CREATING AN ENVIRIONMENTAL OFFICE

BANK DEPOSIT BAGS

Purchasing

? Look for cloth or synthetic bags that can be reused multiple times.

BINDERS

? Choose products made from recycled content.

? Choose pressboard (cardboard) binders instead of plastic.

? Look for uncoated binders; they are easier to recycle.

COMPUTER ACCESSORIES

Purchasing

? Purchase used disks that have been disinfected and reformatted.

Disposal/Donating

? Return your disks to an organization that will reformat and resell them.

DESK ACCESSORIES

? Look for products made from recycled materials, such as file folders, note and legal pads, business cards, clipboards and bulletin boards.

? Choose non-toxic products, such as correction fluid.

? Avoid unnecessary packaging.

? Buy in bulk.

? If you are working on location, donate surplus supplies to other offices.

ENVELOPES

Purchasing

? Choose windowless envelopes where possible. Otherwise, choose envelopes with glassine windows, and make sure to store them for short periods; glassine will pucker over time.

? Purchase envelopes with water-based adhesives.

? Try two-way envelopes.

Using

? Reuse old envelopes by covering the former label with a new one.

? Print directly on envelopes to eliminate use of non-recyclable labels.

FURNITURE

? Avoid tropical hardwoods that have not been sustainably harvested.

? Choose sustainably harvested lumber.

? Look for bargains at second-hand stores.

Disposal/Donating

? Sell to second-hand stores.

? Donate to local schools or community groups.

INKS

Purchasing

? Choose soy-or vegetable-based inks.

? Purchase inks with less than 5% volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

? Look for heavy metal-free inks.

LABELS

? Look for labels with water-based adhesives.

? Purchase labels made with recycled fiber.

MAILINGS

? Purge mailing lists to reduce returned mail, and keep them updated by requesting address corrections on your mailings.

? Send a postcard (made of recycled paper) and save an envelope.

OFFICE EQUIPMENT

Purchasing

? Buy or rent Energy Star machines.

? Look for energy saver or auto-off modes.

? Turn off when not in use.

? Activate power management features.

? Use recycled paper.

? Use E-mail to exchange draft documents and inter-office memos.

? Donate used equipment to schools and non-profits.

COMPUTERS & PRINTERS

? Purchase upgradable CPUs.

? Request filters that reduce the amount of ozone emitted.

? Buy monitors only as large as you need.

? Buy laptops if possible.

Using

? Print double-sided if you have the capacity.

? Don’t print start-up or name pages.

Disposing/Donating

? National Cristina Foundation 800/274-7846

? Detwiler Foundation

? Ask your dealer if they will take back and recycle rechargeable computer batteries when they no longer hold a charge.

COPIERS

Purchasing

? Look for duplexing machines.

? Buy a copier only as fast as you need.

? Photocopy documents on both sides of the page.

FAX MACHINES

? Purchase plain paper fax machines.

? Buy fax modems for employees.

Using

? Use fax cover transmission sheets only when necessary.

PAPER

Purchasing

? Choose products made from recycled materials, especially those with high post-consumer content (minimum 20% pcm for office paper and 10% pcm for coated paper).

? Look for totally chlorine free (TCF) paper, or if it & #353;s not available look for elemental chlorine free (ECF) paper.

? Investigate alternative fibers (such as kenaf and hemp).

? Purchase reusable alternatives to paper wherever possible (e.g., cloth envelopes, plastic folders) to extend product life.

? Test paper for performance in office machines. Using

? Decrease paper use by establishing a central filing system to store documents on disk.

? Use smaller typeface, margins, single spacing and rigorous editing to keep documents small.

? Edit documents thoroughly on computer before printing.

? Use the back side of waste paper to print rough drafts or for scratch paper.

? Reuse obsolete forms and stationery for drafts and memo pads.

? Order outside print jobs on recycled paper and double-sided.

? Print invoices double-sided.

? Use electronic mail to send and receive memos and documents.

? Route documents and publications instead of making a copy for everyone.

? Use fax transmission stickers instead of a fax cover sheet.

? Reduce or eliminate the use of colored paper.

? Cancel unnecessary magazine and journal subscriptions.

? If you receive single-sided documents that could be sent two-sided, inform the originating party.

Disposal/Donating

? Shred for use in packing.

? Have local copy shop cut and bind for use as scratch pads.

? Set up recycling bins.

PAYROLL SERVICE/PAYCHECKS

? Ask for cast & crew checks to be generated on recycled paper.

TISSUE PRODUCTS

Purchasing

? Purchase tissue products made of recycled materials, including at least 10% post-consumer materials in tissue and 40% pcm in towels and napkins.

? Look for unbleached products.

? Choose products without added dyes, inks or fragrances.

TONER CARTRIDGES

? Buy remanufactured toner cartridges.

? Work with a vendor who will pick-up cartridges and remanufacture them.

? Request that vendors send aluminum, polystyrene and cardboard to appropriate recycling facilities.

GENERAL TIPS

Buy your office supplies in bulk (combine orders with other departments if needed), and avoid unnecessary packaging.

Recycle your trades and magazines, or donate magazines to the community (schools, libraries).

Use the contract process to contract for printing and graphics services that use recycled and reduced-toxicity products.