Buying Green Office Supplies

Where to go to keep your company in the green

By Frances Sharpe, freelance writer/editor

Conducting large-scale energy audits, purchasing energy-efficient equipment and building a green office facility from the ground up aren’t the only ways a business can make a difference in our environment. Every business, no matter how small, can do its part on a daily basis by purchasing environmentally responsible office supplies. Almost all of the supplies you and your employees use on a regular basis—copy paper, desktop organizers, day planners, file folders, printer cartridges, cleaning agents, mailing and packaging materials—are available in earth-friendly versions. Switching to green supplies can:

1. Improve your image as a socially conscious company.
2. Reduce costs.
3. Make your company more attractive to workers who care about the environment.

Desktop supplies

It's no surprise that recycled paper products are being used more commonly in the workplace. But virtually all the other products you might find on a typical office desk are also available in green versions, including pens, scissors, paper clips, push pins, binders and more.
Try: Green Earth Office Supply and DolphinBlue.com offer a vast array of desktop products made from recycled and recyclable materials. SustainableGroup.net specializes in recycled binders, portfolios and labels.

Recycling Bins

The average office worker uses approximately 10,000 sheets of paper each year, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. To keep all that paper from ending up in the nation's waste stream, purchase recycling bins and place them strategically throughout the office. Small bins at every workstation will make it easy for employees to recycle rather than trash paper and other items.
Try: Major office supply retailers, such as OfficeDepot.com, offer a variety of recycling bins that are appropriate for general office use. For industrial-strength bins or bins that will be used outdoors, visit RecyclingBin.com. Recy-CAL.com also offers a wide range of bins for office use.

Lightbulbs

Make the switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL). They use 2/3 less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer. Choose cooler colors for task lighting. Although suitable for general area lighting, such as in an office, CFLs may not be ideal for retail store display lighting, which usually requires stronger spot lighting.
Try: Bulbs.com stocks a wide range of CFLs.

Printer supplies

Each year, about 400 million inkjet cartridges are purchased and each year, more than 70 million pounds of these cartridges find their way into the nation's landfills. Reduce waste by choosing to buy remanufactured cartridges.
Try: Priceless-Inkjet.com offers remanufactured inkjet cartridges, along with laser toner cartridges and other printer supplies from major manufacturers, including Canon, HP and Lexmark.

Printed materials

When ordering printed materials, such as letterhead, remittance envelopes or business cards, choose printers who use environmentally responsible soy inks.
Try: DolphinBlue.com uses soy-based inks and recycled papers for its printing jobs and the finished materials look clean and bright. The company will also send you paper samples or a swatch book for a nominal fee.

Cleaning supplies

Tradition cleaning products can have harmful health effects, such as headaches, nausea, fatique and dry eyes. That's bad news for productivity and employee morale. Green cleaning products can improve indoor air quality, which reduces those risks.
Try: Stock up on green cleaning supplies at Seventh Generation, or hire a green cleaning service. You can find one at the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association.