From Connections, the newsletter of the
Co-op America Business Network

Here it is the first in our series of articles on greening your business. In subsequent issues, we discuss greening your workplace. Connections is a great source for new ideas, as well as a checklist to evaluate how you are doing. Please write or fax your ideas for future articles, and join CABN to receive your own Connections every quarter, along with a host of valuable member benefits. For other Co-op America resources visit our Publications page.

The first step to developing a green purchasing plan is to review the purchases your business makes. Identify what products or services you purchase and from where. (You may find some of your purchases are unnecessary.) Base purchase decisions on performance and durability, energy and natural resource use, recycled content and recyclability, toxicity, biodegradability and packaging.

Purchasing Tips

• Buy products that are reusable, not disposable.
• Where appropriate, buy in condensed or concentrated forms.
• Buy durable, repairable goods.
• Implement an improved inventory system to provide more precise control over supplies and avoid ordering excess supplies.
• Buy energy-efficient office products and appliances.
• Buy less toxic or nontoxic inks, paints and cleaning solvents.
• Use products that promote waste reduction (products that are more durable, of higher quality, recyclable, with a high level of post-consumer recycled content, made of alternative materials, reusable).
• Where appropriate, order supplies in bulk or in reusable containers to reduce excess packaging.

Paper

Americans discard about 85% of their office paper, or over seven million tons every year. Purchasing recycled paper involves many choices, including post-consumer waste content, bleaching methods and type of fiber. Here is a sampling of what is available (from Ecoprint's newsletter for the responsible print buyer):

Post-consumer waste is reclaimed paper fiber that has served its end purpose, (it has been used by the consumer). It is typically waste from homes and offices that would otherwise be dumped in the trash and hauled to a land fill.

Pre-consumer waste is reclaimed paper fiber that did not reach the consumer, (example: trimmings from the manufacture of envelopes; unsold copies of books or newspapers and waste from the paper mill).

Tree-free fibers are from non-wood sources and include:

• Kenaf: A fibrous plant of African origin grown in the American South and West. Kenaf can produce several times more pulp per acre than a tree farm, requires less chemical processing than wood, and produces a high quality paper. This issue of Connections is printed on kenaf paper.
• Cotton: Traditionally used as a plant fiber for high quality stationery paper. Cotton farming is not environmentally friendly due to high pesticide usage.
• Hemp: Used overseas as a paper fiber, especially where trees are not available as a source. It has low environmental impact.
• Agricultural waste and byproducts: Includes cereal straw, corn byproducts, linen and cotton waste, recycled U.S. currency, esparto grass and algae.

Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) is paper produced without chlorine or any chlorinated bleaching compound. Oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, or other environmentally friendly bleaching agents are substituted.

Elementally Chlorine Free (ECF) is paper produced without any "elemental" chlorine, i.e., pure chlorine gas. However, chlorine dioxide or other chlorinated compounds are still used. ECF manufacture does reduce the quantity of dioxin and other toxins produced, but is not as environmentally friendly as TCF manufactured paper.

Printing

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 50% of the country's 9,100 newspapers that use color ink now use color soy ink.

Soy inks are preferable to petroleum-based inks. In soy ink, a portion of the petroleum oil has been replaced by vegetable oil. However, soy inks may still contain heavy metals. There are soy inks available without heavy metals. Ecoprint in Silver Spring, Maryland, received a grant from the EPA and reformulated five PMS (Pantone Matching System) mixing colors to reduce their heavy metal content. Contact Ecoprint at (301)585-7077 for more information on their Ecoinks. See the National Green PagesÔ for other environmentally sensitive printers.

Tips for Printing Inks:

• Look for vegetable oil levels specified in the Vegetable Ink Printing Act of 1993 (S.716): 40% for news inks, 20% for sheet fed inks, 20% for forms inks, and 10% for heat-set inks.
• Ask for VOC (volatile organic compounds) content less than 5%.
• Try heavy-metal free Ecoinks.

Questions to Ask About Your Print Job?

• Can it be printed on chlorine-free recycled paper with post-consumer fiber?
• Can it be printed with low-polluting or recycled inks?
• How can we improve its recyclability? (Coatings, laminates, inks, foils, adhesives, labels and paper selection all affect the recyclability.)

Remanufactured Toner Cartridges

American businesses throw out 15 million plastic toner cartridges every year, putting approximately 40,000 tons of plastic cartridges in landfills each year.

Remanufactured toner cartridges are used cartridges that have been disassembled, inspected, repaired or refilled and reassembled. For more information, contact the International Cartridge Remanufacturers Association at (800)716-4272. See the National Green PagesÔ under Computer Products.

Resources for Green Purchasing

Green Seal: the national nonprofit that awards a Green Seal of Approval to products that have a significantly lower environmental impact, has published a new guide to buying the greenest copiers and fax machines, computer monitors, papers and cleaners. Call Green Seal 202/331-7337 to order their Office Green Buying Guide.

Recycled Papers, The Essential Guide: an extensive discussion of the background and current issues surrounding recycled paper. Includes a listing of recycled papers. 800/356-0343.

CERMA's Recycled Printing and Writing Paper: products and manufacturers - listing of recycled printing and office papers with recycled content information. 703/750-1158.

Office Paper Recycling Guide: How to buy recycled paper products and collect office waste paper. 202/223-3088.

Scientific Certification Systems: an independent scientific organization which verifies manufacturer claims of recycled content and other environmental achievements. 800/ECO-FACTS.

International Cartridge Recycling Association (ICRA): member toner cartridge recycling companies pledge to produce quality products and services, and to stand behind their products. Will provide names and telephone numbers of 3-5 members near caller. 202/857-1154.

The Resource Guide to Manufacturers' Recycling Products and Programs: published by the Business Products Industry Association. Contains extensive listings and descriptions of office products made from recovered materials. Contact BPIA, Customer Service Dept., 301 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2696.

Ecoprint's Newsletter for the Responsible Print Buyer: 301/585-7077.

Recycled Paper News: 703/451-0688.

No More Throw Aways

• Advertise surplus/reusable waste items through a materials exchange.
• Set up an area in your business for employees to exchange used items.
• Donate surplus produce or goods to food banks.
• Buy products that can be recycled locally.
• Donate to and shop at your local Goodwill, thrift stores, etc.

The Surplus Exchange: a not-for-profit linking businesses and charities. Businesses donate surplus items which are distributed to charitable organizations. 1107 Hickory, Kansas City, MO 64101. 816/472-0444.

Consult Choose to Reuse by Nikki & David Goldbeck, an encyclopedia of services, products, programs and nonprofit organizations that foster reuse. It includes more than 2000 resources and 200 topics. P.O. Box 87, Dept. CTRB, Woodstock, NY 12498. 914/679-5573.