and India, as per the O2 vision.

"Mr. Johmani's enthusiasm and vision for environmental initiatives have been welcomed by employees who have joined him in brain storming sessions to generate new and innovative ideas to further enhance waste reduction in the offices. The latest paper saving initiative by O2PR to send media clippings to clients online rather has cut paper consumption by half. "Prior to the recycling boxes we rarely thought about all the paper we were consuming,"

said Aleema Kashwaha, PR Executive in O2 Bahrain.

By nurturing sustainable development and encouraging environmental initiatives from the top-down, O2 has established itself as a creative yet social responsible marketing communications agency.

"The paper recycling boxes are not only ideally situated but also stylish," said O2's Art Director in Bahrain, Gordon Lesage-Brown.

"Before the recycling boxes, it was too easy to just throw paper away, now there is no excuse for people not to recycle in the office," he added.

Prior to the paper recycling campaign, O2 launched O2MC online in 2007, an online hassle free environmentally friendly service that facilitates communication between the clients and O2.

Instead of receiving a printed document with updates, clients can access their account with all their data online and receive email alerts when new media clippings are added.

The recycling paper initiative is the first of what O2 hopes will expand into can recycling and plastic recycling. It is hoped that the new paper recycling program will help employees not only to recycle but to think about what they are throwing away.