Office Depot Ideas: Greenguides: Sorting out Green Advertisement Claims

Office Depot wants to try to get customers to choose more of their Eco friendly paper products.  As a database class we are helping Office Depot and Chatham University to make it easier for customers to find the most efficient paper products for their needs.  Here are some ideas of what is important to track when considering a new database for Office Depot.

Before marketing your product as Eco friendly you first have to understand why the product fits this term. What makes the product effect the environment in a positive way? According to the EPA’s Green Guidelines, when people shop online for a product that is green, they should look as to why the product of their choice is considered environmentally friendly or why it has a special eco seal. It is important for marketers to show why. No one wants to buy a product that says it is something that it really isn’t. For example, show how many trees this certain product has saved, mention that this product is biodegradable, or ozone friendly and explain why.


Even though your product description says that it is environmentally friendly and explains why that is, it still is probably better to back it up with a seal or certification. Having a seal proves to the customer that your product is better for the environment. For example, for paper products there is the forest stewardship counsel certified, which certifies that the paper is eco friendly.