The following tips on particular products may be useful.
Computer equipment | The US Environmental Protection Agency 'Energy Star' identifies monitors and computers which use less than 30 Watts in standby mode and return rapidly from standby to active mode. |
Paper | The quality of some recycled papers is now high enough for many applications. Recycled, chlorine-free paper is preferable for office use, in the lowest weight, which satisfies quality requirements. |
Notelets, pads and envelopes | Water-based adhesives are preferable to those containing solvents. Padded envelopes should contain no plastic. |
General stationery | Most suppliers offer environmental ranges, including pens, rulers and desk tidies made from recycled plastic and renewable resources, solvent-free marker pens and files which can be re-labeled and re-used. |
Renewable resources | Such as paper, card, wood, cellulose and cotton are preferred to plastic, which is made from oil, a non-renewable resource. |
Calculators | Solar power is preferable to batteries, which require energy to manufacture and contain toxic heavy metals, which are difficult to dispose of safely. |
Furniture | Wood should preferably be obtained from sustainable forests. Wood preservatives and lacquers should be water-based, and formaldehyde should not be used in manufacture. |