In addition to these, there are further measures  which may be taken towards making our working lives even more eco aware. 

A plethora of products are now available for use in our offices and homes which are readily available to order easily and safely on line. This shopping method, saving both our time, and the most precious commodity, fuel.

An easy method of making a difference is by using recycled paper, perfect for office use and produced from 100% household waste. Great for the environment, accredited by Greenpeace and guaranteed for use in inkjet and laser printers alike and also photocopiers.

Continuing with the paper theme, why not use recycled notepads? These are available in varying sizes  and may have been tyres, juice cartons, cardboard boxes or packaging in a previous life.

When we write on our eco friendly paper and note pads, we can use recycled pens and pencils. These products may have been made from items such as games consoles, car parts or crisp packets which might have ended their days in a land fill site. A full range is available from ballpoint and roller ball pens, whiteboard and permanent markers, pens with super fine tips to colouring pencils. All work just as well as their non recycled counterparts.

An innovation is the stapler that doesn’t need staples!  How much metal could be saved each year with one of those?  It’s handheld and will clip up to three pages together by using a clever cutting and folding action.

Another great idea – the water powered calculator. Unlike the solar powered variety, it will function regardless of light supply. It’s power source is an H20 battery, which will last two to three years with perpetual use and all it’s components are recyclable. A ceaseless energy supply is maintained by refilling the battery as the water evaporates. If kept in it’s dry state, it will last indefinitely.

Did you know that most padded envelopes cannot be recycled?  it is sensible therefore, to re use them as much as possible. There is a handy adhesive label dispenser available which sits well on your office desks. It is made from 100% recycled cardboard and dispenses adhesive labels cleanly and efficiently.

Becoming ‘eco aware’ is becoming easier to achieve.

That’s probably the understatement of the year thus far!

We can all as individuals do small things to counteract or reduce the perpetual damage we are causing.

Recycling, for example has been made simple for us both at home and at the office. It is effective and easy  and we’ve been aware of it for many years .

There are facilities available to recycle our plastic, glass and most metal items. This can be effected at home and by taking the items to a local depot or to convenient recycling areas

We can all save power by switching off lights in empty rooms or offices. We can learn to turn off power sources to various appliances and not leave them on ‘standby’.

we do not need to drink and eat from disposable cups and plates . Some materials from which these are manufactured may be biodegradable but many are not.  A china cup improves the pleasure of drinking a cup of coffee or tea immeasurably. That alone is a real benefit to the consumer.

Bottled water is a total waste of our resources when good, clean, drinkable water is so readily available to all.  Recent reports show that the amount of plastic waste from packaging generated each year in the UK alone is estimated at 1.5 million tonnes.  Reducing that figure would do wonders for our environment.

Email is a boon to society as  thanks to the ‘information age’ we can share our ideas, news items, jokes and anecdotes with everyone without the use of paper resources. Just remember not to print! Few  emails are so important that we need a copy to keep for posterity .

A significant move towards being ‘eco aware’ in the workplace is the use of recycled materials in the production of office furniture. 

A product called Wheatboard has been introduced. It is a by product of wheat straw and would normally  be discarded and burnt or left in landfills . It uses no formaldehyde in it’s construction and when produced into boards, is incredibly versatile as it may be painted, varnished, sealed etc and formed into many designs.

It’s qualities of being lightweight and extremely durable have made it a viable alternative to wood and a renewable material perfect  for making  office desks, cabinets and cupboards as well as items of furniture for the home.

We can all become ‘eco aware’ both  at home or work with merely  a little thought and practical application.