Greener Supplies, Sustainable Offices

Building a more sustainable workspace

Even as ASU continues to lead in digital-first work, office supplies remain part of everyday operations. Thoughtful, sustainable purchasing choices help departments reduce environmental impacts without affecting day-to-day operations. Purchasers may refer to the ASU Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines for recommendations on sustainable office supplies. Review the following list of standard office items and consider these essential sustainability features:

• Batteries: Choose rechargeable options and avoid those that contain nickel, cadmium, mercury, or lead.
• Binders: Select Forest Stewardship Council–certified options that support responsible forest management, because they are made from trees.
• Paper serviceware: For events and shared kitchenettes, opt for certified compostable serviceware available through ASU Moving and Event Services.
• Paper: Select paper with recognized eco-certifications that contains at least 90–100% post-consumer recycled content or is FSC-certified recycled. Learn more in the Redefining Sustainable Printing article about the impact of printer paper and how ASU leverages its partnership with Canon to reduce environmental impact.
• Pens: Choose refillable pens to help extend product life and reduce plastic waste.
• Toner cartridges: Select cartridges made from recycled materials and submit a surplus transfer request to recycle empty cartridges through ASU’s suppliers.

Some office supplies, particularly cleaning and ink-based products, may contain harmful chemicals. Selecting non-toxic, certified products supports both environmental sustainability and employees’ health.

• Keyboard cleaners: Purchase cleaners that explicitly state they do not contain toxic fluorinated compounds.
• Whiteboard markers and cleaners: Look for products certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice Program or Certified Approved Product Non-Toxic.
• Breakroom cleaners: Purchase products certified by Green Seal, UL ECOLOGO or EPA Safer Choice.

ASU prioritizes sustainable products within supplier catalogs in SunRISE. Purchasers can easily identify preferred items from the following awarded suppliers by using sustainability filters and curated lists:

• Amazon: Search for ASU’s premade product lists or choose products with the Climate-Pledge Friendly logo.
• Staples: Search for products with the Eco-ID™ checkmark or search the Eco-ID program.

Beyond purchasing decisions, departments can further sustainability through these shared-office practices:

• Participate in the Reusable K-Cup® Program for office kitchenettes serving 30 or more users.
• Rent event compost, recycling, and landfill bin sets from ASU Moving and Event Services.
• Request compost bins from the ASU Zero Waste department.

Departments across ASU are creating innovative ways to support reuse and waste reduction. For example, ASU Staff Council hosts the annual Fashion Forward event in April to collect gently used clothing for free distribution to students. Departments can support the event by hosting donation bins in their offices.

The ASU School of Sustainability’s graduate advising team offers another model through its “supply-brary,” located in the graduate lounge. The team encourages students, faculty and staff to leave or take gently used items. With minimal upkeep, the bookshelf helps keep office items in circulation and encourages reuse before they end up in the landfill.

“The ‘supply-brary’ has been a great way for our community to share free home goods, office supplies, crafting materials and non-perishable food. We also maintain a Little Free Library for non-academic books. Our students, faculty and staff like sharing our wealth, and we're happy to keep good items out of landfills. It's fun to see what new items make their way onto the shelves and what gets snatched up quickly," said Lindsey Plait Jones, assistant director, Immersion Graduate Programs, School of Sustainability. 

Achieving ASU’s sustainability goals requires active participation across the university community. Every employee has an opportunity to support sustainability in their day-to-day work, whether through office programs, purchasing decisions or by participating in a shared sustainability culture.

Employees interested in advancing sustainability within their offices can enroll in several training opportunities provided by University Sustainability Practices:

• Climate Resilience training
• Green Devil training
• Seeds of Sustainability training
• Sustainable Event Planner training
• Sustainable Purchasing training

USP hosts a biannual Green Devil Ambassador Sustainability Conference, where employees can connect with sustainability leaders across the university. Visit ASU Events to join an upcoming conference.

“Creating a more sustainable office culture starts with engaging staff where they are and empowering them to take action in meaningful, practical ways,” said Paige Strickland, program manager, University Sustainability Practices. “When employees understand how their everyday choices contribute to ASU’s broader sustainability goals, sustainability becomes part of how teams operate, not an extra task. The Green Devil Ambassador Program helps foster that shared culture by connecting staff, building confidence, and turning individual actions into collective impact.”

Sustainability at ASU is a shared effort. When departments adopt sustainable purchasing practices and support reuse initiatives, they contribute to a university-wide culture that values conservation, innovation and environmental stewardship. Each department has the power to make a meaningful difference.

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series about sustainable purchasing at ASU. Topics include sustainable purchasing best practices, notable suppliers and resources.