Selling green produces has a positive impact

  • Published
  • By Ted Theopolos
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Many of the products at the base supply store, more commonly known as Office Runway, are made from recycled and/or post-consumer recycled content or environmentally friendly.

Office Runway, with its nine employees, works diligently to order, stock, and sell recyclable products. Recycled paper is the number one purchase from all organizations on base.

"Our highest volume of sales is recycled paper for printers and copiers," said Candia Thurman, manager of Office Runway Warehouse and Distribution. "Printer paper is 30 percent recycled content, and copy paper is 50 percent."

"We sell about 1,200 boxes per month," said Andy Dobrovolc, Office Runway's store manager. "A study by our paper manufacturer noted that our store has saved more than 20,000 trees in the last eight years by selling recycled paper."

It has been reported that 14 percent of landfill space is taken up by paper. Decomposing paper also releases methane gas, a greenhouse gas about 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Recycled paper is made using paper trimmings and other scraps from the manufacture of paper, pre-consumer material that was discarded before it was ready for consumer use, and/or post-consumer material, thereby saving virgin materials. Energy needed to produce paper can be reduced between 28 between 70 percent if it is recycled, which has significant environmental benefits.

As popular as it is, paper is only one recycled-content product Office Runway offers. The supply store also sells pens, pencils, folders, clipboards and much more made from recycled-materials.

One pen the store sells is made from 51 percent post-consumer materials, with corn starch ink. Their plastic bags are not only made from recyclable products but are biodegradable. The light bulbs they sell are energy efficient, and the cleaning solutions are environmental friendly.

"If you bring back a plastic spray bottle that was purchased here with an environmentally friendly cleaning solution, we'll refill it at a discount," said Dobrovolc.

The store is trying to keep plastic bottles and other items out of landfills. That's why they recycle printer cartridges and fire extinguishers, as well. When a recycling option isn't available, Office Runway looks for other solutions.

One unique product they sell is biodegradable utensils. The organic-based flatware will start to decompose after use in about 90 days and be totally decomposed within a year.

"We try to bring in more environmentally friendly products," said Dobrovolc, "but we also try to raise awareness. We can tell each organization what percentage of their purchases in a given time period were made with recycled materials. Free of charge! So far, no organization has taken us up on that offer."

There will be an Office Runway representative at the Earth Day Information Fair on April 22 in building 262 near the food court. Free green-product catalogs will be available.