Use Non-Toxic & Recycled Materials

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Affordability

Greener paper products and office supplies are ever more widely available, and the relative cost is decreasing. However, with consumer demand for sustainable products high, manufacturers may try to pass off inferior products as the best choice. Look for established eco-labels, clear information, and confirmation of value.

Cost savings

The primary cost reduction to be realized with office materials is through reduced consumption. Using less and creating a conservation ethic amongst employees can more than offset any monetary costs of going green. Increasingly, the cost of greener options is decreasing as increased demand leads to increased supply.

Environmental considerations

Manufacturing recycled paper produces 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution, as well as using 58% less water and 64% less energy than making paper from virgin wood pulp. Using 100% post-consumer recycled paper causes 100% less deforestation than using paper made from virgin pulp – resulting in 100% less wildlife habitat being destroyed. Using other recycled and remanufactured goods similarly helps save resources.

What you need to know

• Develop a sustainable purchasing policy for all products in your workplace. Consider issues related to both "green purchasing" and "social purchasing" – but develop your practices step by step, rather than being overwhelmed by all issues at once. Include your purchasing department in the policy development and make them part of an office green team.
• Ask your suppliers about their environmentally friendly options. If they don't offer any, consider switching. Consumer choices help drive market transformation toward the development and availability of better products. From major chains to specialty niche suppliers, there are now many office supply stores focusing on providing good environmental choices.
• Learn about, and look for, reputable eco-labels. While some producers have created their own labels, making quality difficult to determine, some labels are created by independent organizations. Third-party verified labels, such as Eco-Logo, are considered to be some of the most reliable.
• Eliminate toxics from the office wherever possible. These are bad for human health and can affect concentration and wellbeing in the workplace. If your company has a lawn or garden, or runs a kitchen or other built facility, go toxic-free. Replace chemical gardening products with natural alternatives, use natural cleaning products and choose equipment or furniture that will not release volatile organic compounds (VOC) (toxic off-gassing).
• Learn about sustainable paper options for both office use and printed projects:
  • Buy paper with the highest post-consumer content possible. Post-consumer fibre is from paper that has been collected back from consumers and recycled into new product. Buying "recycled" without ensuring a high level of "post-consumer content" simply means that leftovers at the mill were reused during production – it is not helping to reduce landfill or conserve forests. Look for 100% post-consumer content when possible to ensure no virgin fibre (additional trees) has been used.
  • Forest Stewarship Council (FSC) is a certification standard that ensures that fibre is sustainably harvested.
  • The process of bleaching paper with chlorine or chlorine compounds releases Persistent Organic Pollutants into the environment. These chemicals get into our food chain and pose health risks to humans and to ecosystems. Choose paper that is either unbleached, or bleached with oxygen-based chemicals.
  • Along with purchasing, work to reduce total paper usage in the office. Work to change habits and expectations. Does everyone need a printed agenda? Can one draft report be shared by several reviewers? Can on-line publishing replace hard copy? Print and copy on both sides of the paper at all times, and expand margins when possible to fit more text on one page.
  • When working with a designer, specify that your printed project must use environmentally friendly paper. Refer them to the many options for various styles and weights of paper now available.
  • Retail packaging is another great consumer of paper products. Encourage your customers to bring their own bags. For the packaging you do use, switch to bags and boxes made with a high percentage post consumer fibre, or if you must use specialty packaging, look to paper and plastic alternatives such as corn and bamboo.

FAQ

Is the quality of recycled paper equal to that of conventional virgin fibre paper?
There are many types and grades of paper to meet different needs. There are many recycled alternatives, but for some very specialized applications there may not be adequate options. If you're having a hard time finding a sustainable paper that suits your purpose, consider shifting your materials to a new look and feel that will accommodate recycled papers. Promote your new look as a step towards a higher level of environmental responsibility.

Aside from requiring fewer trees, are there other benefits to using recycled paper?
Beyond wood, recycled paper products can save on energy, greenhouse gases, water and solid waste when compared to paper made from virgin fibre. Use the Environmental Defense Fund’s paper calculator to find out how much of each of these resources your paper choices require.