Tools & Resources

 

Purchasing Eco-Conscious Products & Services for your business is the great first step in sustainability. And there are so many other ways to be green every day. We've gathered some useful tips and resources for you to use and share with your coworkers, friends, and peers.

    • A Greener State of Mind: Eco-Conscious Tips for the Office

       

      There are so many other ways to be green every day. We've gathered some useful tips for you and your organization to practice at the office or around home.

       

      Save Energy

      Turn off lights when they are not in use, and install sensors in offices and conference rooms. You can also reduce heating and cooling costs by adjusting thermostats in unused rooms, especially during off-hours at the office. Perform an energy audit to uncover key energy and cost-saving opportunities, such as improving insulation and air sealing, as well as installing compact fluorescent bulbs. You can also enable power management features on technology around the office.

       

      Reuse Materials

      It's one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact and save money, too! Print on two sides and reuse scrap paper whenever possible. Set up areas for free exchanges of unwanted office supplies, furniture, and equipment. You can also donate unwanted items to local charities and organizations.

       

      Clean Green

      Replace your traditional cleaning products with eco-conscious alternatives like our Sustainable Earth by Staples All-Purpose Cleaner made without harsh chemicals. There are so many options available today that are just as effective, plus they reduce the impacts on indoor air quality and chemicals on surfaces.

       

      Travel Smarter

      In addition to choosing fuel-efficient vehicles, opt to take public transit or carpool with fellow co-workers. Try to consolidate errands, reducing multiple trips and distance traveled. Take your most fuel-efficient vehicle on longer trips, and use a GPS to avoid getting lost when heading to new locations.

       

      Buy Green

      Recycled paper, toner cartridges, recycled desk accessories, and furniture products typically have reduced environmental impacts and deliver great quality as well. When it comes to paper products, look for post-consumer recycled content of 30% or more. For technology, make sure it's ENERGY STAR® qualified. Purchase furniture that incorporates recycled content or has environmental certifications like Indoor Advantage, Green Guard, and Cradle to Cradle, a certification program based on product life cycle environmental impacts. And for facility products, consider options made without harsh chemicals.

       

      Recycle at the Office

      Conduct a waste audit that will help focus efforts and determine which waste items can be reduced through simple changes or recycling. Today, every office should be able to economically recycle mixed paper, cardboard, bottles and cans, cell phones, rechargeable batteries, and office technology.

       

      Order Consolidation

      Small, inefficient orders can add significant program costs by increasing the number of POs, invoices and deliveries. The impact on the environment is considerable as well. Staples Advantage works with customers to reduce small orders by conducting campaigns that educate end users about the benefits of order consolidation. These campaigns have not only helped our customers dramatically reduce costs, but they've created significant environmental savings in the form of reduced packaging waste at facilities and reduced CO2 emissions from fewer Staples' truck deliveries.

       

      Some of the steps that customers can take to consolidate orders and reduce the impact to the environment are:

      • Plan ahead and order once a week. Consider how much of each item your group or department needs and place one order.
      • Order frequently used supplies in bulk so you'll have them on hand.
      • Group orders with co-workers and other departments to consolidate many smaller orders to fewer larger ones.
      • Anticipate your needs for regular meetings, special projects, events, and new hires.

       

       

    • Calculators

       

      Check out some of the calculators we've gathered below to find out how even small changes can help lead to a more sustainable environment.

       

      The Paper Calculator

      Calculate the environmental impact of your recycled paper choices.

      View calculator

       

      CarbonFund Office Carbon Footprint Calculator

      Calculate and offset your office emissions.

      View calculator

       

      Waste Reduction Model (WARM)

      Calculate the benefits of recycling and waste reduction efforts at your company.

      View calculator

       

      Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

      Calculate the impacts of energy and fuel use and the savings from reducing both.

      View calculator

       

      EcoRewards Recycling Calculators

      Learn the benefits of recycling and determine the volume of recyclables generated based on your number of employees.

      View calculator

       

      My Footprint

      Calculate the area of land that you need to support your lifestyle based on where you live, driving habits, eating habits, and more.

      View calculator

       

    • Environmental Icons and Terminology

      Environmental Icons and Terminology

       

      Bio-gas? LEED buildings? Green washing? No, it's not a foreign language. These are commonly used terms in the world of environmentalism. We've made it easy to help you better understand what being green is all about by highlighting some key phrases.

       

      AP Certified Nontoxic

       

      The Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) Approved Product (AP) Seal identifies products that are certified by a medical expert to be safe for humans, including children.

       

        Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) Compostable Certification

       

      The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) Compostable certification means that products meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards for biodegradability when composted.

       

      Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

       

      A gas that is emitted when organic matter decays, during animal respiration, and when fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are burned. CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels is the primary greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.

       

      Carbon Footprint

       

      Refers to the amount of carbon that a product, service, event, or person emits over a given time frame, usually expressed in pounds or tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). The average American has a carbon footprint of 20 tons of CO2 annually.

       

      Carbon Neutral

       

      Neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions that are generated from making a product or providing a service by investing in "carbon offset" projects - like planting trees - that remove an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas emissions from the air.

       

      Carbon Offset / Carbon Credit

       

      Carbon offsets or carbon credits are "credits" received for supporting carbon emission reduction projects elsewhere (planting trees, energy efficiency upgrades, etc.)

       

      Chlorine Free

       

      Paper products manufactured and brightened without chlorine or chlorine byproducts.

       

      Climate Change

       

      A term used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another. Often used synonymously with "global warming".

