Going green isn’t always so good for your greens.  By that I mean trying to adhere strictly to environment friendly products is often quite a bit more expensive.   Sure, you’ll be a much better caretaker of the planet, but it’s going to cost you where it hurts the most, the wallet.    The reason these green products cost so much more is really quite simple.  It has everything to do with the production costs.  It’s more expensive to produce green friendly products because standard production lines often have to be stopped and reset specifically for the recycled products.  This is a costly process. 

Within the office supplies industry this is particularly interesting.  So many consumers claim that they either are or want to be green compliant and yet, they are unwilling to pay the extra money that would be required to actually make them truly green.   The office supply world offers a truly unique opportunity for an almost complete green conversion.  Every mundane purchase could be recycled green products but such is rarely the case.     

Almost every product is manufactured with either paper, plastic, or metals.  And yet, the recycled versions are no where near the top seller list.   You can buy standard Avery Labels or the eco-friendly ones, the regular Smead folders or the recycled ones.  The reality is that even given an opportunity to spend someone else’s money (in this case their company’s) , green products are more often than not overlooked by purchasers and office managers.    

Perhaps this is because they have yet to look at new options and prefer the status quo.  Perhaps it is that they are merely stretching a meager budget.  Whatever the case may be, the recycled products have a lot of room for growth.   Companies want to brag about how green they are.  This is often used for marketing purposes.  Therefore, bragging rights will help drive the business.  Additionally, tax incentives and grants are available to those able to clearly demonstrate the high degree of their ”greenness.” 

Whether you are a believer in global warming or you are skeptical of the science proclaiming it as truth, one thing when can all agree on is that there is nothing wrong with living on a cleaner planet when at all possible.  

Here’s an interesting sneak preview of a product taking Europe by storm and soon to the same in the US.  It’s the B2P pen by Pilot that takes those  often discarded plastic bottles and recycles them into something of great use…a pen.  Plus, it writes beautifully…never a bad thing in a pen.  The art of writing is alive and well.   

The fact of the matter, is that there are many eco-friendly office products currently available.  The manufacturers are doing their part.  What about your office?   

Environmentally Friendly – 89% Recycled Content

• The world’s first recycled pen made from a plastic bottle!
• Features Smooth Writing and Smear-Proof G2 Ink
• Made from 89% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles
• Meets ISO 14001 and 14021 Standards
• Retractable, Fine Point
• Refillable for continued use with G2 Gel Ink Refills