Beckons: Fresh, Organic, Fair Trade Fashion

Our Wednesday blog featured tips for how to have a green workout.  The next question: “what to wear?”

Above is just a sample of the stylish, organic cotton yoga wear Beckons has to offer.

EcoGreenOffice doesn’t make any claims of being a fashion connoisseur.  But one of our partners Beckons is serious about creating fresh, ecofriendly clothing that’s perfect for pilates and yoga, or for just hanging out.  

The organic, fair trade clothing line is domestically manufactured in Denver, Colo.  Not only are your purchases from Beckons better for the planet, but also they’re more comfortable.  Organic cotton fibers are longer, softer, less brittle and untainted by chemicals, making them more comfy to wear.

 

Another benefit?  You can be sure your clothing purchases will last for a while, says Becky Prater, Beckon’s founder and owner.    

“When I first started out, I said I wanted to make a piece that they’ll love for years and years.  If you’re striving to be ecoconscious, you have to make something that lasts awhile, or a long, long while,” she says.

Prater started Beckons in 2008 because she saw the need for an organic clothing line that offered more than Earth tone colors. 

“Just because you like organic, doesn’t mean you like Earth tones.  We felt like it was really important to bring colors to that market.  You can see now that people have been expanding into more colorful clothing,” Prater says.

Bright colors are only the beginning.  Beckons’ designs are based on Prater’s creativity and collection of favorite clothing items — only made with organic cotton.  Or, bamboo.  Inspired by the blue party dress worn by Edie Sedgwick in the 1970s, Prater designed a dress made from bamboo, appropriately named The Grace Bamboo dress.

  

“I absolutely love it, and it’s super cute,” Prater says.  EcoGreenOffice would have to agree.

You don't have to worry about Beckons skimping on green practices upstream, or downstream.      

“If you’re going to be green, you have to go all the way,” Prater says.    

Like EcoGreenOffice, Beckons is committed to the triplebottom line, where the planet and people are equally as important as profit.

Being green all the way, also means working with local entrepreneurs, like EcoGreenOffice and using sustainable supplies in your businesses’ practices.  

“I so appreciate that, that there’s a source we can go to support our business,” Prater says of EcoGreenOffice. 

Beckons even ship its products in a unique, sustainable way.  

“I’m really sorry it’s coming in a beer box, but even though it may not look as nice, it’s so much better than coming in a new box,” Prater says. 

And, when the clothing arrives, be prepared to open up more than a box.  Beckons’ clothing embraces the yogic lifestyle.  Each piece has an intention tag with a single characteristic that embodies that way of life: joy, strength, wisdom, grace, love, courage, peace, balance, and integrity.

Embracing this kind of wisdom, Prater views one aspect of the recession as positive

“I think I’m very a mindful shopper and I’m happy to see other people think about how they’re spending their money,” she says.

From style, to comfort, to longevity, to environmentally conscious, there’s no doubt that Beckons clothing is a thoughtful place to spend.    

Here it is: The Grace Bamboo Dress, inspired by Edie Sedgwick - Andy Warhol's muse - and designed by EGO partner Beckons.

Greening the Workday Workout

This year, weight loss and exercise are the top New Year’s resolutions, according to a poll conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

If these New Year’s resolutions sounds familiar, incorporate the ideas below to lower the eco footprint of your fitness and weight-loss routine. 

1) Before you purchase the gym pass, explore the great outdoors.  Stepping right outside the office and going for a run not only cuts back on carbon emissions, but also time.  With only an hour lunch break, fitting in the drive to the gym can be stressful. 

2) Exercise DVDs.  If you workout before or after the workday, be on the lookout for exercise DVDs.  Send an email to coworkers for borrowing exercise DVDs, or suggest an exchange.  Also, consider signing up for online yoga classes through YogaToday or YogaGlo, or picking up some workout DVDs from the local library, suggests Alexis Petru on Earth911.

3) If the weather keeps you in the gym, find a workout partner and choose a gym nearby.  That way, you and a coworker can share rides to the gym, help to motivate one another and cut back on miles traveled.  In between workouts, encourage your gym to adopt green practices, says Alexis Petru on Earth911.  From replacing broken machines with energy efficient ones, offering recycling, to installing low-flow showerheads, there are many ways the gym can lower its footprint.   

4) Keep a few reusable water bottles on hand.  Never have the excuse of forgetting your reusable water bottle, and consider having more than one on hand in places like the office kitchen cabinet, the car, near your desk, or in the gym bag.  That way you'll also remember to stay hydrated.  If you have to use a plastic water bottle, remember to recycle it. Producing new plastic products from recycled materials, instead of virgin materials, reduces energy use by two-thirds, reports Earth911. 

