• Home
  • About
  • Raves
  • Blog
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Eco-Office Gals

Virtual Assistant Services & WordPress Theme Design

  • Services
    • WordPress Theme Design
    • WordPress Maintenance
    • Virtual Assistant Service Hours
    • WordPress Hosting
  • Portfolio
  • Contact

February 3, 2009 By Jen 27 Comments

Guest Post – Reduce Office Waste and Save Money

Isn’t everyone looking for ways to reduce waste and make an environmental difference without breaking the bank? Being green shouldn’t have to cost a fortune.

Here are 5 changes you can make in your office that will save you (and your office) money!

  • Reduce your paper consumption. Americans throw away 4.5 million tonnes of paper annually. Set up scrap paper receptacles at copy stations for notes and drafting. Print memos and other interoffice information on the back sides of old prints. Beef up your electronic filing system and ditch paper altogether and send as much as you can via email. According to WWF, a company with 5,000 employees who double-side printed only 10% of their copies, could save up to $260,000 USD.
  • eco-friendly-whiteboard-markersChange your whiteboard markers to a non-toxic alternative. Xylene, found in many brands of whiteboard markers, is a known neurotoxin. If that doesn’t make you gasp for some clean air, try this: one AusPen is equal to 41 traditional white board markers. And unlike AusPen markers, none of the disposable marker’s packaging is recyclable. Still not convinced? Using AusPen’s saves companies money – a traditional whiteboard marker (bought from a regular supplier) typically costs between $0.50 – $1.00 each. An AusPen is $0.28 (when you calculate using it through one of its life cycles – including the refill)
  • Start a coffee and/or takeout “swear jar”. According to Eco Defence Fund, Starbucks goes through 1.9 billion disposable cups. And while they have introduced a 10% post consumer paper cup, that’s still a lot of cups going to the landfill. Try collecting money from those who use disposable cups. Charge anyone who uses disposable take out containers. If just $1 a day was collected your swear jar could earn approximately $260 a year (based on a 5 day work week). That’s enough to buy an espresso coffee maker for your office’s kitchen!
  • Install a water filtration system right on the kitchen faucet. According to the Clean Air Council, 2.5 million plastic water bottles are thrown away every hour in America. Give everyone a stainless steel water bottle and cut down on disposable plastic bottles. A filtration system costs approximately $150 -$250 USD a year (according to Costco) but buying just one bottle a day would cost just one person $130 – $260 a year.
  • Revamp your bathroom recycling. Reduce paper towel waste by switching to a hand dryer. It may be a higher start up cost but the long term cost savings of buying paper towels, cleaning trash bins and replacing towels will easily make up for this. WWF has estimated that we flush about 270,000 trees down the toilet – a day. Put a note in each stall that tells your fellow co-workers and make the switch to recycled toilet paper.

Remember – when you make changes, communicate them. Explaining the cost and environmental savings will likely result in increased acceptance and participation.

Written by Eco-Smart World’s blog editor, Crystal Henrickson

Eco-Smart World is the North American distributor for the AusPen

Filed Under: Eco-Office Products, Green Tips Tagged With: board markers, Eco-Office, electronic filing system, environment, Green, guest post, paper, paper consumption, recycling, Reduce, waste, water filtration system, whiteboard marker

About Jen

Jennifer Smith provides Green Virtual Assistant Services to grow small businesses paperless and sustainable providing various e-services. Her passion is customizing StudioPress Themes for WordPress for her awesome clients. View her portfolio here.

« Do YOU Need a Virtual Assistant?
What is Microfinance? »

Comments

  1. stamps2charity says

    September 21, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    USED POSTAGE STAMPS FOR CHARITY
    Some friends and I run this page, if you have used postage stamps from home or work, please consider donating them to one of these causes. 
    You can check when addresses were last confimed on our main site 
    http://usedstampsforcharity.weebly.com
    (we are more than happy to list your charity too, and start an overseas page for foreign charities outside the UK)
    Used Postage Stamps For CharityMillions of people, young and old, are stamp collectors (philatelists), and philately is an educational and fun hobby.
    Couple this with helping charities as well, keeping stamps out of landfill, and instead recycling stamps to collectors!!!!!
    This is a webpage listing charities in the UK which collect used postage stamps to raise money for charity. Charities find used stamps, which they then sort, and sell on to collectors and philatelists, an excellent source of extra income, and you are helping save the environment and reduce waste by not binning them! What could be better?
    Whether your stamps are recent or old, common or rare, wherever they come from across the world, every stamp can be saved!
    The charities/ volunteers listed below collect used postage stamps for charities. Please send your used stamps to any of them,
    all donations of stamps will be most gratefully received! Contact us to add your charity to the directory list (make sure that you contact us from time to time to update the “address last confirmed” date. )

