Sometimes it’s hard being a part of an eco-friendly business, organization, or non-profit and being obligated to use paper to place your ideas out into the world. Let’s face the facts. It takes alot of natural resources getting people to notice your message. Paper, toner, inks, metals, foams, and plastics all will be a part of your latest leaflet, brochure, or display. Fortunately tree-free paper is now reality and other ways to enhance your eco-friendly office have emerged. If you are considering alternative paper sources and inks here are some things to think about:
- Use remanufactured ink cartridges instead of buying newer prepackaged cartridges. The Green California Environmental Purchasing Plan (www.green.ca.gov) claims technology behind recycled ink cartridges has improved to the point where remanufactured cartridges can create less waste, reduce costs, and often contain more toner the second time around.
- Stock Green Seal Paper. Telling people to use 100% Recycled paper may be a no-brainer but it doesn’t stick when budgets are tight and lots of fliers need to be made. However, the price of reclaimed paper is not the budget buster as it used to be. The Ecological Guide To Paper (www.celerydesign.com/paper/) reccomends the Eureka! 100 brand made from 100% Post-Consumer Waste.
- Try tree-free paper alternatives such as hemp, flax, cotton, kenaf, and banana fiber. Vision Paper (www.visionpaper.com) supports the ecologically sustainable kenaf fiber that is tree-free and not touched by clorine. These types of paper fiber are often fully reclaimable which means last year’s brochure can be this year’s bookmark.