We know that environmental problems have become so complex that many individuals and corporations feel they can have no effect on them. However, we have decided that no action at all is a much worse option for the planet, for our customers, and for our business. Our Green Efforts revolve around our own recycling, customer equipment recycling and disposal, energy use reduction, and our Zero Carbon initiative.
Our waste reduction and recycling activities can make a difference. Waste reduction, reuse, and recycling allow us to use fewer raw materials and conserve natural resources, preserving landfill space and minimizing energy use. The impact is difficult to ignore, especially when a typical office worker throws away about 180 pounds of high-grade recyclable paper every year.
Today, recovered paper comes from many sources. For us it includes cardboard boxes and mixed office paper. Whether it's plain white paper, or colored paper, glossy, newspapers, magazines or envelopes, we recycle it all. (Note: if the paper contains sensitive information our company does shred it before recycling.) While the common perception is that recycled fiber is mostly used to produce products of lower quality, today recycled fiber can sometimes be used interchangeably with new fiber to make even the highest quality grades of paper.
In the UK, the home of our first international branch, awareness on recycling and environmental issues is even stronger, so we've taken the approach of implementing programs both in the US and UK that abide by the most aggressive regulations.
Tech Superpowers Recycling
Even though most of our recycling is paper based, as was most of our waste, we also recycle old and broken electronics, office furniture, and other plastic and glassware that our employees and café customers use. Besides recycling, we also buy recycled products for many of our office supply needs and have included in our recycling program implementing many waste reducing strategies such as sending computer printer and photocopier toner cartridges back to the vendor for remanufacturing and providing reusable flatware, plates, glasses, and mugs for employee use instead of disposable paper and plastic items.
Of course, we could never recycle 100 percent of the paper we use as much of it is soiled with food or other contaminants, and a lot of paper is stored permanently in the form of books and other reusable documents. Nor does recycling offset the many other pollutants that our company creates in order to efficiently provide you with the best services. Our Zero Carbon Initiative is our attempt to account for and offset some of these factors, including carbon emissions for car and air travel.
We also offer our Customer Recycling Program, which offers low-cost disposal of electronic items for our customers.
Paperless Invoicing
Of course, nothing's better than not using paper to begin with, which is the point of our Paperless Invoicing system. Not only does paperless invoicing result in faster and more accurate communications, it also reduces paper usage and our supply chain carbon footprint in the long term.
Recycling Resources
For more information about Save That Stuff, the recycling group that the Boston office of Tech Superpowers contracts to recycle our plastic, paper, and other materials, please visit their website at http://www.savethatstuff.com. They will set up a one-time free consultation to go over the specific needs of your business and set up your recycling plan to meet those needs.
Related Topics include: Paperless Invoicing, Zero Carbon Initiative, Customer Recycling Program, Community Service