Fitting in time to workout each day, also means being organized.  Set aside some time to organize your desk, or your office before you start the workout routine.  From desktop literature organizers, to ProFormance Crocodile Embossed Pencil Cups, to bookends made from recycled materials, EcoGreenOffice offers  a variety of desktop accessories and workspace organizers for getting things in order the environmentally friendly way. 

Before you start your ecofriendly fitness routine, get organized with supplies from EcoGreenOffice made from recycled materials.  The Recycled Plastic Desk Drawer Organizer Tray pictured above is made from 100 percent recycled content.

For the New Year, Sit Comfortably With A New Office Chair

In a study conducted by the Herman Research Group, office workers spent about 93 percent of their time sitting in their office chair.  The research group also found that back pain is the single more expensive health problem for working age adults. 

Although multiple factors contribute to back pain, sitting comfortably may help to decrease current and future back pain. 

EcoGreenOffice has great deals on new office chairs.  The Veon Executive High-Back Task Chair has ergonomic cushions, which are designed to relieve back pain, and is made from 100 percent recycled content.  It’s also available for free shipping.  The Ignition Series GuestChair, made from 70 percent recycled content, is supplied through EcoGreenOffice for a savings of $78.41 from the listing price.   

  

To prevent your chair from scratching the office floor, consider a recycled office chair mat, made from 100 percent post-consumer content.   

When replacing your old office chair, you can use Earth911 to find a recycling location near your work.  Or, recycle your furniture through reuse options, such as Craigslist, Freecycle and organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Salvation Army, suggests Earth911.  

Qualifying for free shipping, EcoGreenOffice supplies the Veon Executive High-Back Task Chair pictured above.  The chair has ergonomic cushions, which are designed to relieve back pain, and is made from 100 percent recycled content.  

What’s the Environmental Impact of the Single-Cup Coffee Maker?

As much as you might want that coffee buzz to make it through the workday, drinking the burnt stuff that’s been sitting on the heating unit too long just doesn’t sound appealing.  Grinding and measuring the beans and cleaning the conventional coffee pot can also be a hassle.  It’s no wonder that the ingenious idea for the single-cup coffee maker has made a hit. 

Nearly 46 percent of the dollars going toward the purchase of coffee or espresso makers went to single-serve machines in the 12 months ending in November, reports an article in The Kansas City Star based on information from the NPD Group, a market research firm.

But, what’s the impact of this handy appliance? 

The K-Cup® package — a single-portion coffee packaging made by Keurig Inc., a major seller of the one-cup coffee maker — is put together so the coffee isn’t degraded by oxygen, light and moisture.  But this process of ensuring freshness, or making the foil top with a polyethylene coating and heat-sealing the various elements, makes recycling the packaging difficult, reports Keurig.

Other popular single-serving coffee makers, such as Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf late’s One Touch machine, and Nespresso make their packaging with materials similar to Keurig Inc., reports the The Kansas City Star article. 

Keurig, however, is working toward finding a more environmentally friendly packaging and has already developed other sustainable practices.  For example, the company has decreased the volume of its packaging by 30 percent and partners with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. based in Vermont, that has a reputation for environmentally friendly practices.  Green Mountain Coffee was the No. 1 buyer of fair trade coffee globally in 2012, reported Fair Trade USA.

In the meantime, do what you can and start composting the coffee or tea after using the single-serving packages and make sure you’ll drink the beverage before you make it. 

And, you can always consider going back to the conventional coffee maker in your office.  If you have an office of coffee fiends, who says that coffee won’t be drunk before it gets burnt?

EcoGreenOffice offers a variety of coffeemakers, including one-cup makers and conventional.  Not to mention, a Combination Coffee/Espresso Machine.

Avoid waste, hassle and burnt coffee with the  ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine supplied through EcoGreenOffice.

GHG Protocol Develops New Standards for Greenhouse Gas Accounting

Green businesses tend to have a common goal of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.  And, they generally want to let their customers know of their success, creating healthy competition. 

However, one business' standards for greenhouse gas accounting may be different from another. 

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) promotes an international standard for greenhouse gas accounting.  More than 1,000 businesses and organizations worldwide have developed their GHG inventories using the GHG Protocol, including 63 percent of Fortune 500 Companies, according to the 2007 Corporate Climate Communications report. 

