So I realize Staples is a red company, but I can find some damn good recycled stuff there that I really can’t find anywhere else, which outweighs the red bit for me. Did some research — Apparently, Staples made a commitment in 2002 to offer more recycled goods, due to pressure from environmental groups, etc.
What I bought:
- Staples brand 100% recycled 3-tab file folders, minimum 40% post-consumer content. $9.99 for 100 folders.
- Marcoal bathroom tissue, 100% recycled, minimum 60% post consumer content, not chlorine bleached. $21.29 for 48 rolls.
I can’t find similar recyled goods anywhere else in Los Angeles, which is why I still go to Staples for a lot of my office supplies. There’s a conversation going on at Pandagon about the BuyBlue concept. For those new to BuyBlue, that site/blog gives you information on companies’ financial support toward the Democrat or Republican parties. I commented at Pandagon in defense of BuyBlue — political contributions aren’t the end-all in deciding where one should shop, but certainly a consideration, in my view.
Commitment to recycling, obviously, is another important consideration for me.
Filed in: recycle staples losangeles california
It seems that you can have a much bigger impact through your purchases than voting. Money talks, especially in our current consumer economy.
Of course, sometimes you just can’t help shopping Red. But there’s no harm in at least trying to make some conscientious purchases.
Comment by Pat Kirby — September 26, 2005 @ 3:57 pm
Hi Siel,
Thanks for the defense over at Pandagon! It seems we haven’t made it clear enough that monitoring political contributions of the big shots in these companies is just but a piece of the research we are doing now.
Much like a wiki, we now have a system in place that allows anyone to post information from an outside credible source about a company. It is these informative submitted (via our users) articles which begin dynamically generating our new ratings:
1. an environmental rating
2. a labor & human rights rating
3. an employment equality rating
4. a corporate and social responsibility rating
5. an industry practices rating
Anyone can submit information which will affect the rating of a company. We hope this will create a vibrant online community of watchdogs.
Comment by John Haas — September 26, 2005 @ 9:12 pm
Hey Pat — I think with money choices, the results seem really tangible, vs. voting which seems very, very far removed. Ya know — In my bathroom closet, I see the “Paper from Paper, not trees” Marcoal symbol every day :)
John — I actually try to submit this blog post as part of Staples’ rating, but apparantly, BB doesn’t take blog postings, no matter how credible. I sorta understand — I mean, anyone can have a blog. I like the wiki-style idea, and hope more people take advantage of it — It’s a matter of getting individual consumers actively engaged.
Comment by Siel — September 26, 2005 @ 9:20 pm
It’s OK, I took the liberty of submitting the original article from SocialFunds.
:)
Comment by John Haas — September 27, 2005 @ 5:27 am
Good job.
Comment by Sopoq — August 6, 2006 @ 10:17 pm