Sustainable Product Guide  whether you are a business, individual or school.

Paper:

The EPA recommends buying paper with a minimum of 30 percent post consumer fiber. 

• Aspen 100 - 100% post consumer waste copier paper
• Grays Harbor Paper - 100% post consumer waste
• New Leaf Encore Papers - 100% post consumer waste
• Greenline - 100% post consumer notebook paper and copier papers

notebooks and journals

• Eco Jot
• Ecosystem journals
• Envirotech 3-subject Notebook - available at Greener Office or Green Earth Office Supply 
• Little Dana Lemon Paper Journal - banana paper, acid free drawing paper

Recycled and Recyclable 3-ring Binders: 

8.5 x 11 3- ring binders

• Naked Binder.  100% Recycled and recyclable 3-ring binder -  97-100% post consumer waste board.
• Project Binder  sustainable and strong 3-ring binder -  97-100% post consumer waste board.
• Classic Binder  recycled, eco friendly 3-ring binder - FSC certified 97-100% post consumer waste board.
• Eames Wrapped Binder. Recycled Binder, 100% post consumer waste board, 30% post consumer waste wrap
• UrbanPosture - 100% recycled eco friendly binders with amazing silk screened designs.

11 x 17 3-ring binders

• Architect Binder - FSC certified, 100% post consumer waste, tested to 250,000 flexes, 11 x 17 tabloid style binder

Eco Friendly Pocket Folders and Binder Pockets

• Naked Folders - 100% recycled 97% post consumer waste,  Pocket folders available with either one or two pockets. Binder Pouches and cd holders clip into a 3-ring binder. All made with FSC certified board.

More and varied things:

Green Writing and Eating Implements

• ForestChoice® Graphite #2 Pencils- FSC-certified Incense-cedar casing
  
• TreeSmart Pencils and Pens - made from newspaper
• Paper Clips- Stick to the plain metal paper clips. The Colored ones are covered in PVC.
• Utensils - either use stainless steel or bio based compostable utensils - Spudware or Vegware

Clothes - sustainable clothing for 

•  Thrift Stores.  We have found the most amazing things in thrift stores including my wife's $400 shoes for $5.
• Swaps.  For adults or kids, people grow out of their clothes or decide they just don't like them anymore.
• Eco Fashion.  Check out  Natural Clothing Company, Eco fabulous, EcoSalon, Fabulously Green and there are many more options out there!

Books - how to be even more eco friendly and educated at the same time

• The Public Library. Now I love my books, but lets face it, I don't need  to own them all. Use the Library - Ben Franklin started it!
• Used Bookstores. 
• Library book sales - or any book sales.  Not everyone reads what you do, so you can always find a little treasure.
• Yard sales - people get rid of some really fine books.

Eco Friendly Light bulbs

In the US, about 22% of energy consumption is to light the world around us.  Through the use of better, more efficient bulbs, the Department of Energy hopes to drop that to about 6% in a few years.  That would be pretty amazing, really.

CFL -$$  By now we all know that compact Fluorescents last longer and use less energy.  In my personal experience, they never last as long as they say they will, but You do get much more light for lower wattage.  The main issue is that they need to be disposed of properly because of the mercury in them.  Please look up how in your area.  Apparently, some now don't use mercury.

LED - $$$ LEDs can produce light twice as efficiently -- in warmer, more eye-pleasing colors -- than today's compact fluorescents and last up to five times longer. The cost is a bit excessive, but we all dream of a day that that will drop. Also, no mercury. A year ago, these were $90, Now they are $15.  Next year, who knows, but I bought some and they are great.

How to green your Heating and Cooling

Ceiling fans can save you big by cycling air warm air down when you need it, or drawing cool air up to where you are.  If you have a big space we are going to have to recommend

Big Ass Fans - excellent name, and strong commitment to both high quality fans and saving a lot of dough on heating and cooling.  Plus, they are amazing people.

Low and No VOC Paints

We found this awesome guide on Re-Nest (you should check them out!) - short list (more info at Re-nest).

1 Benjamin Moore Aura and Natura

2 Bioshield Clay and Casein paints

3 Yolo Colorhouse

4 Sherwin-Williams Harmony Interior Latex

5 Green Planet Paints

6 The Old-Fashioned Milk Paint Company

7 Homestead House Paint Company

8 Dunn-Edwards EcoShield

9 Olympic Premium

10 Anna Sova Latex Wall Paint

11 AFM Safecoat

12 Mythic Paint

13 Earthborn Paint