Columbus Bar Goes Green

~by Rob Meyer, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur

Last summer, a "Green Initiative" group of Columbus Bar members was formed at the request of Alex Lagusch and then-President Kathleen Trafford. The purpose of the Initiative was to assess ways the Columbus Bar, as the representative of the Central Ohio legal community, could become more sustainable in the ways it conducts its day-to-day business, as well as ways the Bar could become a resource to lawyers, law firms and other legal organizations in the area of green business practices.

When the CBA Green Initiative group came together last August, one of the goals that was embraced was participation by the Columbus Bar offices in the City's GreenSpot program. The GreenSpot program (www.columbusgreenspot.org) recognizes businesses that make specific commitments to operate in a more sustainable way. GreeenSpot participation would, the Group felt, permit the Columbus Bar to lead the legal community it serves by example.

As with other organizations, the Columbus Bar found obstacles in trying to meet the requisite commitments. A particular challenge was in the area of recycling, as the Columbus Bar (like many of the firms it represents) is a tenant in a larger building, and recycling capability depends on the receptivity of the landlord.

As a result of persistent efforts by the Columbus Bar staff, led initially by Donna Sweet and completed by Paula Coulter, the recycling obstacle was recently cleared (for the entire building, due in no small measure to the issue being pressed by Donna Sweet), and the Columbus Bar's offices became a GreenSpot at the beginning of June!

For information about how your office can become more sustainable, check out Lawline.com's "Go Green" blog series.