| Many companies these days are getting on the Green | | | | of Eugene, Oregon has some great papers that are |
| bandwagon. If a company is marketing their products | | | | 90% recycled and 10% Hemp/Flax. We are starting to |
| or services as being environmentally friendly, they | | | | see pencils made of recycled paper. One of the |
| sometimes scramble to find office supplies that back | | | | biggest problems has been with vinyl. Vinyl or PVC is a |
| up their message. Turning to the big box office supply | | | | petroleum based product that is toxic to manufacture |
| companies doesn't always give you the best selection | | | | and dispose. When your binder's rings bend or your |
| of recycled office products. Most companies find what | | | | cover rips, it's off to the landfill where it will be |
| they are looking for at smaller "Mom & Pop" type | | | | thousands of years before that material can break |
| office supply stores; which are few and far between | | | | down. Manufacturers really need to think through the |
| these days. These smaller stores know that they | | | | impact their materials have on the environment. There |
| have to provide better competitive advantage to their | | | | are many materials like corrugated cardboard, non |
| larger competitor that will beat them almost every time | | | | toxic chip board, recycled bending chip and even |
| on price. Some of these small office supply stores | | | | bioplastics that would make excellent materials for |
| have turned to environmentally friendly office supplies | | | | office supplies and recycled binders. |
| to maintain that edge. | | | | Office supply stores that carry these types of |
| There are some great recycled papers that have a | | | | products will give them the competitive edge over their |
| higher post consumer recycled content than what the | | | | competition, as well as, give them the satisfaction that |
| bigger companies are carrying. Living Tree Paper out | | | | they are doing their part for the environment. |