| As awareness grows as to the threats our | | | | desired recipients, only to be printed if they deem |
| consumer society poses to the environment, | | | | it necessary. |
| recycled products are making substantial gains in | | | | Reuse Items Where Possible |
| market share in numerous fields. It is certainly a | | | | Items such as folders and binders can be easily |
| huge step forward in terms of resource | | | | reused once finished with, by simply applying new |
| sustainability that materials which historically would | | | | labels. This principle can rolled out across the |
| have been discarded and incinerated are now | | | | majority of consumables: obsolete printouts are |
| being granted a new lease of life in a different | | | | ideal for rough work and note-taking, packaging |
| form. It is however often overlooked that the | | | | materials from received parcels can be stored |
| process of recycling does itself involve the | | | | and reused when sending out packages yourself |
| consumption of energy and additional materials. As | | | | and dependent upon their condition so can padded |
| such, in order to be truly environmentally ethical | | | | envelopes. |
| companies should strive to reuse prior to | | | | If You Can't Reuse Something- Maybe Someone |
| recycling. The following are some tips to help you | | | | Else Can |
| to try and ensure you make full use of your | | | | With regard to items such as packaging materials |
| office supplies and cut costs as well as aiding the | | | | it may well be the case that you or your |
| planet. | | | | department have no use for them, that does not |
| Only Use Consumables When It Is Compulsory | | | | however mean that there isn't someone in the |
| It is inevitable that certain documents need to be | | | | building who wouldn't be able to. With any items |
| printed and on occasion photocopied. The key to | | | | which you are convinced you cannot reuse |
| reducing the rate at which consumables are | | | | yourself, consider if they could be useful to others |
| depleted is to regulate the printing of documents | | | | in their current form. |
| which don't necessarily require a hardcopy. As | | | | Even if you rigorously stick to the guidelines |
| much correspondence is carried out by email, | | | | above, there will inevitably be some waste. It is |
| most communications do not need to be printed, | | | | this which should be recycled. If you reuse an |
| nor do documents which can be digitally shared | | | | item just once then not only are you saving the |
| and stored. With reference to photocopies the | | | | cost of using a new one, but also reducing your |
| same applies: rather than making multiple copies | | | | ultimate waste. If an item can be reused multiple |
| of documents in order to distribute, in many | | | | times then it follows that you will make greater |
| cases the information could just be emailed to the | | | | savings still and further reduce your waste output. |