Judging from the amount of time we spend at our offices and other work locations, it is only logical to pay special attention to making sure they are efficient and green as possible. And it is not an excuse if it is not our cost or responsibility if you are working for someone else. As cliche as it may sound - we all share the same planet. We can all make a difference.

Here are a couple of simple things each person can do in the work place to make it more efficient and eco-friendly:

1. Use both sides of the paper, whether printing or copying. If just one in four workers would do this, in a year the savings would equal to 130 billion sheets of paper - a stack thicker than the diameter of the earth!
2. If possible, carpool. It saves gas - money for you and clean air for everyone.
3. Use a ceramic cup for your drinks at work: we use more than 14 billion paper cups every year - enough to circle the world 55 times! and the styrofoam ones will stay here for NINE generations.
4. Don't use disposable stirrers: just pour in your creamer and sugar first, then coffee. And for sugar and creamer - don't use disposable packets!
5. At lunchtime, use silverware and ceramic plates for food, instead of disposable. Ask for less packaging if ordering takeout. Store your food in glass or ceramic containers. Try to save on napkins - an average American uses 2,200 two ply napkins per year. And if you do end up with waste - dispose of it properly.
6. Try using recyclable/recycled labels - most make it impossible to recycle the envelope to which they have been stuck - or try printing directly onto the envelope. Use recycled and recycle paper. Use an eco-stapler which does not use metal staples: 643,000 metric tons of staples are produced annually in the USA! Avoid using rubber bands - they are made from crude oil (synthetic rubber) and pose serious health hazards when thrown out.Try using refillable pens, pencils and markers. Disposable pens will be in the landfill for fifty thousand years...

All in all, try telecommuting for work and conferencing. Its cheaper for you, earth AND you can do it in your pijamas :)

And now i leave you with a personal recommendation of mine: I absolutely LOVE these. Very original and make me feel very good every time i sharpen! You can by them in office supply stores or online.

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