Environmental Policy

We genuinely care about the environment

Eco Office Supplies is an Australian online retailer that supplies environmentally responsible alternatives to consumable office requisites.

From the sourcing of products to delivery, Eco Office® strives to minimise adverse environmental impacts in our operations and products.

We embrace the 3 R's of environmental management: re-duce, re-use, re-cycle!

Recycle and buy recycled!

Over 1.5 million tonnes of paper is kept out of landfill every year by recycling in Australia. However, there is no point in recycling if we don’t buy back the new products manufactured from our recycling efforts.

Buying recycled products ‘closes the loop’ by providing a market outlet for materials saved from landfill. As consumers we can have a great influence on the kinds of products made available to us, by changing our shopping habits and choosing environmentally-friendly products.

We fundamentally believe that the purchasing power of business, Government and consumers helps build demand and drive down the cost of recycled goods and environmentally responsible products and services.

The underlying goal of our business is to increase the demand for recycled products so that manufacturers have the incentive to meet the supply and minimise their own waste output.

Completing the life cycle of the recycled material, results in resource, waste, energy and water savings. Thanks to Eco Office®, our customers can ‘close the loop’ and buy it back!

Product selection

We actively seek out the most environmentally responsible products currently available on the market that are biodegradable or recyclable at end of life.

We are committed to supplying a range of sustainable products for our customers that contain recycled content; use non-toxic alternatives; are made from biodegradable renewable materials; save water or energy; and/or reduce landfill waste. Where available, we stock Australian-made products that support the local economy and reduce the carbon footprint associated with the transport of imported goods.

Paper, our main raw material, is sourced from ISO14001 accredited suppliers, consisting of at least 80% recycled fibre. All wood pulp required is from sustainable sources and only ECF (elemental chlorine free) or TCF (total chlorine free) bleaching processes are used, which avoids the discharge of harmful chlorine emissions to the environment.

We support the entrepreneurial efforts of manufacturers who seek innovative solutions and provide alternatives to everyday consumables that minimise environmental impact.

Self-declared environmental claims

We aim to set a new benchmark for honesty and transparency in product descriptions within the Eco Office® product catalogue. We will communicate the environmental benefits of each product with user-friendly product descriptions, supported by readily identifiable symbols to indicate where products are recycled, Australian made or certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the current Australian Certified Organic (ACO) standard.

Where a product contains recycled material, we will specify the percentage of recycled content and identify if it contains pre-consumer or post-consumer waste. We will also specify any ways that the product reduces waste and/or resource use (for example, super concentrated, light weight, low maintenance or long-life).

Paperless e-catalogues

We reduce paper consumption by efficient use, or by using paperless systems. Rather than printing bulky catalogues, we create tree-free paperless catalogues that are distributed in PDF format via email to our customers.

Paper

We use paper that is chlorine-free and recycled (with the highest post-consumer content currently available on the market). We also support the use of tree-free products such as those made from renewable resources (such as sugarcane bagasse) and/or paper fibre sourced from sustainably-managed plantations and forestry operations.

Carbon emissions

Where available, we stock Australian-made products that support the local economy and reduce the carbon footprint associated with the transport of imported goods. We actively seek to avoid and reduce emissions generated through freight from our warehouse to our customers by encouraging bulk orders (ie less frequent deliveries). The sale of undiluted, super-concentrated cleaning agents also reduces transport-related carbon emissions by not shipping water around Australia and reducing the frequency of product deliveries.

Printing

We select "green" printers that print directly from digital file to plate on chlorine free paper that is 100% recycled from post-consumer waste, using vegetable based inks.

Packaging

We re-use and recycle packaging cartons and loose-fill packing material. Our cartons are recyclable, and we use only degradable bubble wrap and loose fill packaging.

Purchasing

We adopt an environmentally preferable purchasing policy for the procurement of all goods and services for our business - that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment as compared to other goods and services serving the same purpose. We use recycled stationery and bathroom tissue, natural cleaning products, and remanufactured toner cartridges in our office.

Energy

We buy nationally accredited GreenPower for running our office. We use energy efficient globes; have insulation and use ceiling fans for efficient heating/cooling; and sky lights to maximise natural lighting. We minimise energy consumption by switching off unused appliances.

Cleaning

We minimise the use of harmful chemicals in our operations and work place. We use natural cleaning agents in a concentrated form in refillable containers to reduce packaging waste and minimise harmful effects on human health and the natural environment including our waterways and aquatic life. The cleaning products we use are free of petrochemicals, phosphates, chlorine, harsh acids, solvents and synthetic fragrances, and are not tested on animals.

Palm Oil

We recommend and support products that do not contain Palm Oil or Palm Oil derivatives sourced from Indonesia because of the associated issues with global warming, bio fuel, deforestation, loss of habitat, extinction of species, health and social issues.

Waste Management

We are committed to the practice of composting food waste and recycling all office waste including toner cartridges, mobile phones and e-waste. We only use biodegradable bin liners. We assist our clients to implement recycling programs and can provide recycling bins and educational signage.