Although meat-free Mondays and paper straws have been a great step towards more sustainable living, the National Waste and Resource Recovery Report 2024 shows Australia’s generation of waste is rising; since 2016-17 the amount of total waste generated has increased by 10 kilograms per person.

The good news is that it doesn’t take much for you to be part of the sustainability movement, starting with your shopping list. We’ve taken the guesswork out, so you can concentrate on making more environmentally conscious consumer choices at the register. You’ll be shopping smarter (in reusable bags, of course) in no time thanks to this handy guide.

Add Refillable and Rechargeable Items to Your Shopping List

By discovering products that can be refilled or reused during your shop means you’ll be doing your part in creating a more sustainable future for our planet. So add refillable pens, highlighters and rechargeable batteries to your list.

A GIF series of refillable and rechargeable products shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Items include highlighters, pens, batteries and markers.‍

What to Try:

SEE ALSO: Electronic Recycling: Everything You Need to Know

Help Keep the Air Clean for the Next Generation

Consider office supplies made from renewable materials such as wood and fast-growing renewables like bamboo. These materials can come from sustainably managed forests – look out for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified logo on products for peace of mind. If we do our bit now and the forests are maintained properly, it means your grandchildren, great grandkids and future generations can safely play in the fresh air outdoors.

Did You Know?

By planting two trees for every one used, the Restoring Australia Initiative (Officeworks’ longstanding partnership with Greening Australia) has seen more than 1.5 million trees planted and 1,900 hectares of Australian landscape restored. Look for the People & Planet Positive icon to support communities and help us reduce our impacts on the environment.

A GIF series of products made from bamboo shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Items include a desk organiser, desk drawers, a magazine file and storage box.

What to Try:

SEE ALSO: More Sustainable Business Practices Owners Are Embracing

Reducing, Reusing, Recycling 

Did you know that recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power a television for 20 minutes? Or that a cardboard box can be recycled up to seven times? Reduce, reuse, recycle. Buying recycled content helps limit the overuse of resources and reduces landfill by encouraging recyclable manufacturing and a circular economy. Look out for the triangular arrows recycle symbol on items.

A GIF series of products made from recycled content shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Items include scissors, an archive box, a folder and a tape dispenser.

What to try:

What Toys and Products are Best for My Family?

Anything a baby picks up goes straight into their mouth, so buying toys without potentially harmful coatings gives you comfort knowing your precious little one is playing safe. With washable paint and being FSC Certified, the Officeworks range of wooden musical instruments gives you peace of mind while encouraging self-expression, creativity, imagination and the assisting of fine motor skills for your child.

Did You Know?

When you see an FSC label on products it means the item is FSC Certified. The FSC label is the world’s most trusted mark for sustainable forestry. When you purchase FSC-labelled products, you’re helping forests, and the people that rely on them, thrive by supporting:  zero deforestation, fair wage and work environment , supporting the change from preservation to conservation and community rights.

A GIF series of products shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Items include red poster paint, play dough, watercolour paints, watercolour pencils and graphite pencils.

What to Try:

Why is Using Certified Cotton Important?

Next time you’re expressing yourself by painting on watercolour paper or canvas, a quick check will determine if the cotton used for the product has been grown organically and sourced sustainably. This means less water and fewer harmful pesticides were used in its production, protecting water sources and supporting the wellbeing of farmers and workers.

Did You Know?

As part of our People and Planet Positive commitments, we are committed to sourcing goods and services in more sustainable and responsible ways. We are committed to sourcing 100 per cent of our cotton as Better Cotton, organic cotton, Australian cotton or recycled cotton for our Officeworks private label products.

A GIF series of FSC-certified cotton products shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Items include a thin-edge canvas, a watercolour pad and a deep-edge canvas.

What to Try:

SEE ALSO: More Sustainable Packing Ideas for Small Business

Did you know?

Officeworks has some great initiatives to help you live more sustainably. 

  • Tech Trade-in: Do you have unwanted tech gathering dust? Simply check online if your device is eligible for trade-in and you could receive a digital Officeworks gift card for it. “We hope the extra dollars made via device trade-in are especially helpful to those looking to shop more sustainably these holidays,” says Officeworks’ General Manager Merchandise Jim Berndelis. 
  • RecycleMate partnership: Imagine if you could scan an item with your device to find out how to properly recycle or dispose of it? Well, Officeworks has teamed up with RecycleMate to make sustainable shopping easy. “Together, we will be able to clearly deliver recycling information,” says Lara Barclay, RecycleMate’s Program Manager. A quick scan of any Officeworks product using the RecycleMate app reveals the recycle site or appropriate disposal method for positive change.‍
  • Bring It Back: This program is designed to make life easier, with designated recycling stations located at the front of most stores. Each year, Officeworks recycles more than 800 tonnes of electronics, plastics and consumables, repurposing materials – such as precious gold and copper from tech, for example – and reducing the amount of waste going into landfill. Do your part by gathering your old hard drives, computer monitors and cables, and taking them to your nearest Officeworks location.