My Eco-Friendly Office
Tomorrow is Earth Day and Team Stylebook thought you might like to hear about a few of my favorite eco-friendly office picks. Well, I’m happy to oblige, but first, let me tell you what you should look for when searching to fill your office. Here are a few rules of thumb:
Stay close to home.
If you find something that is made within 200 miles of your home that would be considered sustainable. Transportation to the end-user is the second highest major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions after energy and electricity use. The closer to home the smaller the carbon footprint.
Pick natural materials that are biodegradable or can be recycled.
This needs little explanation. Natural materials that can be recycled, repaired, or biodegrade are better than products made with plastics and synthetic materials that don’t do any of those things. Think wool, wood, linen, glass, and metals.
Look for certifications like FSC or B Corp certification.
When in doubt look for certifications that companies proudly display. Is the wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council? Is the company B Corp certified? Is it organic? Our Sydney Hale candles are B Corp certified, made locally, and make any office smell great!
Buy quality over quantity.
Here’s the deal when it comes to buying something. Always buy just a little more than you can afford when it comes to big items. And, even some smaller ones. The cost of several cheaply made items over the lifetime of one quality item ultimately may be more expensive. And means more trash in landfills that may or may not biodegrade. For instance, a Cisco chair is more than an Ikea one, but it will last 10x longer than an Ikea one ever would. One Cisco chair is less than 10 Ikea ones.
Consider how it’s made.
A sustainable product generates less carbon emissions or takes less water and energy to make. Sometimes knowing what it takes to make something is difficult, but a little research goes a long way. For instance, cotton, though a natural material, is less sustainable than hemp or flax because it uses more water to harvest.
These are just guidelines. Not every product meets all these criteria. For example, a linen shirt is sustainable but that gets diminished with the miles added to its transport. If you can’t get all, get as many as you can. Every little bit helps!
As for what I’d pick for my office…
I have a couple of places where I work at home. Mostly it’s at the dining table, but I also have a vintage desk that was a gift from my parents. They found it on an antiquing trip and my mom refinished it for me. Nicely tucked away in the perfect corner of my basement, it is the epitome of reuse and recycle.
Underneath both pieces are wool rugs. Dash and Albert upstairs (while the rug pictured here isn’t in my home, it’s a favorite pick!) and wall-to-wall in the basement. Wool is also naturally fire retardant and easy to clean.
Task lighting is always essential on a desk. I chose this one designed by Thomas O’Brien. It’s great quality and will last forever. Plus, it’s just so good. (We don’t have it at the store but can certainly order it for you!)
At my desk is a Cisco Home Bertoli dining chair slipcovered (for easy cleaning!) in a beautiful Clay McLaurin linen fabric. Sustainability is part of every Cisco piece of furniture. The wood comes from FSC certified mills, the metal coils are made from recycled metal, and all the cushions are a soy and poly blend. You could even go greener with their Inside Green construction if you wanted!
Now, for office supplies: I only use two notebooks/pads and my favorite pencils. I love my new fountain pen (which, btw, is also sustainable because it can be refilled and reused over and over), but ultimately, I’m a pencil person. My Blackwings are my go-to all day, every day. Made of natural materials that biodegrade makes them a sustainable choice. Adding a pencil extender to use every ounce of graphite you can means little goes to waste. And, their sharpener is the best ever. It’s a small investment, but like the Ikea chair example, it will save you from broken sharpeners and will make your pencils last longer because it sharpens right every time. Finally, my choices for paper are easy. Appointed, which one, is made and assembled right in DC, and two, can be recycled. It’s a win/win and mine are monogrammed! My favorite notepad is the No 19 lined from Rhodia. Though made in France, the company is very eco-friendly. So much so that I’ll let you read about it here rather than type it all out.
Since I opened for business in 2007 eco-friendly products are easier and easier to find and you can find many at Red Barn Mercantile and Penny Post. Wink. Wink.
