Green Office at FAS
Using green office supplies is an easy way to reduce the impact that our university has on the environment. Staff, students, and faculty consume tons of paper and other office supplies each year. Purchasing and using green office supplies helps to save natural resources, reduces waste, and helps to reduce the release of potentially dangerous chemicals into the environment.
What to look for when ordering office supplies?
- Office supplies are often made with recycled materials. A good example of this is recycled-content paper for copiers and printers.
Always try to use paper products with "post-consumer" recycled-content. Post-consumer means that it was made from materials collected in recycling bins like the ones in your building, and not just from material that was left over from a different industrial process.
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Green office supplies are often available in refillable or reusable forms.
Use a pen that allows you to replace the ink tube instead of going through dozens of disposable pens can keep a tremendous amount of plastic out of landfills.
- Green office supplies are often produced using fewer chemicals or are designed to emit fewer chemicals during use.
Buy envelopes that are made without the use of chlorine to prevent the creation of extremely dangerous chemical compounds like dioxins and other organochlorines that are often generated during the production of some envelopes and other office products.
Where can I buy green office supplies?
OfficeMax offers a wide variety of green office supplies. There are many green products that are affordably priced and perform just as well as more environmentally damaging products. Buying the slightly more expensive green office supplies in bulk is a good way to reduce cost while still helping the environment. Their 30% recycled copy paper is priced the same as virgin paper!