Consumed at a rapid rate in offices, paper is often the first product organizations focus on when they decide to ‘go green.’

As part of the paper making process, trees, water, and energy are consumed and by-products such as hazardous waste and greenhouse gases are emitted.

To bridge the gap between the need for paper and its effects on the environment, The Responsible Purchasing Network at the non-profit Center for a New American Dream has come up with a Guide for Copy Paper to help purchasers keep costs and paper consumption down. The guide contains best practices from how to increase paper efficiency to recycling; looking at cost, quality and supply; model policies; minimum specifications for copy paper; how to look for standards and certifications as well as access to a database of eco-labeled paper products such as those that are EcoLogo, CFPA and Green Seal certified.

“What the Guide to Copy Paper does is demonstrate how switching to improved environmental papers saves money and paper. It’s about increasing efficiency,” says Chris O’Brien, Director of the Responsible Purchasing Network.

RPN’s site, www.responsiblepurchasing.org, also features a Paper Calculator that was developed by the Environmental Defense Fund. This tool helps companies to quantify the benefits of making better choices when it comes to copy paper selection and use.

Check back for more online tools to help measure your company’s resource consumption.

Posted by KateRusnak in Green office, Procurement