Sustainable swaps for your office supplies
Want a greener workplace but don’t know where to start? At DMG Office, we make it easy to go eco by offering a wide range of sustainable versions of standard office products. Here are a few simple swaps you can make to get started on your journey to a cleaner, greener working environment. Why not make this Plastic Free July your cue to create a cleaner and greener office for everyone?
1. Swap: Sellotape Original Golden Tape 24mmx33m (Pack of 6)
For: Sellotape Zero Plastic Tape 24mmx30m 100% Plant Based Plastic Free Clear (Pack of 3)
Every office, no matter how high-tech, needs a few rolls of that sticky stalwart, Sellotape. The original stuff is plastic-based, but now there’s a version that’s 100% plant-based instead.
You’ll find that this upgraded version, made from cellulose film and naturally derived glue, is just as effective as the original. Once used, the box and core simply go in your office recycling bin, while the tape itself is biodegradable, so can be composted.
2. Swap: Bic Cristal Ballpoint Pen Medium Black (Pack of 50)
For: Bic ECOlutions Ballpoint Pen Medium Black (Pack of 60)
Plastic is an incredibly versatile and useful material – but it’s derived from fossil fuels. Plus, it causes major pollution: it’s calculated that 8-10 metric tonnes of plastic waste end up in the oceans each year, destroying eco-systems and posing a risk to human and animal health.
So by choosing recycled plastic, you’re both reducing the amount of new plastic produced, and cutting the amount that goes to waste. These ballpoint pens have 74% recycled plastic content, making them a great eco option.
3. Swap: Q-Connect Retractable Ballpoint Pen Medium Black (Pack of 10)
For: Q-Connect Biodegrade Ballpoint Retractable Black (Pack of 12)
A retractable nib helps to stop the ink drying out, extending the lifetime of a pen and therefore reducing the number you need to buy. And now you can choose products with barrels made from poly lactic acid – a plant-derived plastic that biodegrades. Who knows what wonderful eco ideas you’ll jot down with these handy ballpoint pens!
4. Swap: Silvine Feint Ruled Student Notebook A4 120 Pages (Pack of 12)
For: Silvine Everyday Recycled Wirebound Notebook A4 (Pack of 12)
When it comes to paper, there are plenty of eco choices. You’ll see notebooks that are Forest Stewardship Council FSC Certified, meaning the paper comes from sustainably managed woodlands. And you can also find 100% recycled paper, such as these handy A4 pads. Other sizes, weights and bindings are also available.
5. Swap: Q-Connect Quick Notes 38 x 51mm Yellow (Pack of 12)
For: Q-Connect Recycled Quick Notes 38 x 51mm Yellow (Pack of 12)
For quick thoughts, phone messages, reminders and much more, you can’t beat a sticky note. So make sure all your bright ideas are environmentally friendly by choosing the recycled version of this old office favourite. They’ll stick to most surfaces and remove cleanly – remember to put them in the recycling bin when you’re done.
6. Choose EITHER: Xerox PerFormer A4 White 80gsm Paper (Pack of 2500)
OR: Canon Black Label Zero Paper A4 75gsm White (Pack of 2500)
Just about all the printer paper we stock at DMG has strong eco credentials – without compromising on quality. So you could choose this Xerox pack, which is made from sustainable forests and whitened using a chlorine-free bleaching method, gaining it Ecolab certification. Or you could pick the Canon pack, which is FSC certified and produced in a carbon neutral way by using energy from the mill’s own pulp-making process.
At DMG Office, we’re passionate about protecting the environment – and helping other companies do the same. You can read more about our sustainability strategy and practices, and get in touch to discuss how we can work together for a greener future.