For 2012, the GHG Protocol has launched two new standards.  These new standards include value chain activities, such as emissions from transporting a product, and the ghg emissions emitted by a specific product during that product’s lifecycle.   

A business interested in using GHG Protocol standards can access calculation tools and / or contact the GHG protocol team.   

Building retrofits and other major changes for reducing your business' greenhouse gas emissions aren't going to happen overnight.  However, ordering green office supplies can be a first easy step toward reducing emissions.  Using energy efficient electronics and recycled materials can all significantly reduce your business' carbon footprint. 

EcoGreenOffice makes it easy to go green in the office, making ecofriendly products easy to order and affordable.  The green office supply company, for example, is offering 5,000 sheets of 100 percent recycled Aspen office paper for $50.99, reduced from the list price of $214.88. 

Any business can become an EcoGreenOffice partner upon ordering a green product or service.  Partners can create a mini company website or "green page" that can be accessed by anyone.  The page can include a company overview, communication to other partners, and special online promotions and advertisements.   Moreover, the page automatically tracks how a businesses' green orders have benefited the environment.  The auto-mated enviro-calculator  is real time and updates as soon as green office products are ordered.

Begin reducing your business' carbon footprint now by using recycled materials and energy efficient electronics.  EcoGreenOffice makes using green products affordable.  The Aspen 100 percent post-consumer content paper pictured above is offered for $50.99 through EcoGreenOffice, down from the list price of $214.88.

Post-Holiday Office, or Home Clean Up The Green Way

Begin the New Year by doing something for the environment, and take care of the post-holiday waste with an ecoconsciously.  It won’t take too much of your time, and some of the tips for old gift cards and wrapping paper may be fun projects ideas to take home to the family for the weekend.   

Give the Christmas Tree a Second Life

About 33 million trees are sold in the U.S. every year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  It’s important to keep live Christmas trees out of the dump where they biodegrade slowly because of low oxygen levels, says Leah Blunt in an article on Earth911.com.  Earth911’s Treecycle Program offers the nation’s largest, most comprehensive treecycling directory, with over 4,000 treecycling resources.   

 Make sure to remove all the tinsel, ornaments and garland before you recycle. 

  

Gift Wrap and Holiday Cards

Wrapping paper with non-paper additives, such as glitter, gloss and metallic coatings and with no tape remnants can usually be recycled, according to giftdecorating.com.  You can also check with the local recycling facility to see if they have giftwrap collection programs.   

From creating homemade gift tags, to next year’s holiday wreaths, Alexis Pertu from Earth911.com has listed in her article Reuse Ideas for Holiday Cards and Gift Wrap tons of creative ideas.  

Quick Tips

- If you received some new clothes for the holidays, consider donating the old attire to a charity.

- Recycle the cardboard boxes the gifts came in, or save them for future gifts

- Keep the hoiday décor for the following year.  If you absolutely have to get rid of it, give it to a school, non-profit or another office in town

- Don’t forget to recycle the holiday wreaths too.  Ehow.com has some quick step-by-step instructions for keeping the wreath out of the landfill.

- If you received new office supplies from EcoGreenOffice, or elsewhere this year, look for places where you can recycle or donate the old office supplies, furniture and equipment.  Local schools may be looking for new printers and monitors, for example, and many Staples and Best Buy stores accept a wide array of electronics for recycling drop off.  

If you we're lucky enough this holiday to receive a new printer, like the Prospect Pro205 Wireless All-in-One Printer pictured above, supplied through EcoGreenOffice, remember to look for places to recycle or donate the old equipment.

Register Now for the First Climate Leadership Conference

Interested in exchanging ideas and information on how to simultaneously address climate change and run business operations competitively and sustainably?

Leaders from business, government, academic institutions and the non-profit community will exchange ideas and information at the first annual Climate Leadership Conference, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 29-March 1, 2012.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the headline sponsor. 

Conference attendees will discuss and offer solutions on topics such as setting and achieving greenhouse gas reduction goals, leveraging clean energy opportunities and education and engagement strategies. 

In conjunction with the Climate Leadership Conference, an awards gala will be held to honor award recipients of the Climate Leadership Award, sponsored by the EPA and three non-profit organizations.  The new national awards program recognizes exemplary corporate, organizational and individual leadership in response to climate change.   

A preliminary agenda and schedule for the conference has been announced and registration is currently available.

If you’re traveling to this conference, or another, protect your presentation with the Redrope Artist Portfolio made from 30 percent recycled content supplied through EcoGreenOffice.  The case is extra large, so it’s ideal for transporting large drawings, art and presentation boards and includes a carrying handle. 

