Oblong believes that nature provides the perfect model for a sustainable society, an inter-reliant community as opposed to a collection of individuals.
We believe that design is central to making our future sustainable, from communication to industrial design to urban planning and architecture. We also believe that progress towards a sustainable future is closely tied to the fight for social justice.
We do a number of small, easy things to reduce our office’s environmental footprint, for example:
- Buying green power
- Using bicycle couriers
- Using recycled copy paper and using both sides
- Using scrap paper for notes
- Repairing equipment rather than replacing it
- Donating old books, trade magazines, equipment, etc to charity shops
- Dealing electronically wherever we can
- Using public transport
- Walking/riding to work or on errands
- Using energy saving features on computer equipment
- Turning off lights and equipment when not in use
- Having plants in the office to help counteract the negative effects of computers and printers
- Using an environmentally-aware cleaning company
- Using a mini-compost bin for the office
We also know that this is not enough, so we’re working towards making our products and services even greener by following the FSC standard, using soy-based inks on all print jobs and working with printers to reduce waste on press.
Oblong is 100% carbon-neutral, and we are taking steps to share the knowledge we have collected through researching the best ways to fight climate change. We intend to soon offer advice by adding a consultancy service for our clients to help them reduce their environmental footprint. We welcome input from clients and suppliers on any aspect of our environmental impact.