Whether you are heading to school, helping a significant other pack their things into a cube of a room in a building full of excitable teenagers, or using the Back to School sales to stock up on office and paper supplies, it’s always a great idea to keep it green. Office supplies, like anything else on the planet, can—and should—be made in a sustainable way. Thanks to science (!) companies all over the world have found genius ways to put a green spin on our favorite and most essential office work needs. From banana paper to staple-free ways to “staple” this list is will keep your office a green, mean, and flawless machine.

BANANA PAPER

 

Is anything more green and genius than Banana fiber paper? This sustainable way of making paper combines two different types of recyclable materials to make an ultrasmooth and very practical paper. Unlike stone-made eco-papers that may toe the line of sustainability, this paper uses agricultural scraps from trees (a lot of times from unused, or dead, banana trees and leaves) and recycled paper to make this paper great to use and easy on the environment. Score a ream of 500 pages here.

 

B2P PENS by PILOT

From nonsensical plastic bottles to reusable pens, pilot has found a way to turn waste into pure green magic. These pens can be made from 89.9% to 95% recyclable plastic materials  (the same kind that we recycle every day). Just because these pens are green, does not mean you lose options. You can decide between ball point, gel ink, or refillable items. Get your pack of pens at Office World, and feel free to get the word out. It’s such a simple way to be more green.

 

MARUMAN ECO SPIRAL NOTEBOOK

These cute Spiral Notebook are not only green, but they are also pastel to match you, or your child’s, favorite colors. The paper has been sourced from sustainable forests, the printed lines are from eco-friendly inks, even the white coating used for the spirals on the notebook are biodegradable. Maruman made sure that these notebooks came in a multiplicity of sizes and colors for every type of conceivable travel and office uses. Though they are from a Japanese company, thanks to Jet Pens, you can score your own set of beautiful, FSC Certified, eco loving loving notebooks.

 

GIMME! COFFEE: FRACKTIVIST BLEND

You need it for those late nights of studying or to help you hold yourself together on those awfully chilly early morning errands. Coffee: the true elixir of the goddess, is an essential for modern life. But its cultivation doesn’t have to bankrupt communities or contribute to the destruction of local environments. If anything, your cup of joe can be used to empower activists in your community. Gimme! Coffee not only gives you the opportunity to source your coffee responsibly, but with their fracktivist blend you can monetarily contribute to the fight against fracking in our communities. Lift your spirits all the way up with a morning cup of ethics!

 

MILACHI TOTE BAG

This beautiful tote bag is the result of expert artisanship. Made completely out of recycled plastic bags, I have no idea how the maker got this wonderfully marbled effect with the white and purple bags, but I am glad they did. Throw your notebooks, pens, diapers, protest pamphlets, or anything you need in this large, recyclable, and durable bag. You can get your own special bag over on Etsy.

 

GOODWOODEN BAMBOO CALCULATOR

This beautiful calculator is made from wood, with a mini solar panel to keep it charged and ready. As someone who has a legendary penchant for destroying all things electronic, I appreciate the fact that is calculator gives an air of strength. Bamboo is a very famously durable, and at times sustainable, way to decorate and make our favorite office things. You can get your own solar bamboo calculator here at Good Wood’s Etsy store.

 

WAY BASICS MODULAR CUBES

 

Way Basics have found a way to make office furniture sustainable, and it’s safe and brilliant too. These VOC and formaldehyde free cubes are colorful, sustainable, stackable and yet still basic to use. They can be reconfigured to fit into your spaces, and use a freakishly strong adhesive for assembly, instead of screws. Check out a video of the strength demo. They would make a great addition to a bedroom (books belong everywhere in the home) as well as closet additions. Made of 9o% recyclable material, add your own Way Basics cubies to your newly green office.

 

KOKUYO HARINACS STAPLE-LESS STAPLER

 

This is a brilliant product. Kokuyo came up with Harinacs as a way to revamp the staple-less stapler. According to them, they did a whole bunch of market research before coming up with this great organic, and origami, system of folding paper to give a stapled effect. The large Harinacs stapler can staple up to eight pages. You should take a look at this wonderfully hyper promo video for the Harinacs stapler. You don’t need to understand Japanese to get it!

As the commercial  shows, this is a great product to use everywhere like at the office, or at school. Get your own Harinacs stapler in whatever color fits your personality on Amazon.

Do you have any other ideas of how we can all green up our offices? Check out Green Office inspo here.

Main picture courtesy of Markus Grossalber