How to make your office more eco friendly? It’s not just the office appliances that are being made to be more eco-friendly these days – office supplies are getting in on the action, too. Even binders are now available with recycled paper or made from post-consumer resin! Here are eleven ways to make your office more eco-friendly by using green binders.
Table of Contents
1. Use recycled paper in your binders
One of the most eco-friendly ways to make your office more green is by using binders with recycled paper – not only will you save on paper (and money), but you’ll also help to reduce landfill waste and contribute towards sustaining our land!
2. Use a post-consumer resin binder
Not into using recycled paper? There are binders on the market made from 100% post-consumer resin (PCR), which is the material that results when companies reprocess raw materials for items like plastic bottles to make new products. Using PCRs is an excellent way to reuse materials instead of raw materials and create more waste.
3. Stick to a neutral color
When you’re filling up your eco-friendly binders, don’t feel like you have to fill them with colorful documents – choose neutrals for office supplies whenever possible! Why? Filling up binders with pieces of paper that are all different colors creates more work for the paper mills because they have to use color separators to figure out how to make different colored papers. Using neutral-colored office supplies can help keep your eco-friendly binders looking neat and tidy – avoiding using multiple colors also helps you avoid having a rainbow of documents spilling all over the place!
4. Use a single subject binder when possible
Single-subject binders can help you cut down on the amount of paper you use in your office. Using multiple subjects for each of your binders (such as one for taxes and another for bills) means that you’ll need to make copies of every single document twice – once for each of them! If you’re only using your binder for a few documents, you might want to consider getting a ring insert and making them into more of a notebook. This is much more eco-friendly than using multiple subjects for binders – plus, it can save you time searching through it!
5. Make sure you have the right binder accessories
Having the right binder accessories is important to keep your binders together and neat – think about investing in some filler paper, dividers with tabs, binder pockets (for storing loose documents), page separators (if you don’t like writing on the tab), hanging files (for extra-long documents) or even sheet protectors for items that need more protection.
Having the right binder accessories can help you cut down on paper usage, too! Making copies of documents only once means less energy is used during the process.
6. Store your binders vertically
Many people store their binders lying down horizontally – but storing them vertically instead is better for the environment because it reduces paper waste. When you store binders lying down, they can sometimes get bent and damaged – especially during filing. Storing them vertically ensures that your binders keep their shape and last longer. Plus, stored upright, you’ll be able to see everything inside your binder more easily!
7. Get a binder with a clear overlay instead of a non-view binder
Non-view binders are a pain – they make it hard to see what’s inside, and that can waste time as you search through the contents for a particular document or piece of information. A clear overlay binder has a plastic sheet covering the front, allowing you to easily see the contents inside. These types of binders are a little sturdier, so you can store them vertically without worrying about them falling over and bending the rings.
8. Try a locking mechanism to keep your binder closed
If your binder tends to fall open when it’s sitting upright or when its contents are being changed, then look into getting a metal wire clip to hold it closed. These are sold at most office supply stores – look up the brand/model you have to find them online!
9. Don’t be afraid of eco-friendly binders made from recycled content
There are plenty of eco-friendly binders available that aren’t just made with recycled materials – they’re made with 100% recycled content materials! You can choose from binders that use 100% post-consumer waste recycled plastic for the covers, making them fully eco-friendly. Several manufacturers offer options such as these – look online to find out where you can buy them in your area.
10. Use clear sheet protectors to store frequently-used documents
Clear sheet protectors can be a quick and easy way to make your eco-friendly binders completely green. Just insert the document you need into the sheet protector, put it in the binder, and use a paper clip or two to hold it in place. This is perfect for frequently-used documents that need a little bit of added protection – such as tax receipts, birth certificates, and other important papers.
11. Use recycled filler paper to save trees
Using recycled filler paper can be a great way to keep your eco-friendly binders green. If you have only a few pages that need to be inserted into your binder but don’t want them loose- place the pages in the sheet protectors and insert them into the binder. This will keep your binders looking neat, plus reduce paper waste!
12. Try using a pencil pouch or other desktop organizer for smaller items
If you have miscellaneous small objects that need to be kept together, try getting a pencil pouch or other desktop organizer to keep them all in one spot. This makes it quick and easy to file your binder away without having to go through several pockets looking for the right thing. It’s also great for items such as paper clips and rubber bands – place them in the pouch and close it up when you’re not using them!
13. Use a hole punch to label your dividers
Dividers can help you keep your binder organized, but it can make it difficult to find the right one if they don’t have labels on the tabs. If you have a hole punch, use it to put labels on your dividers – choose an appropriate color for each label and write down what’s in that section of your binder. You’ll be able to easily identify where each type of document is stored this way.
14. Make custom dividers out of recycled paper
If you don’t have a whole bunch or want to make your dividers stand out, using recycled paper is the way to go. Just print a design onto some scrap computer paper and cut it up into 1″ strips for each divider – then attach them to the tabs before putting them in your binder. This is a great way to add a unique touch to your binder while also keeping it eco-friendly.
15. Store vital documents in an accordion file
If you need to store several pieces of paper together but want them separated from any other items – or if you have too many pieces of paper for your standard binder – try using an accordion file instead. This is a great way to store and organize everything from recipes and warranties to photos and memorabilia.
16. Keep your binder clean by storing it on a shelf or in a drawer
Most people keep their binders laying flat on top of their desks, but this is not the best spot. Try keeping them on a shelf or in a drawer instead – this way, they’ll be easy to find when you need them but won’t take up valuable desk space. Plus, it will keep your binders from getting scuffed and scratched, which can ruin the exterior of any binder. Make sure that your shelf is sturdy enough to carry the load of your documents. consider using stylish and functional shelf supports.
17. Use a large binder to organize papers from several smaller binders
If you need to store many documents but don’t have the space for them or want something unique and interesting, try using a large binder as your central storage unit. Place all of your small binders inside the larger binder, use dividers to separate each into its section, and label the tabs appropriately.
18. Create a “tickler” file to stay organized
If you feel like your papers are out of place too often or if you can’t keep track of everything that needs to be done- try creating a tickler file to help organize your life. This is a great way to ensure that you’ll never miss an important deadline, and it will help keep your papers (and your mind) organized and in place.
19. Use a binder clip to hold papers together
When several pieces of paper need to be kept together, try using a binder clip instead of storing them all loose in your binder. You can place it on the edge of your desk and hold them in place, or tape the back (non-clipped side) to a wall and use it as a makeshift bulletin board. Plus, you won’t have to worry about your papers falling out!
20. Keep tabs on tabbed dividers by punching small holes
If you need to keep your tabbed dividers in place, you can avoid them coming loose by using a hole punch to put small holes on either side of each divider. This will help ensure it doesn’t come out of the binder easily and allows you to flip through your documents without worrying about everything falling out.
While many people still use paper for important things, the green movement is becoming better known. With so many ways to go green in your office, there’s no reason not to start today – whether small or large! The changes you make have a cumulative effect, so even if it might seem daunting to try and change everything at once, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make a difference.
Final thoughts
So there you have it, 20 easy ways to make your office more eco friendly. If every person reading this article took even one of these suggestions to heart, we could make a real difference for the environment. And if that’s not incentive enough, think about how much money and energy you’ll save in the process! Ready to get started?