Protect your presentation with the the Redrope Artist Portfolio made from 30 percent recycled supplied through EcoGreenOffice.

LEED Retrofits Surpasses New Construction

 Although important to ensure newly constructed buildings are built green, there's currently more than 60 billion square feet of existing commercial buildings in the U.S.  that could be made over.   Greening existing buildings creates jobs, and helps businesses to save money, provide healthier environments for their employees and reduce their carbon footprint.  

New data shows that in 2011, buildings retrofitted to be LEED certified exceeded buildings newly constructed to be LEED certified by 15 million square feet, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). 

An acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED was developed by USGBC in March 2000 and is an internationally recognized rating system.  

LEED certified buildings are reconstructed, or built to be energy and water efficient, greatly decreasing the building's cost of operation.  The recently LEED-certified Empire State building, for example, anticipates a reduction in energy consumption by more than 38 percent, equaling a savings of $4.4 million annually in energy costs.  They also predict implementation costs will be recovered in three years.   

Buildings that have been LEED certified also include indoor environmental quality improvements, such as better air filtration and use of less toxic cleaning products.  

More than 43 million projects are currently participating in the commercial and industrial LEED rating systems, comprising nearly 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries.

Visit USGBC.org to find out how to make your office building, or home LEED certified.

Start cutting energy costs and save money now with CFLs and powerstrips from EcoGreenOffice.  Also, for nontoxic cleaning, and a healthier and safer office environment, EcoGreenOffice has a variety of green cleaning supplies, such as the Simple Green Concentrated Cleaner and nontoxic, all-purpose cleaning wipes. 

You can't make your office building, or home LEED certified overnight.  In the meantime, start creating a healthier office environment with green cleaning products, such the the nontoxic all-purpose cleaning wipes from EcoGreenOffice pictured above.

One Day Left to Participate In EcoGreenOffice’s Energy Star Printer Giveaway!

Enter today to win a wireless HP printer ($123 value) from EcoGreenOffice by answering three short questions.  One winner will be selected at random on December 31 (U.S. residents only, and must be 18 years of age).

This wireless HP printer with a TouchSmart screen copies, scans and prints lab-quality photos and everyday documents at rapid speeds.  With the Photosmart D110a e-All-in-One Inkjet Printer, you can print, copy and scan without turning on your PC. 

This printer meets ENERGY STAR requirements, meaning it’s easy on the planet and on your budget.

There are over 170 million imaging equipment units in U.S. buildings, consuming 30 billion kWh each year.  This totals more than one percent of the U.S. building sector electricity consumption, reports the U.S. EPA and Department of Energy ENERGY STAR program.

For the New Year, when it come time to purchase or replace computers and electronics make a resolution to look for ENERGY STAR products.  If all U.S. homes replaced their customary imaging equipment, such as copiers, fax machines and printers, with units that meet ENERGY STAR requirements, Americans would save nearly $300 million annually — an energy savings equivalent to lighting 1.4 million U.S. homes for one year!

When replacing computers and electronics, check out the HP Planet Partners return & recycling program. 

  

Also for the New Year, make a commitment to print double-sided, and use ink cartridges and paper made from recycled content available through EcoGreenOffice.

EcoGreenOffice would like to wish you a Happy New Year and good luck in the contest! 

EcoGreenOffice Holiday Sweepstakes! HP Photosmart Printer $123.00 VALUE.  

Cut Energy and Costs In the Office

In the U.S., buildings accounted for 39.4 percent of total U.S. energy consumption and 67.9 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2002, according to the EPA. 

Companies and organizations that have adopted effective energy management strategies and programs have saved millions of dollars, reports the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR program. 

Here are a few examples of companies that have saved money provided by ENERGY STAR:

1) Ford Motor Company has saved over $75 million though effective energy management.

2) Eastman Kodak saved more than $8.6 million in operating costs in 2002 from its energy management efforts.

3) Hines estimates the difference in operational costs between its energy efficient buildings and inefficient buildings at more than $13 million.

If you’re interested in improving your building’s energy efficiency and cutting costs, the ENERGY STAR program provides “seven steps” for managing energy usage in office buildings. 

Here’s some quick tips to make your office more energy efficient now:

1) Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents and save up to 75% of electric costs.  EcoGreenOffice supplies a variety of CFLs.   

2) Shut down the computer when not in use and set it to energy-savings settings.

