Green Office Supplies; The Competitive Edge

Many companies these days are getting on the GreenFlax. We are starting to see pencils made of recycled
bandwagon. If a company is marketing their productspaper. One of the biggest problems has been with
or services as being environmentally friendly, theyvinyl. Vinyl or PVC is a petroleum based product that is
sometimes scramble to find office supplies that backtoxic to manufacture and dispose. When your binder's
up their message. Turning to the big box office supplyrings bend or your cover rips, it's off to the landfill
companies doesn't always give you the best selectionwhere it will be thousands of years before that
of recycled office products. Most companies find whatmaterial can break down. Manufacturers really need to
they are looking for at smaller "Mom & Pop" typethink through the impact their materials have on the
office supply stores; which are few and far betweenenvironment. There are many materials like corrugated
these days. These smaller stores know that theycardboard, non toxic chip board, recycled bending chip
have to provide better competitive advantage to theirand even bioplastics that would make excellent
larger competitor that will beat them almost every timematerials for office supplies and recycled
on price. Some of these small office supply storesbinders.Office supply stores that carry these types of
have turned to environmentally friendly office suppliesproducts will give them the competitive edge over their
to maintain that edge.There are some great recycledcompetition, as well as, give them the satisfaction that
papers that have a higher post consumer recycledthey are doing their part for the environment.Brad Hole
content than what the bigger companies are carrying.is President of Sustainable Group; a Seattle based
Living Tree Paper out of Eugene, Oregon has somemanufacturer of environmentally friendly office supplies
great papers that are 90% recycled and 10% Hempthat include Rebinder and Repocket.