[Sender’s information]

The Hon. Sylvain Richards JP, MP
The Ministry of Environment and Planning
Dame Lois Browne-Evans Bldg., 5th Floor
58 Court Street
Hamilton HM 12

[Date]

<p style="text-align: left;" data-mce-style="text-align: left;">Dear Sir</p><p style="text-align: left;" data-mce-style="text-align: left;"><br /><strong>Re Plastic Bag usage in Bermuda and suggested legislation</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;" data-mce-style="text-align: left;"><br />I write in support of the environmental campaign aimed at reducing the number of plastic and paper  bags (specifically single-use bags) used in Bermuda. The scale of the environmental damage caused by both paper and plastic bags is devastating and consumer habits must be changed.</p><p style="text-align: left;" data-mce-style="text-align: left;">The average use of plastic and paper bags following a purchase is between 10-15 minutes. Plastic, and more specifically polyethylene, take generations to decompose or does not decompose at all. Time to decomposition hardly matters in Bermuda where we incinerate all plastics, a more toxic process and arguably a better reason to legislate against prolific use.</p><p style="text-align: left;" data-mce-style="text-align: left;"><br />Plastic is not only bad for the environment, but bad for humans too. According to the New York Times, chemicals from plastics have been found in human tissue, blood and urine, and exposure may be significantly higher than was previously thought. Plastics also contain endocrine disrupters, which when ingested, can cause significant health related issues.</p><p style="text-align: left;" data-mce-style="text-align: left;"><br />On this basis, I wholly endorse legislation or policy change that aims to curb single-use plastic and paper bags. By imposing a tariff on consumers, grocers, retailers, a combination thereof, or by banning altogether, Bermuda can avert further environmental depreciation. The list of countries which have successfully implemented legislation reducing plastic and paper bag use are growing. Many countries have successfully implemented such legislation, including the US, China, India, South Africa, <br />Italy, France and Germany.</p><p style="text-align: left;" data-mce-style="text-align: left;">Thank you very much for considering the above, and I implore you to take every possible measure to set Bermuda on a better environmental course for the future – one with fewer or without plastic and paper single use bags.</p>

Sincerely,
[Name]

NB: The rules and guidelines below apply to all award categories EXCEPT the Green Champion Award.

Submissions must be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as attachment(s) by 15 December. Please include the words 'GWA Submission' in the email subject line, and attach performance data and any other information available to support your submission. 

Greenrock suggest entrants cover the following topics in their submission, but these are offered as guidelines only. We recognize that each workplace is different.

1. Environmental Impact
2. Green Policies
3. Office Initiatives
4. Green Challenge

Please note: judges will contact you for any follow-up questions, clarifications and/or to request a site visit.

1. Environmental Impact – quantified as far as possible for the performance period

 It is recommended that you submit the following metrics for the selected month (consider calculating on a per person basis):

• Electricity usage

• Trash generated (both recyclables and other waste)

• Water usage

• Paper and other consumables

There may be other metrics you wish to consider, such as fuel usage.

Note: Submissions could include descriptions of how your workplace has made efforts to reduce consumption in any of these areas. If it is possible to show a reduction compared with another month (e.g. same month last year, or another month this year) this is likely to be considered favourably by the judges. Similarly, efforts to quantify consumption (e.g. trash audit, percentage of employees carpooling, telecommuting hours) will be applauded.

2. Green Policies adopted and practiced by the company

Examples include:

• Green Cleaning

• Green purchasing

• Indoor Air Quality/Healthy Workplace

Evidence will need to be included that the policies are being practiced. Judging may include spot checks!

3. Office Initiatives

Examples include:

• Innovation in workplace design or employee practices

• Education within the company or in the community

• Community service related to the environment

4. Green Challenge

If your place of business has not yet tackled or addressed green/sustainability issues, consider adopting a challenge for the performance period in October or November and provide the results (i.e. as referenced in Criteria 1, aiming to demonstrate a reduction pre and post-challenge).

Ideas for this topic include:

• Removing all plastic/paper  kitchen items and use china/reusable alternatives (estimate how much trash is reduced and cost savings)

• Promoting central recycling bins for disposal; removing trash bins at staff’s desks

• Remove all plastic, single-use bottled water from the workplace premises (encourage use of reusable drinking bottles)

• Reduce printing of paper

• Conduct a trash audit and compost food scraps (donate to farm or garden)

If you would like more ideas on how to make your workplace more environmentally friendly, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Green Champion category of the Green Workplace Awards is designed to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding effort to reduce the environmental impact of their organisation even if their efforts have not met with great success.

Any business or individual can nominate a Green Champion.

Please send nominations by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with subject 'Green Champion Nomination'. The email body should include the nominee's name, where they work and a description/write-up of their efforts and contribution (i.e. no more than 500 words).

The deadline for nominations is 15 December.

Nominations will be reviewed by the judging panel.

Green Workplace Award winners will be announced in January, and prizes awarded during Greenrock's annual Earth Hour event in March.