AT THE Panasonic Asia Pacific office here, a group of environment auditors cry foul when they see employees being wasteful with energy and resources.

Employee Peter Thang, 38, for example, was slapped with a yellow card for not recycling his work documents.

Repeat offenders are shown a red card and need to attend a tea session with the company's upper management to account for their behaviour.

Since last October, these auditors have been conducting such monthly checks to ensure that employees are recycling paper waste, and switching off their computers and lights before heading home.

About 15 of the company's 400 employees have received yellow cards but there have been no repeat offenders. 'I'm more conscious now. I'm often the last to leave the office and I make sure that I switch off the lights before I go,' said Mr Thang.

This campaign is one of the initiatives taken on by Panasonic to encourage its staff members to go green in the office.

In April, the National Environment Agency introduced the 10% Energy Challenge, a nationwide campaign where households which cut their energy consumption by 10 per cent between May and August can take part in a lucky draw and stand to win attractive prizes.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.