Your Green Office: 7 Simple Secrets to a Green Workplace

Greening your office can be easy! Many of the materials that are used every day can be replaced with an environmentally friendly alternative. Even better, these alternatives are easy to find in retail stores and are competitively priced. By using these seven simple tips, you can drastically reduce the negative environmental impact of your office!

1. Stickers

If something breaks in the office, do your best to fix it instead of throwing it away. But when doing repairs it’s important to consider the effect the adhesive has on the environment. The tapes are made from a sticky substrate on top of some other material, not recycled content. Glues often contain substances that are harmful to the environment, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air pollution.

When choosing a tape, it’s best to buy a cellulose-based tape. These are made from plant fibers, a renewable source, and biodegrade easily. Try to avoid duct tape, which is petrochemical based. When it comes to glues, white glue is the best. Super glue and rubber cement can be very dangerous as they both have high levels of VOCs.

2. Batteries

Every year 15 billion batteries are sold in the United States, and each one leaves its mark. Drums release toxic heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, through incineration or landfill filtration. The good news is that mercury levels are 98% lower in batteries than they were in the 1980s. The bad news is that demand for batteries will continue to rise as portable electronic devices proliferate.

Ideally, solar powered electronics should be used where available. However, if batteries are required, rechargeable batteries are best. Avoid conventional disposables that can only be used once and contain dangerous substances. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are rechargeable and recyclable, contain no toxic heavy metals, have a strong charge and can be recharged longer than their counterparts. Nickel cadmium and alkaline batteries are rechargeable, but they do contain some toxic heavy metals.

3. Cleaning supplies

Keeping your office clean requires daily effort and numerous supplies. Many cleaning supplies, however, contain harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to humans and the air. A study conducted by the EPA revealed that cleaning products could contribute to indoor air pollution levels up to 200 times higher than those normally found outdoors. Additional concerns arise when cleaning products are disposed of. Many products are not biodegradable and persist in the environment for long periods of time, often creating problems in aquatic habitats.

To keep your office clean while reducing negative effects on the environment, be sure to look for certain features when shopping for cleaning products. Products must be biodegradable and non-toxic. They must not contain EDTA, NTA (both suspected carcinogens), phosphates (responsible for algae blooms that are harmful to aquatic environments), and chlorine bleach. Try to buy cleaners that are plant-based and have a low VOC content (less than 10%).

Also, cleaners purchased in concentrated form reduce packaging. Other clean, green ideas include diluting cleaners in cold water to lower the energy use associated with heating the water, and using reusable cotton rags instead of paper towels. Always remember to use all cleansers sparingly, a little goes a long way.

4. Ink and toner

Petroleum-based ink, the most widely used ink in the United States, attracts people due to its quick-drying advantage. However, nearly 40% is made up of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be harmful to soil and groundwater and contribute to air pollution and global warming. Conventional printer cartridges are also harmonizing the environment. They are made from virgin materials that deplete the Earth’s natural resources, and after use, the materials are discarded and added to the waste stream.

The best way to conserve the environment is to reduce ink usage by reducing unnecessary print volume. You can also change your printer settings to the low ink option (often called the “Draft” option). Fortunately, there are also some eco-friendly alternatives to conventional and ink cartridges. Xerox has developed solid ink technology that is made from natural materials and leaves no residual liner to dispose of when the ink runs out. When shopping for printer cartridges, look for those that have recycled content or have been remanufactured. Refill cartridges on site, if possible.

5. Lighting

Lighting accounts for 29% of the energy used in an office, according to a 1995 Department of Energy study. Fortunately, lighting is one of the easiest areas to reduce energy use in your office. Conventional light bulbs only convert about 10% of the energy they use into actual light, while the rest escapes as unwanted heat. These traditional bulbs also have a much shorter lifespan than other options.

When shopping for light bulbs, the best options are compact fluorescent (CFL), T-5 fluorescent, and LED light bulbs. If every household were to replace a single traditional light bulb with one of these energy efficient bulbs, the energy savings would be equivalent to taking a million cars off the road. In addition to avoiding incandescent lighting, consider installing motion sensors on lights in less frequently used areas and opening shades during the day to let in natural light.

6. Paper

Virgin forests are rapidly disappearing and the use of non-recycled paper encourages further cutting of this precious resource. Deforestation eliminates the habitats of thousands of animals and plants around the world and worsens the effects of global warming. Aside from cutting down trees to make paper, paper production itself distributes large amounts of pollutants into the environment. Each ton of paper that is not recycled generates the use of 17 trees, 42,000 kWh of energy, 26,000 liters of water and releases 27 kg of pollutants into the air.

To protect our forests, it’s important to buy paper made with recycled content. Post-consumer recycled content is better because it doesn’t rely on freshly cut trees. Another option, although not as good, is post-industrial recycled content (sometimes labeled as recycled content). This paper is made from material left over from manufacturing that has been diverted from the waste stream. Also look for paper that has been processed without using chlorine.

There are currently three options for chlorine-conscious paper: Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF), made from non-recycled pulp that contains minimal chlorine derivatives; Totally Chlorine Free (TCF), virgin pulp that does not contain chlorine; and Processed Chlorine Free (PCF), paper made from recycled pulp that may contain trace amounts of chlorine, but is processed without additional chlorine.

It’s always ideal to completely reduce your office’s paper consumption by using both sides of the paper, reducing unnecessary printing, sharing copies of reports and circulating electronic documents.

7.Technology

Electronics can harm the environment by consuming energy and resources, creating waste, and producing pollutants. In the year 2000, electronics accounted for 3.86 billion pounds of municipal waste, adding toxic heavy metals and harmful organic compounds to overflowing landfills. The manufacture of electronic products also uses a large amount of energy and resources.

Office buildings currently consume 25% of the total commercial building electricity used in the United States. Recently, the Energy Star program has focused on creating more energy efficient products that can be used to reduce excessive energy use. An Energy Star certified office computer is 52% more efficient than a standard computer. Purchasing Energy Star certified electronics will ensure more efficient use of energy, so always look for Energy Star certification. You can also purchase alternative energy electronics, such as solar-powered calculators.

Regular office supply stores like Staples and Office Depot (and even your local neighborhood store) offer options for all of these eco-friendly secrets, including white glue, rechargeable NiHM batteries and battery chargers, LED and CFL light bulbs. and Xerox solid ink printers. They sell cleaning products that are made from naturally-derived, biodegradable, non-toxic ingredients and are packaged in recyclable materials. Other eco-friendly options include 100% recycled copy paper and a full line of Energy Star-qualified technologies.

A simple stop at your local office supply store can provide your office with all of its green needs!