Sustain Dane Member EZ Office Products (EZOP) is Wisconsin’s local office supplies and furniture company. Owners Rose and Gary Molz started EZOP in 2006 with a vision of bringing an independently-owned alternative to the ‘big box’ office stores to Madison. “Buying locally is more about the quality of life than it is the economics of business. Our company is looking at the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits.” —Gary Molz, Vice President
Supporting our members like EZOP contributes to a more sustainable society and helps Sustain Dane achieve our vision of accelerating sustainability for community wellbeing.
EZOP’s sustainability effort is an ongoing process. They are continuously evaluating their practices to reveal new opportunities and setting fresh goals to keep moving forward. Throughout the years, EZOP’s sustainability initiatives have focused on many areas including energy, transportation, and waste reduction.
One of the initiatives they are most proud of is participating in the MGE Green Power Tomorrow Program, where they pay slightly more per kilowatt of energy to cover 100% of their energy needs using wind power. By simultaneously investing in energy efficiency, their monthly energy expense has gone down overall. EZOP’s fleet presents more opportunities for sustainability. One of their transportation projects works on fuel efficiency in their delivery fleet. Using route codes, they can optimize their routes to be more fuel-efficient. Finally, as a consumer goods company, EZOP has a special interest in recycling and works every day to find reliable channels to recycle or upcycle their waste streams. These efforts and more were recognized through Sustain Dane’s MPower Program in 2012 and in 2019 as a Green Professional business by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council.
EZOP’s advice for other organizations interested in sustainability is to first know that you can make a difference with even the small things that you do. “Pick an area or two where you can make a difference, and then focus on those areas. Don’t give up until you DO make a difference – and you will! Once you gain some momentum, it will only gather power from there.” — Rose Molz, President ♦