3) Connect the desk lamp, computer, printer, or the entire desktop setup to a power strip with an on / off switch.  Turn off the power strip at the end of the day.

EcoGreenOffice supplies the “SmartSockets Color-Coded Strip Surge Protector,” with six outlets and six feet of cord.

4) Of course, turn off the lights when you leave a room.

5) Dim the lights in the hallways and other spaces where bright light is unnecessary the majority of the time.    

Connect the desktop setup to a power strip that you can switch off at the end of the day.  Consider purchasing EcoGreenOffice's SmartSockets Color-Coded Strip Surge Protector pictured above.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday weekend from EcoGreenOffice!  Thanks for being part of our mission to meet the needs of green-minded businesses and organizations while helping the environment. 

“Greennii” Verifies Green Product Labels For You

This week, we’re spotlighting “Greennii,” an EcoGreenOffice partner based in California’s San Francisco Bay Area.  Greennii is an online company with a research database that “covers soap to solar.”   

Like a “foodie,” or people who love food and drink, a “greennii” is a person who loves green products and wants to live a more sustainable lifestyle, says Chris Irvine, founder and managing director of Greennii.  

The goal of the company is to make “greenniis” feel confident about their choices.  The average person doesn’t have time to research whether companies — many driven by advertising — are “greenwashing,” or advertising themselves as green and sustainable in order to drive up sales.    

 With an online presence, the business is home to an "extensive library of Greennii-vetted products, companies and resources."  Products or companies listed in the library have passed a sustainability test.  

“The whole goal is to do the research for you, so you don’t have to spend hours upon days to find the low-flow showerhead,” Irvine says. 

All companies and products are vetted by the same high standards — including sustainable, local, organic and socially responsible standards.   

 The online company holds itself to it’s own eco conscious standards.  Greennii employees compost, recycle at the office and in their homes, ride bikes to work and meetings and hang their clothes to dry possible whenever possible … among many other things.  They even carry their own personal towels to restaurants to avoid using the paper towels at restaurants they frequent.  The restaurants they frequent support local, organic farms and use recycled and compostable containers for takeout.

Greennii realizes that attaining perfection in all areas isn’t easy to achieve.  So, the company’s first and foremost qualifier is “truth.”  For example, if a company says that it’s sustainable, then Greennii researches how the company fulfills that statement from start to finish.  To be listed on Greennii’s site, you don't have to be perfect, just honest. 

EcoGreenOffice makes Greennii’s cut.  The green office supply company offers conventional products, as well as green products — and is honest about which products are green and which are conventional.   EcoGreenOffice realizes that businesses can’t instantly become green, so the company offers one green product at a time, helping companies to develop a long-term game plan and eventually choose from a full list of sustainable office supplies.  Ultimately, EcoGreenOffice believes in a “triple bottom line”— or helping the "people, the planet and your profit margin."  

What’s next for Greennii?  Just over two years old, the business already has 800 plus products archived in the library, with another 700 to come in January 2012.  Greennii will also have more videos on the site, so their clients can have an interactive way to learn what they can do to lead a sustainable lifestyle.

“The idea is “green TV.”  It’s something they can tie back into their lives, will show them where to find these products and something they can easily share with friends and family,” says Irvine. 

EcoGreenOffice is a proud partner of Greennii, a "hub for Green Vetting of products and companies."

Reduce Toxic Cleaning Products and Divert Waste from the Landfill

Around the holidays, there’s bound to be more traffic through the office kitchen with people bringing in sweet treats.  Or, maybe the office holiday party is held in the kitchen.

When cleaning the kitchen before and after the gatherings, you don’t want it smelling like toxic fumes.  Replace conventional cleaners with ones that are natural, such as the “Simple Green Concentrated Cleaner,” or the “All-Purpose Industrial Degreaser/Cleaner.”  Both of these products are offered through EcoGreenOffice, and they are nontoxic and biodegradable, and can be used on multiple surfaces, including wood, stainless steel and fiberglass. 

For a quick cleanup, check out a pack of all-purpose cleaning nontoxic cleaning wipes made from compostable, biodegradable bamboo fibers.  Or, try the scouring stick made from 100% post-consumer content.

You also want to make sure that people are throwing their waste in the right bin.  Make sure the trash, recycling and composting bins are clearly labeled.  Consider listing on the recycling and composting bins what can and cannot be recycled or composted, so there’s no confusion.  Check out your municipality’s recycling rules for an informative and expert list.   