       

        Cradle to Cradle™

       

      Cradle to Cradle™ is a certification program that certifies products to four levels (Basic, Silver, Gold and Platinum) based on product life cycle environmental impacts.

       

        Design for the Environment

       

      The U.S. EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) program identifies commercial cleaning and maintenance products that are safer for people and the environment.

       

      Eco-Friendly Products

       

      Products that have a reduced impact on the environment when compared to conventional products.

       

        EcoLogo

       

      EcoLogo sets standards and certifies products that are eco-preferable across the entire product life cycle.

       

        ENERGY STAR®

       

      An international standard for energy efficient consumer products. Devices carrying the ENERGY STAR® logo, such as computer products and peripherals, kitchen appliances, buildings, and other products, generally use 20%-30% less energy than required by federal standards.

       

      Environmentally Preferable Products (EPPs)

       

      Products that have a reduced impact on the environment when compared to conventional products.

       

      EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)

       

      The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suggested recycled content standards for government agencies to use when sourcing products, including office supplies. See www.epa.gov/cpg.

       

        EPEAT

       

      EPEAT qualifies PCs, laptops and monitors to three levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) based on a variety of different design elements including energy efficiency, toxics reduction and design for recycling.

       

        Forest Stewardship Council™ Certified

       

      The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a nonprofit organization devoted to the responsible management of the world's forests. The FSC logo indicates wood products that come from responsibly managed forests.

       

      Fossil Fuels

       

      Remains of ancient plant and animal life that are used to provide energy by combustion, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are not renewable resources.

       

      Global Warming

       

      An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth due to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There is broad international scientific consensus that human activities and development is responsible for the global warming the Earth has experienced since the industrialized world began, not natural causes.

       

      Green

       

      A product or service that is environmentally beneficial. For example, "green" products are items that have reduced environmental products compared to "typical" products.

       

        GreenGuard

       

      GreenGuard certifies furniture products that result in reduced indoor air pollution.

       

        Green Seal™ Certified

       

      To earn the Green Seal, a product must meet strong environmental standards as demonstrated by rigorous evaluation and testing. Various cleaning products and paper products are Green Seal certified. See www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/index.cfm.

       

      Greenhouse Gas

       

      Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. Many greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) occur naturally, but many are also generated in large quantities due to human activity, such as fuel consumption, agriculture, and deforestation.

       

      Green Seal™

       

      An independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services.

       

      Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED)

       

      A green building rating system created and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to promote a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection, and indoor air quality.

       

      Non-Renewable Resource

       

      A resource that is not capable of being naturally restored or replenished within a time frame relevant to humans. Examples include minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Some of these resources are more scarce than others but all are finite.

       

      PVC

       

      Poly-vinyl chloride is a common form of plastic that is durable, inexpensive, and adaptable to a number of different product uses. However, the manufacturing and incineration of PVC releases dioxin, a widespread toxic compound linked to cancer and other diseases.

       

      Post-Consumer Recycled Content

       

      Material that has completed its lifecycle as a consumer products and is composed partially or wholly from recycled material. Paper used by an office and then recycled is considered a post-consumer material.

       

      Pre-Consumer Recycled Content

       

      Refers to waste from a manufacturing process that has been collected, processed, and recycled into new materials or products before ever going to a market.

       

      Rapidly Renewable Materials

       

      Material considered to be an agricultural product, both fiber and animal, that takes 10 years or less to grow or raise, and to harvest in an ongoing and sustainable fashion.

       

        Recyclable

       

      A term used to designate that a product or its package can typically be recycled by the consumer.

       

      Recycled Content

       

      The amount of pre- and post-consumer recycled content used in a material (usually shown as a percentage). The recycled "chasing arrow" icon is used to show that a product or package is made from recycled content.

       

      Refillable

       

      An item is refillable if a part or component of the product can be replenished to return the product to active use. Refillable items are more eco-friendly because instead of discarding an entire item, you are only discarding the portion that has expired.

       

      Renewable Resource

       

      A resource that is capable of being naturally restored or replenished if it is managed or harvested properly. However, many renewable resources on Earth are being depleted at a much faster rate than they can be restored or are significantly degraded.

       

        SCS Indoor Advantage

       

      SCS Indoor Advantage identifies furniture that is designed to reduce indoor air pollution. Indoor Advantage Gold identifies products that meet even higher standards for reduced indoor air pollution.

       

      Source Reduction

       

      Reducing the amount and/or toxicity of an item before it is ever generated (e.g. buying an item with less packaging, using a non-toxic alternative to clean with).

       

      Sustainability

       

      From a business standpoint, a commitment to sustainability means explicitly taking into account the environmental and social impacts of business operations and taking action to eliminate all negative environmental, social, and economic impacts of operations.

       

      Virgin Product

       

      Term that refers to products that are made with 100 percent new "virgin" raw materials and contain no recycled materials.

    • LEED Certification

      LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Standards) provides a set of rigorous guidelines for the construction of environmentally sustainable buildings. The LEED program follows the entire building process, from the basic concept to the actual construction. LEED buildings are awarded certification based on the following six categories:

       

      • Sustainable Sites
      • Water Efficiency
      • Energy and Atmosphere
      • Materials and Resources
      • Indoor Environmental Quality
      • Innovation and Design Process

       

      From green cleaning supplies and practices to furniture, there are a number of ways Staples Advantage can help your business achieve LEED certification points.

       

      With insights into best practices and extensive knowledge of sustainability issues and trends, our LEED-accredited professionals can assist you in achieving your environmental goals.

       

      Learn more about Business Interiors and LEED certification

       

      View our webinar and learn how to turn your facility into a sustainable LEED certified workplace.