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Sustainability
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Sustainable Purchasing Guide

With so many "green" labels and "environmentally- friendly" product options available, it can be challenging to determine what to purchase. The Office of Sustainability has conducted research and recommended a list of items to help you. We have attempted to include options that can be ordered from Office Depot/Office Max, but many are also available from other online retailers like Amazon.

This list is not exhaustive, so if you have other ideas, please feel free to share them with us. Email an idea

Purchase Considerations

Sustainable products should meet various criteria. 

Resale/Reused

Durable

Energy Efficient

Reusable

Recycled

Rechargeable

Office Supplies

  • Copy/Printer Paper
  • Boise® ASPEN® 100 Multi-Use Print & Copy Paper – 100% Recycled, FSC® Certified, White
    500 Sheets Per Ream, Case Of 10 Reams
    Office Depot Item #125420
  • Office Depot® Brand EnviroCopy® Copy Paper – 30% Recycled, FSC® Certified, White
    500 Sheets Per Ream, Case Of 10 Reams
    Office Depot Item #940650
  • SKILCRAFT® Ream-Wrapped Copy Paper – 100% Recycled, White
    Case Of 2500 Sheets
    Office Depot Item #558623
  • Tree Free Copy Paper – Made from Sugarcane Waste Fiber Carbon Neutral
    10 Reams 5000 Sheets
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Printworks – 100% Recycled Multipurpose Paper
    6 Reams 2400 sheets
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Note Pads
  • Envelopes
  • Quality Park® Redi-Seal® Catalog Envelopes, 100% Recycled, Brown Kraft, Pack Of 100
    Office Depot Item #761517
  • Office Depot® Brand #10 Lift & Press™ Premium Security Envelopes, Self Seal, 100% Recycled, White, Box Of 100
    Office Depot Item #190114
  • Writing Utensils
  • Tape
  • Scotch® Transparent Greener Tape, 3/4" x 900", Clear, Pack of 12 rolls
    Office Depot Item #452949

  • Scotch® Magic™ Greener Invisible Tape With Desktop Dispenser, 3/4" x 900", Clear, Pack of 10 rolls
    Office Depot Item #352106

  • Scotch® Box Lock Paper Packaging Tape, 1.88" x 25 Yd., Pack Of 8 Rolls
    Office Depot Item #7486541

  • Lichamp Brown Packing Tape, Kraft Paper Tape Brown Gummed Tape for Packing Boxes, Shipping Cardboard and Carton Sealing, 6 Rolls x 2 inch x 55 Yard x 7 mil
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Energy-Saving Surge Protectors
  • Facial Tissues

Single-Use Workplace Kitchen Items

  • Tableware and flatware

It is not easy to find large quantities of compostable tableware at stores in the Bloomington-Normal area. Therefore, it is often more economical to buy such items online. However, one should be careful of "green washing" that has become prevalent in the industry.  Suppliers can claim to have compostable products but package them in plastic or without BPI certification.

  • Green Paper Products has a lot of compostable cups, plates, utensils, and food containers. Consider sourcing products for an office zero-waste event from this Ohio-based organization committed to high quality and sustainable products.
  • Eco Products, Repurpose, and Vegware are also great brands, and their various cups, tableware, flatware, and food storage products are also available for sale on Amazon.
  • Compostable bags
  • UNNI 100% Compostable Bags, 2.6 Gallon, 9.84 Liter, 100 Count, Extra Thick 0.71 Mil, Small Kitchen Food Scrap Waste Bags
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Eco-Baggeez Sandwich/Snack Bags, Natural Brown Kraft Paper, Resealable, Recyclable, Compostable, Sustainable, 50 Count, 100% Made in USA
    Order on Amazon.com
  • UNNI 100% Compostable Food Prep Gloves, Restaurant-Quality, For Food Handling, Powder-Free, 100 Count
    Order on Amazon.com
  • 100% Compostable Food Storage Bags [Gallon 50 Pack] Eco-Friendly Freezer Bags, Resealable Bags, Heavy-Duty, Reusable, Off-White by Earth's Natural Alternative
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Fair Trade and/or Compostable Coffee Pods
  • GoodPod Single Origin: Honduras (Central American Road Trip Series), Fair Trade Organic, Medium Roast, Single Serve Coffee K Cup Pods, Compostable Plant-Based Coffee Pods, Keurig Brewer Compatible, 12 Count
    Order on Amazon.com
  • San Francisco Bay Compostable Coffee Pods - Assorted Variety Pack (80 Ct) K Cup Compatible including Keurig 2.0, Donut Shop, Colombian, Hazelnut, Espresso
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Fresh Roasted Coffee, Organic Single Origin envipods Variety Pack, Fair Trade Kosher, 48 Count, Compatible With 1.0 & 2.0 K Cup Brewers
    Order on Amazon.com
  • WILD JO: 36 Cup Organic Dark French Roast Compostable Coffee Pods for Keurig K-Cup Compatible Brewers
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Paper towels or sponges

Safer Choice Office Cleaning Products

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a database of “safer choice” cleaning products. We recommend checking out their database of Safer Choice-Certified Products . We also included some of our favorite green cleaning products for quick reference.

  • All-purpose cleaners
  • Dry Erase Board Cleaners
  • Quartet Dry Erase Board Cleaner Spray, Non-toxic, 17fl.Oz/503ml Whiteboard Cleaning Bottle
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Quartet Glass Dry Erase White Board Cleaner, Whiteboard Cleaning Spray, 17 oz, Orange Scented
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Cleaning Wipes
  • Dish Soap
  • Seventh Generation Dish Soap Liquid, Lavender Flower & Mint, 19 oz
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Meyer's Liquid Dish Soap, Biodegradable Formula, Lemon Verbena, 16 fl. Oz - Pack of 3
    Order on Amazon.com
  • ECOS Dish Soap - Cuts Grease & Food Residue - No Harsh Chemicals - Hypoallergenic for Sensitive Skin - Biodegradable Formula, Recyclable Sustainable Liquid Dishwashing Soap
    Order on Amazon.com
  • Hand Soap

Fair Trade and Responsibly Sourced Products

  • Food and Gifts
  • Crossroads Fair Trade Goods and Gifts in Bloomington has many fair trade products for purchase including coffees, teas, and unique gifts.
  • Gobena Coffee is roasted locally in Gridley, Illinois. Most coffee is fair trade and ground coffee can be purchased in bulk (please note that while they sell single-serve coffee pods, they are not compostable).
  • Equal Exchange Fairly Traded has many options of fair trade coffees, teas, hot chocolate, and chocolate.
  • Choice Organics Tea and Clipper Teas are great options for tea bags for the workplace or home.
  • Clothing and Swag
  • Royal Apparel is an American-made and eco-friendly garment production company that can be used to purchase and customize branded t-shirts, polos, hoodies, sweatshirts and bags. All this with organic cotton and sustainable production!
  • Ink Forest is America’s only women-owned and green-certified screen printer that exclusively uses water-based inks. And they’re located right here in Illinois! You can also order products from Royal Apparel and send them to Ink Forest for printing!
  • Eco Promotional Products, Inc. is vendor for all the swag your office may need. The big difference between this vendor and others is that all the items are eco-friendly and/or socially responsible.
  • A Perfect Promotion and 4imprint also has many sustainable swag options. Look for products that are made from organic cotton or are made with recycled materials.