Green is the New Black: Why You Should Choose Green Office Products
Shopping for green products has become the new normal, not just the alternative, thanks to price and quality improvements.
Any early-adopter knows the pain of doing things a little differently. Remember the first "mobile" phones and how awkward users looked carrying them around or holding one to their face. We scoffed at their pretentiousness and questioned the need to be constantly communicating. How the world has changed. Mobile phone use is so normal these days that we’re practically handed one at birth.
In the same way that a new norm has emerged in our communication habits, we have also witnessed a shift in our collective thinking about all things environmental. Eco-friendly practices and products have transitioned from the murky shadows of the fringe to mainstream behaviour and acceptance. So much so that not recycling is frowned upon, lead petrol and incandescent light bulbs have been phased out, and solar panels and rainwater tanks are now government-supported. Green is the new black, with many green practices now so normalised as to not even be noticed.
The Price is Right
This transition has in part been forged by the radical drop in price, making once prohibitively expensive environmentally-friendly products more accessible. Economies of scale have certainly helped as the popularity of such products means they can be produced at a lower cost. Many green products are now the same price as their non-sustainable equivalents, and eco-friendly energy efficient products will actually generate huge cost savings when used appropriately.Quality Control
The other major factor has been the vast improvement in the quality of green products. Anyone who can remember the early days of recycled paper knows how far the industry has come in terms of quality. Recycled copier paper is now indistinguishable from other paper, and it’s not the only product to have come so far. Advances have been made in the production of green cleaning products, environmentally-friendly pens, and rechargeable batteries. Pilot now even has their B2P (bottle to pen) range of pens that are made from recycled plastic bottles. Plus many new products have been developed that match standards with their "browner" counterparts, including desk accessories and furniture made from recycled material or sustainably grown coffee.Green Range
There are so many green options now that often you don’t even realise you’re choosing one. Many companies have even refined their production to exclusively sustainable practices. Paper products are the most obvious green options with their recycled/recyclable properties, but you may not realise the diversity of green products that are now available. 100% sustainable bamboo desk accessories; scissors, rulers, binders and footrests made from recycled plastic; pencils made from the wood of sustainably managed forests; or pinboards made from recycled tyres are just some of the amazing products now available to help you save the planet.Corporate Responsibility
Eco-friendly businesses enjoy many benefits beyond saving the planet. As issues of sustainability have hit the global radar, consumer expectations on businesses to go green have risen, too. This has helped reputable companies to be viewed as credible, ethical and responsible, and increased demand for their products and services. This reputation reassures investors and even helps attract and retain quality staff. Implementing an environmental management system will boost brand value and also improve profitability through lowered business costs as a result of reduction in consumption and waste production.AS/NZS ISO 14001
For some industries, compliance with an environmental management system, such AS/NZS ISO 14001, is a legal requirement. ISO 14001 was introduced to provide an internationally accepted single set of criteria for organisations to focus their environmental efforts on. Whether legally obliged or not, certification offers a useful framework for environmental management, a way to get ahead of competitors, and opens doors for doing business internationally.Better For You
Being green isn’t just better for business, it also has benefits for you. We’re more likely to have job satisfaction when we work for a company committed to the environment and communicating their sustainability and social responsibility efforts. Plus using green cleaning products reduces the toxins in your environment, keeping you healthier.It’s easier than ever to be a good environmental citizen or company. Green product prices are down, quality is up, and it’s no longer considered weird but has become the normal and expected way of living and doing business. It’s not just better for the planet, it’s also better for your company and better for your mental and physical wellbeing.