What the TechSoup GreenTech Logo Means on Products

TechSoup Global has begun adding our GreenTech logo to some of the product offerings on our TechSoup Stock pages. We carry hundreds of donated and discounted products from 35 technology providers, but only a few of them will be designated as green products.

The GreenTech logo on a product means that the product is one that saves energy, reduces toxins, optimizes resources (like electricity and paper), or directly helps the recyclability or reclamation of IT equipment.

The software products that fit that profile help an office reduce its paper usage, equipment needs, or travel by employees and volunteers. Some software products might acquire the GreenTech logo even if reducing your environmental footprint is not their primary focus. Adobe didn't create tools to generate PDF files in an effort to be more green, but the products do have that effect by allowing people to print to PDF instead of printing to a printer.

Hardware products that fit the GreenTech profile are those that, once again, reduce paper usage, reduce energy usage, and reclaim resources — refurbished computers extend the usable lifespan of IT equipment, which is extremely resource-intensive to manufacture.

The TechSoup GreenTech logo is not an official green brand or certification like EPEAT, which grades how environmentally "green" technology equipment is on a bronze, silver, and gold scale. It is rather meant to be an indicator that a particular product that we carry may provide some significant environmental benefit if used properly.

When we label a TechSoup Stock product with the GreenTech logo, we will link to information that explains how it saves energy or optimizes resources and provide you with guidance so that you may use the products in the most eco-friendly way. As always, we invite comments and additional suggestions.