Released on: February 18, 2008, 2:23 am

Press Release Author: VA flex

Industry: Small Business

Press Release Summary: Many small business owners and entrepreneurs are wondering
what they can do to address their environmental concerns. Cutting back on
traditional staffing and turning instead to Virtual Assistance reduces the impact
small businesses have on the environment.

Press Release Body: Port Adelaide, SA - 18 February 2008

Many small business owners and entrepreneurs are wondering what they can do to
address their environmental concerns. Cutting back on traditional staffing and
turning instead to Virtual Assistance reduces the impact small businesses have on
the environment.

After working in office administration for over ten years, Levi J. Scarman, owner of
Port Adelaide area Virtual Assistance business VA flex, took on the mantra, "Reduce.
Reuse. Recycle.," and decided to go into business to help streamline office
administration for other small business owners and entrepreneurs, while making a
positive impact on the environment.

\"It\'s vital that I do what I can to preserve the environment for my future children.
I want them to have the chance to see the Port River dolphins and want them to know
that I did what I could to help protect the world around us. A big part of my
decision to work remotely as a Virtual Assistant involved choosing an industry that
fits with my personal ethics. The fact that I can have a direct positive impact in
regards to the future of the environment was a huge influence in choosing to enter
the Virtual Assistance industry,\" Scarman states.

He adds, \"My office is set up to minimise its carbon footprint. I do as much as I
can to reduce my impact on our environment by reusing products, using recycled
materials where possible and participating in local recycling programs, and
particularly by working electronically as much as I can. Any emissions I can\'t
eliminate I am offsetting through Climate Friendly, which invests in renewable
energy projects.\"

Working remotely, typically from home offices, Virtual Assistants are able to reduce
their environmental impact through less travel, smaller offices and less paper
waste. Scarman says it is important to him to be mindful about how he works, how it
affects the environment, and continually educates himself about his impact on the
environment.

\"I utilise natural light, and at times when artificial light is necessary I use
energy efficient lighting. I use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which the
Australian Greenhouse Office says reduce up to 75% of greenhouse gas emissions and
running costs. I participate in Lights Off Australia and Earth Hour to help educate
my clients, and I try to use the least amount of electricity as possible,\" Scarman
says.

\"Having worked in traditional settings, I\'ve seen how much waste offices can
produce, particularly with paper. A lot of people think it\'s beyond their control,
but it can be as simple as switching to recycled paper and saving 13 trees for every
tonne of paper you use,\" he adds.

Working with a Virtual Assistant instead of using a traditional in-house employee
gives small business owners and entrepreneurs the opportunity to contribute
positively to the future of the environment. Virtual Assistants use one, usually
smaller, office to support a number of businesses rather than one larger office for
each business, and they use much less paper by working electronically.

Fuel for private transport is the biggest generator of greenhouse gases for most
Australian households (Australian Greenhouse Office, 2007), and working from a home
office enables Virtual Assistants industry to have a substantial positive impact on
travel. By eliminating almost all work-related travel, Virtual Assistants can
substantially decrease the six tonnes of transport-related greenhouse gas produced
by the average Australian household each year.

Virtual Assistance is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to hiring
traditional employees as a way for small business owners and entrepreneurs to save
themselves time, money and office space. Virtual Assistants provide administrative,
creative and technical services as independent contractors from their own office
space.

Levi J. Scarman is a Virtual Assistant based in the Port Adelaide area, SA,
Australia, who works globally and specialises in designing marketing materials and
graphics for small business, as well as writing and editing services. His business
website is http://www.vaflex.com


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Web Site: http://www.vaflex.com

Contact Details: For more information contact:
Levi J. Scarman
Owner/Virtual Assistant
VA flex
P.O. Box 3489
Port Adelaide, SA, 5015, Australia

Phone: +61 408 488 930
Fax: +61 8 8121 8501
Email: levi@vaflex.com
Web: www.vaflex.com