GoGreenIdeas

1. Try to use both sides of a sheet of paper for printing, copying, writing and drawing.
2. Reuse paper that's already printed on one side by manually feeding it into copiers and printers. Use it for internal documents like drafts and short-lived items such as meeting agendas or temporary signs.
3. Once-used paper can also be reused in plain paper fax machines — they only need one clean side.
4. Use less paperE-mail can be used to share documents and ideas. Be sure to only print the e-mails you need to have a hard copy of. This advice goes for Internet documents as well. Instead of printing a Web page, bookmark it or save the page on your hard drive and pull it up when needed.
5. Desktop fax, electronic references (CD-ROM databases), electronic data storage, electronic purchasing and direct deposit are all ways to use electronic media that reduce office paper waste.
6. Help minimize misprints by posting a diagram on how to load special paper like letterhead so it will be printed correctly.
7. Practice efficient copying — use the size reduction feature offered on many copiers. Two pages of a book or periodical can often be copied onto one standard sheet.
8. Use two-way or send-and-return envelopes. Your outgoing envelope gets reused for its return trip.
9. Use reusable inter- and intra-office envelopes.
10. Reuse old paper for notepads. It can be cut to custom sizes and simply bound with a staple.
11. Draft documents can be reviewed, edited and shared on-screen.

Manufacturers know that flashy packaging translates into increased sales, but Much of this packaging is unnecessary. There’s a ton of material we continue to schlep home when shopping — the cellophane, unrecyclable bags, plastic, and cardboard used in the packaging of many common items. A fantastic, and such an easy eco-friendly action for most of us to take is to carrying our own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store when we goes to shop

As consumers, there are a number of items we can use or purchase in order to reduce our consumption of excess packaging here are 15 Ways to Reduce Food Packaging:

1. Bring a travel mug whenever you go to your favorite coffee shop. Many cafes will fill your mug at no additional charge, eliminating the need for those one-use styrofoam cups with plastic lids.
2. Use a reusable, stainless steel drinking bottle instead of individual drink boxes or bottles.
3. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables instead of produce in cans, frozen boxes and bags.
4. Buy in bulk, using your own containers from home to eliminate the use of can, carton, and plastic bag packaging.
5. 5. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
6. Buy big boxes of cereal instead of individually packaged cereals.
7. Never buy individual “snack-sized” boxes or bags.
8. When washing non-bagged greens, use a salad spinner. That way you won’t have to use paper towels to blot the greens dry.
9. Buy quarts of yogurt instead of eight-ounce or smaller cups.
10. Use cloth or a gold coffee filter rather than paper filters.
11. Buy bulk cheese instead of individually wrapped slices.
12. Make your own popsicles using reusable molds, rather than buying boxed popsicles. Be sure to use BPA-free molds.
13. Use metal and ceramic baking pans instead of aluminum disposable pans.
14. Use loose tea instead of one-use tea bags.
15. DIY, green cleaning products instead of commercial cleaning products. Care2 is a great resource for recipes for these easy to prepare recipes, from window cleaner to furniture polish.