Office Products Clean Up

While much of the current discussions about how to enhance sustainability center on transportation and home energy efficiency, let us not forget the importance of reducing the impact of the 8+ hours a day most of us spend toiling each day. Office products companies are stepping up to become more environmentally friendly with their consumption of resources.

Of the top 10 retailers recognized by the EPA for using green energy, three (Office Depot, Staples and FedEx Kinko's) are office supply companies. Office Depot purchased 12 percent of its electricity (76 million kilowatt-hours) from renewable resources through renewable energy certificates from Cadence Network, one of several companies that act as a broker to connect companies with verifiable clean energy sources.

Office Depot also posted a helpful list of 20 things individuals can do to green your office.

Hewlett-Packard has made changes to its ink and toner packaging that will save an estimated 37 million pounds of CO2 emissions in 2007. The company has increased the recyclability of the cartridges and is cutting the amount of plastics and other materials used in packaging and cartridges by 15 million pounds. HP estimates that the lighter weight and smaller materials translates to 1.5 million road miles saved.

The paperless office will always be a myth, but we can all save money and the air by recycling more and buying from companies that are implementing sustainable practices.