Chinook Medical Gear, Inc

Here at Chinook we are conscious of our impact on the environment and our community. We make every effort to incorporate Green practices in any area of the business we can. Here is a list of what we came up with to name a few... and as new ideas arise, we do our best to see if we can incorporate them too! Enjoy!

• Buy Green Power for our electricity

• Turn down thermostats at night

• Keep thermostats at a minimum when we are here

• We fully regulate our air conditioning usage (only turn it on if/when we need it)

• We have managed the air flow for most efficient usage (blocked vents where not needed, etc.)

• Buy all recycled office paper

• Reuse almost all paper in the office (after finishing use on one side, we then use the other side too! There are several of us who only print on the back side of paper that has already been used.)

• Recycle all unusable boxes, paper, glass, plastic, cans, ink cartridges and laser toners, etc.

• Reuse all boxes that come into our office for shipping (as long as they are in shipping condition we reuse them!)

• We do not buy any box packing material. All packing material comes from incoming shipments or recycled newspaper.

• Buy second hand boxes for shipping. (No, you didn’t get M&M’s or Chinese Food!) These are just the boxes that were rejected by those companies then sold to someone like us who would rather use them then see them thrown away!

• Hibernate our computers at night and turn our monitors off. We shut down on the weekends.

• We have a bear proof dumpster (necessary in the mountains here!)

• Only have reusable dishes, cups, utensils, etc. at work – no disposables!

• Use cloth towels instead of paper towels and hand towels in the kitchen and bathrooms

• Several of our employees ride their bikes to work when possible (One employee rides everyday – Yeah Corey! Another rides with her dog on the back of the bike – Go Taber!)

• We do not turn on lights unless they are needed. Several areas of our building get enough natural light that we do not need to use overhead lighting.

• Although most of our space is lit by fluorescent tube lighting, where we can, we swap out for CFB.

• Currently only buy flat panel monitors as they use less energy

• We fax from our PC’s to eliminate the need to print a copy to fax

• We email invoices, statements, quotes, orders, etc. where possible to eliminate printing and mailing them

• Ship complete where possible to eliminate multiple shipments, saving gas usage

• We donate a percentage of our net profits to organizations that fit certain criteria (environment, education, local)

• Limited trade show schedule and travel to reduce carbon footprints and harmful travel practices

• We reuse what ever we can! (folders, furniture, cabling, power strips, filing cabinets, you name it!)

• We try to buy used! (Filing cabinets, office chairs, desks, dishes have been purchased used for our offices!)

• Properly dispose of electronics when unusable

• We donate products on the occasion that we have to purge stock instead of throwing it away.

• Any product not in sellable condition is reused for display or demo or is donated.

• Support local Green Business Roundtable

• Carpool to meetings and lunches when possible

• Replace filters on furnace and air conditioner regularly

• Store needed documents electronically instead of printing
• We have 100% organic cotton Chinook Hats!