    List last updated: September 17th 2015

    CHARITIES WHICH NEED YOUR USED POSTAGE STAMPS:

    RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
    the society that pays for the lifeboats that mean hundreds of lives are saved each year around Britain’s coast. 
    RNLI stamps, care/of Lara,
    7 Speedwell, 
    Brixham 
    Devon,
    TQ5 9MJ,
    England
    (please note this is not a head office address, but is simply a local unpaid volunteer. Please only send stamps,
    no other correspondence. Receipt confirmations available upon request, please include an address for same!)
    International and UK postage stamps equally welcome.
    Address Last Confirmed: Sept 2015
    The Swindon Talking newspaper
    provides a free player and weekly publication for visually impaired and blind users.
    We are completely self funded and rely on volunteers and donations.
    Please send your stamps to:
    Gemma Peet
    Swindon talking news
    Craven house
    145 Victoria road
    Swindon
    Sn1 3bu
    Address Last Confirmed: Sept 2015
    The South Devon Players theatre & film company
    An awardwinning (and featured on national BBC TV) theatre and film company specialising in period and historical drama.
    Please send in envelopes that fit through a letter box thanks. 
    The South Devon Players
    c/o Chestnut Community Centre
    1-3 Poplar Close
    Brixham
    Devon TQ5 0SA
    Address Last Confirmed: Sept 2015
    French Bulldog Rescue GB (FBRGB) 
    is one of only two registered charities who specialise in the rescue of French Bulldogs, we are a non profit organisation run by volunteers. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home French Bulldogs in need from private rescue groups, and owners here in Great Britain. All the dogs are neutered and our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into well-matched, carefully screened forever homes. 
    Please send stamps to
    FBRGB,
    43 REGNUM DRIVE,
    SHAW,
    NEWBURY,
    BERKSHIRE,RG142HF
    Address Last Confirmed: August 2015
    Together Trust
    The Together Trust (registered charity number: 209782) provides care, education and support for children and adults with learning and physical disabilities, autism and emotional needs. Our services include residential homes, domiciliary care, specialist schools and a foster ing service for hard to place children. Every year we help over 1400 children and adults to overcome very significant barriers giving them the most positive future possible.
    Please ensure correct postage is put on bulky envelopes, as we cannot afford to pay to retrieve them from the sorting office if insufficient postage is put on
    Together Trust centre
    Schools Hill
    Cheadle
    SK8 1JE
    Natalie.garside@togethertrust.org.uk
    Address Last Confirmed: May 2010
    Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice
    provides palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants from 0 – 5 years, who suffer with life threatening or life limiting conditions that require 27/7 care.
    Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice Liverpool
    Life Health Centre
    Yew Tree Lane
    West Derby
    Liverpool
    L12 9HH
    Address Last Confirmed: July 2015

    Funding Neuro
    (organization information not submitted)
    Funding Neuro
    Geason House
    145 North Street
    Glasgow
    G3 7DA
    Address Last Confirmed: April 2015
    Hospiscare
    Hospiscare is the hospice charity for Exeter, Mid and East Devon providing end of life care for local people and support for their families and friends too, caring for 750 patients in their homes and the hospice, free of charge every day of the year.
    Hospiscare
    Dryden Road
    Exeter
    EX2 5JJ
    Address Last Confirmed: March 2015

  2. Jean Duella says

    December 2, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    I like the disposable coffee cup cost collection. What a great way to go green! Another thing I’d like to add from my own experience is switching your coffee pot. Our office switched from the antiquated coffee pot to a Keurig and KCup Vending Machine, and we save tons of money on a monthly basis now that our office coffee is essentially paid for! The employees love the simplicity and speed of the Keurig, and management loves the cost control. Worth looking into if that’s one area your office could stand to save some money each month.

  3. Suzanne says

    May 21, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    I agree that reducing paper consumption is significantly important. I attempt for all communications to be electronic, and yes, electronic fax is fantastic! I really don't have any paper files anymore. Everything is saved and stored within my computer. And when printed documents are unavoidable, we have a scrap paper folder right next to the computer to be used for printing on both sides (if feasible). We also use recycled computer paper.

  4. Angie@Car Fire Extinguisher says

    January 22, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    I got rid of the fax machine recently and have all my faxes to go directly to my computer. I will never go back. I print out what i want and nothing more. Thanks for the tips.