If you don’t have a recycling bin, or need another one, EcoGreenOffice has a variety of recycling receptacles.  And, don’t forget earth-friendly kitchen & trash bags made from 65% recycled content available in black or white.

Finally, before people enter the office building, have them wipe their feet on a doormat with a carpeted surface made from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles and a rubber backing made with used tires. 

It's important to use cleaning products free of harmful chemicals every time we clean, and it's especially important to use nontoxic products in the kitchen, so food isn't contaminated.  "Simple Green Concentrated Cleaner" is just one multipurpose ecofriendly cleaner supplied through EcoGreenOffice.  

Green the Office Holiday Party

The date and the location for the holiday work party is likely set.  But, it’s not too late to get cups, serving utensils and other party supplies that are ecofriendly.   

Cups

For hot drinks, EcoGreenOffice has a variety of FDA approved paper cups made from recycled content.  The Bare Ecoforward Recycled Content PCF Hot Cups, for example, are made from 90% post-consumer material.  A 10-ounce pack of 50 is available for the reduced price of $4.99.  Hot cup lids are also available on the site. 

EcoGreenOffice has unbleached hot cup sleeves for paper cups of all sizes, made from 100% post-consumer content.  The sleeves are recyclable, reusable and compostable.

  

For cold drinks, EcoGreenOffice offers clear cups and lids made from recycled PET bottles.  You can order these cups in different sizes and in cartons from 50 to 1,000.

  

Corn-based compostable straws are also supplied through EcoGreenOffice.

Serving Utensils

EcoGreenOffice has heat tolerable compostable forks, knives and spoons.   But, remember, if a product is compostable, that doesn’t mean it can be recycled, or that it will compost in the landfill.  Check to see if your municipality offers composting.  If composting isn’t available, you can still purchase forks and other cutlery made from plant starch — a renewable resource — from EcoGreenOffice.

Dinnerware

Plates made from sugarcane, another renewable resource, are also available through EcoGreenOffice.  They are sturdy, and microwaveable and freezer safe.  Available in 6# or 10#.  These plates are also compostable.

Check out EcoGreenOffice's other dinnerware options.

Napkins

EcoGreenOffice has napkins made from 100% recycled paper in brown or white.  A 500 pack is available for as low as $9.99. 

  

Beverage napkins made from 100 percent recycled material are also an option through EcoGreenOffice.

These party supplies can be used regularly in the office kitchen all year long.  Let people at the party know what can be recycled, what can be composted and what needs to go in the trash --this will help ensure that all goes smoothly with the recycling process downstream.   

Choose these 100% renewable plates made from sugarcane and other green eating ware from EcoGreenOffice.

Green Gift Ideas for Your Coworkers

Searching for the perfect gifts for your colleagues?  Giving eco-friendly, sustainably minded presents will not only spread cheer around the office, but will also be a gift to the environment.

Chocolate, fruit, nuts, coffee, beer and wine always make for perfect presents.  Look for food and beverages that are organic and / or fair trade. 

Organic foodstuff is grown and produced without the use of synthetic herbicides or fertilizers, meaning we are putting less harmful chemicals in our bodies and in the Earth.  Fair trade products come from farmers and workers who are justly compensated.  By buying fair trade goods, you are helping to improve members of a community’s day-to-day lives.

EcoExpress is one online company that offers organic fruit baskets, chocolate, wine and beer.

Or, find organic and fair trade goods at locally owned stores.  Shopping at locally owned, small stores is a boost for the local economy and environment.  Click here to read more about the benefits of purchasing from stores owned and operated by someone in your community. 

Another idea is to buy your office mates reusable coffee mugs, water bottles and grocery bags. 

Then, there’s always those office essentials to think about for gifts.  Why not give a BeGreen Gel Rolling Ball pen — made from 89% post-consumer content — to that coworker who’s always asking to borrow a pen?  EcoGeen office offers a variety of other green writing tools, including pens, pencils, pen refills, erasers and more.   

With a new year around the corner, desk pad calendars and planners made from recycled materials supplied through EcoGreenOffice are also a great gift choice. 

Finally, think about truly greening your office by gifting a plant.  Not only are plants beautiful, reports treehugger.com, but they can also help to clean the air we breathe!

Have fun looking for the perfect green office gifts and don’t forget to check out the EcoGreenOffice product catalog.  If you have some other great ideas for eco-friendly presents, please share! 

2012 is almost upon us!  Help yourself and your colleagues start planning for the new year now with a desktop calendar made from 100% post-consumer content.  Available through EcoGreenOffice.