WhatÂ’s your green resolution?

subscribe

In 2009, Staples Canada collected over 1.3-million ink and toner cartridges, recycled more than 2,127 tonnes of electronic waste, diverted 3,450 tonnes of cardboard from landfills and expanded the number of stores collecting electronic waste. What is your eco-resolution?

Staples Canada has set a goal to eliminate PVC (polyvinyl chloride) from its own brand product packaging by fall.

"We are taking innovative initiatives in building sustainability into our business. Taking out PVCs from packaging and giving customers a place to recycle their unwanted electronics is another way we are giving customers easy options to help the environment," said Pete Gibel, Chair of Staples Canada environmental committee.

Making eco-resolutions is easy and affects everyone.

"You are not only doing something good for yourself and others, but also for generations to come. There are many simple lifestyle changes people can make at home and in the office that can make a difference," said Gibel.

Staples Canada wants every Canadian to take action in building a sustainable lifestyle for our future. Here are a few tips:

• Embrace the flat screen - Flat screen monitors and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens use less than half the energy of traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors.

• Reuse materials as much as you can - Print documents and recipes on the back of used paper; save paper clips, push-pins, elastics, sticky flags; make a point of buying rechargeable batteries.

• Purchase a power bar and turn everything off - Turning everything off with the single flick of a power bar makes it easy to save energy (and money)!

• Switch lightbulbs to compact fluorescent - The typical incandescent is 60W and a comparable compact fluorescent is 13W - a significant kilowatt reduction when you consider the number of hours you operate your lights and the fact that the average cost of electricity is 10 cents per kilowatt hour.

Related News

californias-solar-power-cost-shift

California’s Solar Power Cost Shift: A Misguided Policy Threatening Energy Equity

CALIFORNIA - California is grappling with soaring electricity rates, with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) rates more than double the national average and increasing at an average of 12.5% annually over the past six years. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing state energy agencies to identify ways to reduce power costs. However, recent policy shifts targeting rooftop solar users may exacerbate the problem rather than alleviate it.

The "Cost Shift" Theory

A central justification for these policy changes is the "cost shift" theory. This theory posits that homeowners with rooftop solar panels reduce their electricity consumption…

READ MORE
ehrc logo

More young Canadians would work in electricity… if they knew about it

READ MORE

Ontario prepares to extend disconnect moratoriums for residential electricity customers

READ MORE

aps logo

APS asks customers to conserve energy after recent blackouts in California

READ MORE

Energy-hungry Europe to brighten profit at US solar equipment makers

READ MORE