| m-link"> | | | | communications...it'll save you money and toner/ink. |
| Sustainability in a business environment | | | | (2) Use Less and Buy Recycled Paper. Back in the |
| doesn’t necessarily have to cost money. | | | | early 90's when email was gaining popularity we all |
| Becoming carbon neutral is a must, not only for | | | | proclaimed that it was the beginning of the paperless |
| marketing to anyone under 35, with kids, or who likes | | | | office. But the paper companies weren't scared. |
| to breathe clean air, but it also creates a significant | | | | Paper sales went through the roof because now we |
| profitable money drop right to your bottom line. You | | | | had more information to print out, copy and share |
| don't have to wait for "Cap and Trade" to pass the | | | | with each other. Now there are a variety of |
| US Congress to embrace carbon neutrality. Carbon | | | | document sharing services, including free ones like |
| Credits are a responsible and cost effective way to | | | | Google Docs, while allow immediate sharing of and |
| not only help produce non-oil energy projects, but | | | | collaboration of documents without having to print |
| reduce your corporate costs, engage your | | | | out 5 copies for the group to mark up. It saves |
| employees and gain a Green Marketing advantage | | | | money, time and is much more efficient. |
| over your competitors. | | | | Furthermore, as the quality of recycled content |
| Reduce, Recycle and Reuse are the first part, and | | | | paper has gone up to photo quality level and the |
| below I'm going to give you 5 ways to do it. But if | | | | cost has gone down to below the cost of "new" |
| you can't, don't want to, or would rather just write a | | | | paper, it clearly makes no sense not to include the |
| check then understand Carbon Credits. | | | | procurement of recycled printer and copier paper in |
| Offset Your Carbon Footprint with Carbon Credits | | | | your corporate sustainability plan. |
| While Reducing, Reusing and Recycling is key in | | | | (3) Go Paperless with your invoices. PayPal and |
| preventing climate change, offsetting your carbon | | | | Google Checkout both have electronic invoicing |
| emissions is the next great step in the preservation | | | | capabilities for those of you who process payments |
| of our environment for generations to come. The | | | | via credit card, and for many companies, their PayPal |
| Carbon Calculator Math is below, or you could use a | | | | and Google Checkout accounts are tied directly to |
| Carbon Footprint Calculator at ( | | | | their corporate checking accounts for seemless, and |
| To offset your carbon emissions simply means to | | | | transaction fee free payment processing. They |
| neutralize your part in the polluting of our | | | | both offer a variety of export formats and integrate |
| environment. In technical terms, a carbon offset is a | | | | with popular accounting packages like QuickBooks and |
| certificate representing the reduction of one metric | | | | Microsoft Accounting. |
| ton (2,205 lbs) of carbon dioxide emissions. | | | | No more 3 copy carbon based invoices, no gas |
| Certified Projects are developed such as a | | | | guzzling postmen delivering the mail and no more |
| reforestation project that reduces carbon dioxide | | | | licking envelopes! |
| emissions, every ton of emissions reduced will result | | | | (4) Recycle Everything. Soda cans, newspapers, |
| in the creation of one certified carbon offset. | | | | used equipment, furniture and materials (if you're |
| Since carbon dioxide emissions are the principal cause | | | | manufacturing things) all carry a price. Aluminum |
| of climate change, purchasing carbon offsets is key | | | | cans trade for around $.80 a pound (32 12 ounce |
| to promoting a greener environment. | | | | cans = 1 pound) - so figure you can sell them to a |
| When you offset your personal carbon emissions, | | | | local recycler for a bit better than half of that. |
| you are doing your much-needed part in helping to | | | | Doesn't sound like a lot, but when you have an office |
| put an end to global warming and climate change. In | | | | full of Red Bull crazed employees or "Diet Coke |
| addition to making the world a better place, you just | | | | Fiends" it can actually add up relatively quickly. |
| might also score a few popularity points with your | | | | List your used equipment on Craigslist or Google for |
| friends and family. | | | | a local company that will pick up and "recycle" your |
| Here's 4 ways to save money while reducing your | | | | used equipment - or better yet, donate it to a local |
| carbon footprint. | | | | charity and take the tax deduction. Goodwill and |
| (1) Recycle Toner and Ink Jet Cartridges. These | | | | the Salvation Army will send out a truck to pick up |
| things, which always run out at the most inopportune | | | | larger items and most likely make weekly or monthly |
| time, cost way too much and, contrary to what the | | | | trips through your area. |
| big companies than manufacture them proclaim with | | | | The Challenge is not so much Global Climate Change, |
| their "send it in recycling programs" - end up in the | | | | but more of a personal one. Do we want to live in a |
| landfill, usually in the poorest areas of the world. | | | | clean world or a dirty one! Do we want to be |
| The technology and quality of recycled toner and ink | | | | subject to wars over fossil fuels? Are we, as |
| jet cartridges in many cases surpasses the original | | | | individuals, stewards of business, operators of |
| equipment manufacturers...and you get to support a | | | | government, and elected officials, willing to take |
| local business like yours when you patronize them. | | | | action to right the environmental wrongs we might |
| And don't forget to set your printers to "draft" | | | | create? The global becomes personal. |
| mode when you're not printing for official | | | | |