The office setting is one of the great places for energy consumption. Many companies do not take the time to scrutinize their energy expenditure. Offices everywhere are throwing away vast quantities of material that will end up in a landfill. Much of this material could be recycled, but some things, Styrofoam for instance, do not break down over time and leave a permanent mark on our planet and wildlife. Making a few simple changes in the office can greatly decrease the carbon footprint of a company and go a long way toward sustainability.
Choose Long Wearing Products
Choosing a product that has a greater lifespan will save money and prevent unnecessary waste. Opt for long lasting pens, highlighters and markers. Look for reusable products and items that can be refilled, instead of discarded. Refills in toner and ink cartridges are often available at a discount from the manufacturer.
Biodegradable Options
Carefully inspect every aspect of the office and decide what gets discarded the most. These items can probably be substituted for inexpensive, biodegradable versions. Many manufacturers are now offering biodegradable office supplies. Replacing all break room paper plates, cups and utensils with its biodegradable counterpart will significantly increase the eco friendliness of an office. Biodegradable utensils and plates replace the harmful plastic with a plant based renewable resource. It is estimated that it takes Styrofoam over one million years to decompose. Removing Styrofoam products from the office is an essential step to going green. The most common source of office Styrofoam is coffee cups and packing materials. Both these products are available in a biodegradable form that once discarded, breaks down in a matter of weeks.
Curb Electric Use
When possible, choose manual and solar powered office supplies over those that use electricity or batteries. Solar powered calculators, lights and fans largely cut energy costs and consumption. Hand powered shredders and pencil sharpeners utilize old-fashioned muscle strength and save on electricity.
Go Paperless
Offices generally use and discard hundreds of pounds of paper per year. Investing in a scanner and data storage software can save thousands of dollars, allow a more customer friendly experience and eliminate several hundred pounds of waste from the landfill. Whatever additional paper is used can be recycled.
Opt for Post-Consumer Recycled Products
Many eco-friendly office products are available that are made of post-consumer recycled content. These can include paper, tissue, paper towels, binders and trash cans. Buying plastic products made out of post-consumer recycled materials is a great way to prevent harmful chemicals from being introduced into the atmosphere. Trashcans that are lined with biodegradable bags quickly break down in the landfill. Recycling bins are also available to place alongside trashcans.
Buying eco-friendly office supplies online is easy and decreases carbon footprint. A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that shopping online reduces carbon emissions by 35 %. Find a variety of high quality eco-friendly office supplies including biodegradable and recycled products at http://www.officesalesusa.com.
Author Resource:
OfficeSalesUSA.com is a service of Haskell New York Inc. (established in 1928). Haskell serves customer nationally and offers affordable office furniture and biodegradable office supplies for businesses throughout the country and around the word. Haskell New York Inc. is also an authorized GSA dealer for the federal government and participates in the AbilityOne program for Americans with disabilities.
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