  5. Angie@Car Fire Extinguisher says

    January 22, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    I got rid of the fax machine recently and have all my faxes to go directly to my computer. I will never go back. I print out what i want and nothing more. Thanks for the tips.

  6. Duncan says

    January 18, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Cracking ideas, of course tech can help too.

    If your company fills in a lot of forms, maybe they have engineers out and about who need to fill in job-sheets – there is a HUGE amount of paper wasted.

    Not only that, but money too.

    A product called ElectroForms – http://www.mobileelectronicforms.com – addresses the paper-waste issue by providing an extremely usable data capture alternative to paper based forms.

  7. Duncan says

    January 18, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    Cracking ideas, of course tech can help too.

    If your company fills in a lot of forms, maybe they have engineers out and about who need to fill in job-sheets – there is a HUGE amount of paper wasted.

    Not only that, but money too.

    A product called ElectroForms – http://www.mobileelectronicforms.com – addresses the paper-waste issue by providing an extremely usable data capture alternative to paper based forms.

  8. Jeff @ French Milled Soap says

    November 28, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    I love your tips, especially the ones involving health like the whiteboard markers and the filtered water. I can’t say no to things that are eco friendly and health friendly as well. Thanks
    .-= Jeff @ French Milled Soap´s last blog ..About =-.

  9. Jeff @ French Milled Soap says

    November 28, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    I love your tips, especially the ones involving health like the whiteboard markers and the filtered water. I can’t say no to things that are eco friendly and health friendly as well. Thanks
    .-= Jeff @ French Milled Soap´s last blog ..About =-.

  10. Darvin @ Ionic Air Purifiers says

    November 9, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    All great ideas! People often tell me how difficult it is to get their companies to be more “environmentally friendly”, but there are a few things on your list which employees likely don’t need employer approval to do… like using less paper ro your “swear jar” idea!

    Enough with the excuses people… 🙂
    .-= Darvin @ Ionic Air Purifiers´s last blog ..Ozone Air Purifier – Warning! =-.

  11. Darvin @ Ionic Air Purifiers says

    November 9, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    All great ideas! People often tell me how difficult it is to get their companies to be more “environmentally friendly”, but there are a few things on your list which employees likely don’t need employer approval to do… like using less paper ro your “swear jar” idea!

    Enough with the excuses people… 🙂
    .-= Darvin @ Ionic Air Purifiers´s last blog ..Ozone Air Purifier – Warning! =-.

  12. Stan@Black Kitchen Faucet says

    October 10, 2009 at 2:31 am

    Thank you for this nice tips, it is definitely worth the effort to reduce waste.
    .-= Stan@Black Kitchen Faucet´s last blog ..Remarkable Features of Danze Kitchen Faucet that makes it Saleable =-.

  13. Stan@Black Kitchen Faucet says

    October 10, 2009 at 2:31 am

    Thank you for this nice tips, it is definitely worth the effort to reduce waste.
    .-= Stan@Black Kitchen Faucet´s last blog ..Remarkable Features of Danze Kitchen Faucet that makes it Saleable =-.

  14. Phoebe @ part time home jobs says

    October 2, 2009 at 5:55 am

    Nice tips to save money while helping the environment.

    One could also find part time jobs in the internet like SEO article writing, article spinning, blog posting, podcasting, and many more.

    In this time of financial crisis, we should double up our efforts, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

    I hope there are many more ideas that will pop up in the net. I got many ideas here on how to earn extra money, and I want to share it.

    Glory to all of you who are helping each other to be financially stable.

    But always remember to never forget spending quality time with our family. God bless us all.

  15. Phoebe @ part time home jobs says

    October 2, 2009 at 5:55 am

    Nice tips to save money while helping the environment.

    One could also find part time jobs in the internet like SEO article writing, article spinning, blog posting, podcasting, and many more.

    In this time of financial crisis, we should double up our efforts, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

    I hope there are many more ideas that will pop up in the net. I got many ideas here on how to earn extra money, and I want to share it.

    Glory to all of you who are helping each other to be financially stable.

    But always remember to never forget spending quality time with our family. God bless us all.

  16. Jack@grohe faucets says

    September 17, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    Yeah, its amazing how different some states are with issues such as recycling. California has a lot of ways to encourage recycling, while states like utah throw everything into 1 giant bin.

  17. Jack@grohe faucets says

    September 17, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    Yeah, its amazing how different some states are with issues such as recycling. California has a lot of ways to encourage recycling, while states like utah throw everything into 1 giant bin.

