A conscienceness for a healthier planet doesn’t just belong in the home. Going Green has entered the work place where actions and policies to use eco friendly products can have a significant impact on our planet. Each day in offices all over the country tons of paper is used and decarded, thrown into landfills. Tons of plastic toner and ink cartridges are used and thrown away. The coffee break room with its stack of styrofoam cups, plastics lids, styrofoam plates and plastic and disposable plastic utensils all add up to what can be considered an ecological disaster over the course of time. Even the smallest office contributes greatly to the waste flow into our landfills.

It used to be eco damaging products were the only ones available, today there are many green alternatives available, yes most at an extra cost but the benefit far exceeds the additional dollars. In a resent conversation with John Von Achen an account executive for Value Business Services, an office supply company that in addition to offering standard office supplies, offers a complete line of green office products ranging from recycled copy paper and file folders to rulers, at first glance appearing plastic, only to be made from corn. It doesn’t stop there, businesses can convert to using recycled and rebuilt toner and ink cartridges. “The cartridges we sell are not your typical drill and fill recycled cartridges. Our cartridges are remanufactured and refilled with all the worn parts replaced with new”, stated Von Achen. These cartridges are guaranteed as good as new, the big difference is because they are recycled, they keep the old cartridges from going into the landfill.

Simply switching to paper plates and paper cups, which break down easily in nature can also help keep the earth a greener place. Desk accessories, cleaning products, calendars, and even Post-It notes are all available in recycled and eco friendly versions.

Von Achen also noted new technology using water base toner used in imprinting tee shirts and other garments generally used in marketing businesses.

All it takes is some small adjustments on our part and we can help keep our earth green for generations to come.