Green Purchasing 101
Regardless of the sophistication of your green purchasing initiative, at some point it all comes down to finding great products that balance price, performance, and sustainability. To make it easy, we’ll start by introducing you to The Green Screen™ – our time-saving system of labeling and ranking products by greenness – and finish by making some high-impact product recommendations to get you on your way.
For quick reference, every item in our catalog is given a greenness rank:
Rankings are based on over 50 sustainability indicators in four key categories:
Contains Recycled Content
Biodegradable / Compostable
Reduced Chemical Content
Third Party Certifications
Three types of “A+ Staff Picks” can be found in our most popular categories:
Best Overall Choice
Greenest Choice
Cheapest Green Choice
Copy Paper
Switching to recycled copy paper is a must for any aspiring green office. For this, you can’t do any better than our Boise® Aspen 100.
Not only is this paper made from 100% post-consumer fiber, it’s also processed chlorine free (an environmentally preferable bleaching method) and certified by the nonprofit Forest Stewardship Council.
Using copy paper made from recycled fibers instead of virgin tree pulp yields environmental savings across the board, including:
- 33% less energy
- 37% less greenhouse gas emissions
- 49% reduction in wastewater
- 39% reduction in solid waste
Shop All Copy Paper
File Folders
File folders are another paper product used by virtually every office but too often made from unsustainably harvested virgin tree pulp.
The Pendaflex® Earthwise® file folders are the most sustainable option on the market, delivering quality with great peace of mind.
Going above and beyond its conventional rivals, there are many reasons to go green with this fabulous file folder:
- 100% post-consumer recycled content
- Meets EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
- Made in the USA
- Natural color conveys environmental responsibility
Shop All File Folders
More Top Paper Picks
Shop All Paper
View Binder
View binders are a great way of presenting and storing information, but too often they’re made of PVC (a.k.a. vinyl), a plastic that poses risk to human and ecological health.
In 2007 we partnered with the nonprofit Center for Environmental Health and launched our PVC Free Workplace campaign, becoming the first office products retailer to remove all items containing PVC from our catalog.
The Samsill® Earth’s Choice binder series offers many benefits over it’s conventional counterparts, including:
- 52% total recycled content
- 43% post-consumer recycled content
- PVC / vinyl free
- Made in the USA
Shop All Binders
Retractable Ballpoint Pen
Pens are ubiquitous office companions and yet far too many are produced with non-recycled plastics and don’t allow for refills.
According to the EPA, here in the US we toss out 1.6 billion disposable pens every year. Yikes!
The Pilot® Bottle-2-Pen retractable ball point pen series is a great way to help reduce waste and support more sustainable design:
- Made from recycled plastic bottles (cool!)
- 86% post-consumer recycled content
- Refillable
- Made in the USA
Shop All Pens
More Top Supplies Picks
Shop All Supplies
Hot Drink Cups
Styrofoam is so last century. Instead of adding to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, that infamous floating vortex of plastic circling our western shores, try switching to compostables.
The Eco Products® World Art Insulated Hot Cup series has quickly become a breakroom classic. This hot cup is sturdy, sleek, and provides ample protection from hot liquid contents.
Benefits include:
- Compostable
- Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute
- Features a leak-proof PLA (corn-based polymer) liner
- Classy world art design
Shop All Supplies
Tea
No civilized breakroom is complete without an assortment of fine teas. But don’t make the green office faux pas of serving conventionally grown leaves harvested under questionable working conditions.
Instead, offer up our delicious Numi® Organic Teas. Made by a company that leads the industry in sustainable practices, you can enjoy with assurance that every sip supports people and planet.
Our hands down favorite, Numi ® Organic Teas are:
- Certified USDA organic
- Fair Trade Certified
- Awarded for sustainable packaging
- Tasty and healthy
Shop All Beverages
More Top Breakroom Picks
Shop All Breakroom
Toilet Paper
Too often toilet paper is made from unsustainably sourced virgin tree pulp and whitened with a chlorine-based bleaching process posing serious threat to the environment. Our bottoms can do better!
Seventh Generation® Natural Unbleached Bath Tissue is the greenest choice on the market. Recycled and chlorine-free, a sustainably cleaned bum lets you flush with a clear conscience.
Benefits include:
- 100% total recycled content
- 80% post-consumer recycled content
- Unbleached, chlorine-free manufacturing
- Made by a Certified B Corporation
Shop All Bathroom Tissue
All-purpose cleaner
Cleaning with toxic chemicals has always seemed like an oxymoron. What kind of clean is that? The new clean means using biodegradable, plant based solvents to break down grease and grime.
Our recommendation: Method® All-Purpose Cleaner. With a variety of scents to please your sniffer, this surface spray is derived from corn and coconut, harnessing the natural power of plants.
Method® All-Purpose Cleaner offers many benefits over conventional alternatives, including:
- Non-toxic
- Cradle-to-Cradle Certified: Gold
- Made by a Certified B Corporation
- Made in the USA
Shop All Cleaning Products
More Top Janitorial Picks
Shop All Breakroom
All-in-One Printer
As much talk as there’s been about the coming of the paperless office, even the most technologically advanced workplaces still can’t seem to do without a printer.
When it comes time to make the investment, the first thing to consider is an all-in-one solution to save money and resources. Next, be wary of energy hogs. Finally, make sure remanufactured ink or toner refills are available.
Meeting all these criteria is the Canon PIXMA MX532 Multifunction Color Inkjet Printer:
- Energy Star Qualfied
- All-in-one copy/fax/print/scan functionality saves resources
- Options for remanufactured ink cartridges available
- Reliable with great expert reviews
Shop All Printers
Ink and Toner
In North America over 350 million ink cartridges end up in a landfill each year. And once they’re underground may end up leaking toxins into the soil and water table.
The good news is you can help avoid this mess by purchasing remanufactured ink cartridges which are just as reliable as their brand name counterparts, print crisp and clear, and save money to boot.
A top name in remanufactured ink and toner cartridges, Innovera® makes compatible cartridges for hundreds of printers, including these for the Canon PIXMA MX532 Multifunction Color Inkjet Printer featured above. Benefits include:
- 97% post-consumer recycled content
- Meets or exceeds OEM performance
- Made in the USA
Shop All Ink & Toner
More Top Technology Picks
Shop All Technology
Task Chair
A good chair can increase productivity while helping maintain good posture through ergonomic design. The key is a combination of comfort and adjustability.
The Alrea® Elusion Series Mid-Back Swivel/Tilt chair is our top selling task chair, and for good reason. As a recycled alternative to pricy designer brands, value meets values in this handsome workhorse.
Benefits include:
- 30% total recycled content
- 10% post-consumer recycled content
- Highly adjustable
- Cool, breathable mesh back
Shop All Chairs
Chair Mat
Far too many chair mats are made with PVC (a.k.a. vinyl), which contains a known carcinogen and poses serious threat to the environment.
In 2007 we partnered with the nonprofit Center for Environmental Health and launched our PVC Free Workplace campaign, becoming the first office products retailer to remove all items containing PVC from our catalog.
The Deflect-O® Enviromat PET Chair Mat series is a super cool alternative to conventional chair mats for all sorts of reasons:
- 100% post-consumer recycled
- PVC (a.k.a vinyl) free
- Made from recycled water/beverage bottles
- Durable with lip/no lip options in many sizes
Shop All Chair Mats
More Top Furniture Picks
Shop All Furniture
800.909.9750