  18. Mike Griffin @ home water filtration systems says

    August 13, 2009 at 2:47 am

    Current thought is that not only should the plastic water bottles not be thrown away but that they be replaced by stainless steel or some other more healthful material.

    Filtering water even if it is not to refill water bottles is also great. Chlorine and other chemicals in water are not the most healthful for us. Many experience remarkable cures after switching to filtered water.
    .-= Mike Griffin @ home water filtration systems´s last blog ..Before You Buy A Reverse Osmosis Filter =-.

  19. Mike Griffin @ home water filt says

    August 13, 2009 at 2:47 am

    Current thought is that not only should the plastic water bottles not be thrown away but that they be replaced by stainless steel or some other more healthful material.

    Filtering water even if it is not to refill water bottles is also great. Chlorine and other chemicals in water are not the most healthful for us. Many experience remarkable cures after switching to filtered water.
    .-= Mike Griffin @ home water filtration systems´s last blog ..Before You Buy A Reverse Osmosis Filter =-.

  20. Residual Retirement Builder says

    May 9, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    What a perfect way to go green in an enviroment that needs to save paper I also like to keep things electronic as much as possible.

  21. Residual Retirement Builder says

    May 9, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    What a perfect way to go green in an enviroment that needs to save paper I also like to keep things electronic as much as possible.

  22. Penny says

    February 14, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Exactly, the great thing about reducing waste at work is it gives you money to use in other areas.

  23. Penny says

    February 14, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Exactly, the great thing about reducing waste at work is it gives you money to use in other areas.

  24. easy ways to save money says

    February 9, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    Nice post
    Everyone can save money in small and seemingly insignificant areas if you know how and where to do it.
    These are all great ideas
    Great tips! I’ll be coming back to learn more about saving money!

  25. easy ways to save money says

    February 9, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    Nice post
    Everyone can save money in small and seemingly insignificant areas if you know how and where to do it.
    These are all great ideas
    Great tips! I’ll be coming back to learn more about saving money!

  26. Chelle@Pittsburgh Junk Removal says

    February 7, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Great tips – you’ve got a good point about saving enough to buy the office an Expresso machine!

    We’ve been trying to brainstorm for environmentally friendly alternatives to direct mail – I’d hate to see all that paper be used on something so many people might just toss out.

    Chelle´s last blog post..Warmer Temperatures Expected This Weekend

  27. Chelle@Pittsburgh Junk Removal says

    February 7, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Great tips – you’ve got a good point about saving enough to buy the office an Expresso machine!

    We’ve been trying to brainstorm for environmentally friendly alternatives to direct mail – I’d hate to see all that paper be used on something so many people might just toss out.

    Chelle´s last blog post..Warmer Temperatures Expected This Weekend

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

WP Tools Recommendation

WP Engine CyberHosting14 Special Offer

StudioPress Premium WordPress Themes




Indie Business
  • Ads & Sponsorship
  • Sponsored Posts & Reviews
  • Contest & Giveaway Rules
  • Disclaimer & Terms of Use
  • Privacy
Proud of these young ladies for adding their voice Proud of these young ladies for adding their voice to the future of this country. First time voters at the polls! 🥰 🔴⚪️🔵🇺🇸
My ❤️🌎🌕🌟 My ❤️🌎🌕🌟
Another year older, where has the time gone? Happy Another year older, where has the time gone? Happy legal drinking age to my beautiful daughter @maxie_gurly.boi
Happy International Women's Day! Thank you to the Happy International Women's Day! Thank you to the powerful, amazing and beautiful women in my life that lift me up and help me fight another day! I love you! 💕
The happiest of birthdays to @abigailm755 my baby The happiest of birthdays to @abigailm755 my baby girl, my friend for life, i love you to pieces! 🎂😘
Rounding a corner, hill or flight of stairs to run Rounding a corner, hill or flight of stairs to run into fun and colorful street art was such fun!
I have to highlight all the amazing food in Lisbon I have to highlight all the amazing food in Lisbon. I'd live off of shrimp and pastries daily!
A day in Sintra 🏰 A day in Sintra 🏰
Day 2 in Lisbon 🌅 🇵🇹🥰 Day 2 in Lisbon 🌅 🇵🇹🥰
Day 1 in Lisbon! 🇵🇹 ✈️ Day 1 in Lisbon! 🇵🇹 ✈️
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Eco-Office Gals • ·Market Theme Designed on Genesis