| In part two I will continue to list ways that your | | | | Writing Tools |
| home office can partake in making changes that are | | | | * All too often pens, pencils, crayons, and other |
| environmentally safe and sound. | | | | writing tools eventually end up in the garbage, so be |
| Paper | | | | sure to consider some the following alternatives to |
| * Paper is perhaps the number one supply used in a | | | | extend their use and reduce waste: |
| typical office, which explains why people are saving | | | | * Buy refillable Pens and Pencils. "Mechanical" pencils |
| time, money, and environmental resources converting | | | | and ballpoint pens can be refilled hundreds of times, |
| to paperless documents. Consider the many ways | | | | as long as the pen or pencil casing does not break. |
| you can reduce, reuse, or recycle paper in your | | | | Choose recycled products. Several pencil and pen |
| home office. | | | | manufacturers now make their products from |
| * Purchase recycled paper and environmentally | | | | recycled plastic, newspapers, and fabrics-even old |
| preferable supplies. When buying any office supply, | | | | money. Read the label on the package before you |
| try to find recycled-content and non-toxic products. | | | | buy. |
| Buying paper made from a high percentage of | | | | * Avoid toxins. An increasing number of pens and |
| post-consumer waste helps reduce the number of | | | | markers are available in nontoxic ink. Crayons are |
| trees needed to make paper "from scratch." It also | | | | now made from soybean oil instead of more |
| saves energy and keeps used paper out of the | | | | dangerous chemicals. Buy in bulk. |
| trash. | | | | * Buy pens, pencils, and markers in multi-packs rather |
| * Reduce the amount of paper you use. Email can be | | | | than single packages to save on the resources used |
| used for both internal and external modes of | | | | for packaging. Furniture |
| communications, such as letters, memos, and | | | | * The choices for buying eco-friendly desks, chairs, |
| updates. Web Sites and Web Pages meet a variety | | | | cabinets, shelves, and other office furniture are |
| of complex publishing needs, serving as an "electronic | | | | plentiful. When making your next purchase consider |
| brochure" that offers detailed information about | | | | this starting point: |
| products and services, or keeps track of family | | | | * Buy recycled furniture. More and more shelving and |
| events with photos and video images. | | | | counter-tops are being made from recycled |
| * CD-ROM, which can hold hundreds of pages of | | | | alternatives to conventional wood or fiberboard |
| text, graphic images, and audio and visual clips, are | | | | products. Consider furniture made of "wheat-board." |
| often less expensive to produce than written | | | | This alternative material is manufactured from straw |
| documents, and offer more flexibility in the amount | | | | that is normally discarded when wheat is harvested. |
| of information they contain. | | | | Wheat-board is a sturdy fiberboard that is more |
| * Reuse envelopes and file folders. Choose reusable | | | | economical than standard formaldehyde emitting MDF |
| messenger envelopes to send information. Reuse file | | | | particleboard. Seek out one of the many |
| folders by relabeling them or simply folding them in | | | | manufacturers that incorporate recycled steel or |
| the reverse direction. Find alternatives to sending and | | | | aluminum into their furniture designs.Refurbish old |
| receiving letter mail. Use email, voice mail, and fax | | | | furniture. |
| modem transmissions whenever possible. Pay your | | | | * Before you buy new furniture, consider the |
| bills via e-billing programs so that you reduce the | | | | possibility of recovering or refinishing your current |
| amount of waste you generate. Cancel hard-copy | | | | stock. Wood can be re-stained or repainted, and |
| subscriptions to newspapers, newsletters, and | | | | cushions can be recovered. |
| magazines that you do not read and can be | | | | * Donate old furniture. Contact community groups, |
| accessed online. | | | | churches, shelters, schools, and even senior centers |
| * Reduce junk mail. To take your name off mailing | | | | before discarding used desks, filing cabinets, and |
| lists visit privacycouncil.org Recycle used paper. | | | | other office furnishings and equipment. |
| Recycle white and mixed paper. Home offices can | | | | There you have it, if you have additional ideas or |
| use municipal recycling programs to recycle materials | | | | ways that can help save our planet, please visit my |
| (like paper, cardboard, and newspapers) that | | | | website and leave a comment there. Thank You. |
| businesses generally have to pay to dispose properly. | | | | |