Zero Waste Office Supplies

What do you get when you combine banana peels, elephant poop, wine corks and coffee grounds? The Terracycle expanded line of zero footprint office and school supplies at OfficeMax! The products include computer bags, pens, pencils, paper, cork boards and more, all made from recycled materials that would ordinarily be waste.

The new TerraCycle pencils are made from 100% reused newspaper, and the new Tree Free paper lines will be made from elephant poop, banana leaves, coffee grinds and straw. Kinda gross and kinda cool!

Kids notebook covers come from used Oreo and Chips Ahoy packages and the pencil cases from drink pouches. kids that want to help collect the materials, and keep them out of the waste stream, can join the Terracycle Net Brigades and schools and non-profits can even get paid to collect the used packaging.

Tree Free Paper: Four billion trees are cut down each year for paper production. TerraCycle offers three alternatives, made from Banana Peels, Straw, or Coffee Leaves. For those who would like to try them all, a Variety Pack is also available. These papers are compatible with all laser and ink-jet printers, as well as copy machines. They are made from 100% post consumer materials!

Writing Instruments: TerraCycle offers a variety of pens; some are made from 100% recycled paper, others from 100% recycled plastic. There are also two Biodegradable Plastic pen options, one of which is made from corn-based plastic. No matter which pen you choose, you can be confident you are writing with an earth friendly utensil!

Additionally, TerraCycle makes Used Newspaper Pencils, as well as Used Newspaper Colored Pencil packs with a spectrum of 12 different colors; all are made from 100% recycled newspaper. In stark contrast to TerraCycle’s offering, traditional pencil manufacturing destroys 80,000 trees per year.

Organization: TerraCycle’s Two Pocket Folder is made of 100% recycled material, as are the 5-Tab or 8-Tab Index Dividers for 3-ring binders. The divider goes well the TerraCycle Eco-Binder, which is made from 100% recycled cardboard and 80% recycled steel.

Corkboard from wine corks and computer bags from used billboard vinyl round out the collection.

Terracycle has done a beautiful job of closing the loop and keeping waste out of landfill by using it to make useful and needed items. Score one for eco-capitalism!