Sustainable Office Solutions
The way in which customers buy and use their office equipment and services can impact their organisation's sustainability performance and sustainability targets. Office products and services under the Buying Solutions ‘Office Solutions' category includes:
- Paper
- Printing Services
- Multi-Functional Devices (all-in-one copying, scanning and faxing equipment)
- Office Supplies (including: paper, stationery, EOS and media, small business machines)
- Postal Services
- Courier Services
Some General Guiding Principles
Each product or service category under Office Solutions (e.g. Printing Services) will have category-specific sustainability impacts and issues, although there are some general principles that customers can use for sustainable office solutions:
Manage demand for office products and services
- Identify whether the product is really needed, or is this simply wanted (challenge wants versus needs)
- Determine how you can reduce demand for the office products or services
- Determine whether you can extend the life of an existing product?
- Identify what product/service substitutes are available offering sustainability benefits
Specify products which are recyclable and contain recycled content (including products which are purchased as part of a service)
Specify products and services which minimise waste across their ‘life cycle:'
- Product design - minimise waste associated with raw materials and materials for manufacturing, use recycled materials, fewer components, design for durability/long life, design for disassembly
- Product Packaging - minimise packaging, use returnable and reusable packaging, easily recyclable, contains recycled content
- Minimise carbon emissions associated with product delivery and/or delivery of a service
- Electrical equipment which is energy-efficient in use
- Supplier take-back schemes for packaging, equipment at its end of life e.g. MFDs, toner cartridges
These are just some of the possible ideas - the list is not definitive!
Buying Solutions Office Solutions framework agreements provide a comprehensive range of office products and services. The Office Solutions suppliers can provide their customers with products, services, and advice for assisting them in managing their sustainability performance:
- Paper framework agreements
- Multi-functional Devices (MFD) framework agreements
- Office Supplies framework agreements
- Postal Services framework agreements
- Courier Service framework agreements
Here to help
These web pages will bring you news and articles on items of interest within Sustainable Office Solutions, including new products and concepts and guidance and best practice for Sustainable Office Solutions.
If you have any questions relating to Sustainable Office Solutions please contact our Customer Service Desk on 0345 410 2222.