Product designers not only make our world a more appealing and convenient place, they can also have a big impact on the environment and more increasingly this affects purchasing decisions. Framingham-based Staples, the world’s largest office supply company, knows this is even the case when it comes to everyday items like notebooks and glue sticks. As part of the second annual Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge, the company teamed up with the Rochester Institute of Technology to put on a green product office supply competition for eco-conscious college students on campuses across the globe.

The contest launched in October, with submissions due the end of December, and today the company announced finalists which span universities in India, Singapore, China, Ireland and the United States. Finalists will present their ideas to a panel of judges on April 12th at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. and an awards ceremony will be held the following day. The winning team will receive $25,000 and two runner-up teams will receive $5,000 each. What happens should any of the winning products be brought to market? The teams will enjoy royalties from Staples on all sales going forward.

“Global awareness and demand among young people for sustainable products is increasing,” Dr. Nabil Nasr, assistant provost and director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at RIT explained in the Staples press release today. “Sustainability is an important factor in their purchasing decisions. Their enthusiasm and excitement for innovative, sustainable designs is an encouraging sign of the growing sense of environmental responsibility.”

According to VP of environmental affairs for Staples, Mark Buckley, this year’s competition received a record number of entries from around the world. You can help determine the winner by voting online (at most once a day) from March 8th to the 22nd. This vote will contribute to judging and a product team’s winning score. Here are the finalist products and teams:

Adjustable Standard Binder

An adjustable binder made of recycled materials. The binder can expand to hold 200 to 600 sheets of paper, equivalent to one- to three-inch binders. When the binder fills up, the user simply adjusts the binder to fit more paper instead of buying a new one.

University team: Team Cyrus from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

Eco-TapeCutter

A lightweight tape cutter that can be adjusted to fit varying tape sizes and widths, made with 30 percent less material than typical dispensers. This allows users to have one dispenser made of environmentally-preferable materials and reduce the tape dispenser bulk and clutter.

University team: Team EcoZeal from the Indian Institute of Technology (India)

Folio

This portfolio-style binder is about half the size of a three-ring binder, and secures paper so it won’t slip out as it can when in a folder. The Folio is made of a material that not only allows it to expand to fit both smaller and larger amounts of paper, it’s also reusable.

University team: Team Silver Monkeys from the University of Cincinnati (US)

Reusable Container of Glue Stick

Glue sticks are usually thrown away when the glue runs out, but by using a reusable glue stick container, this waste is eliminated. Rather than purchasing a new glue stick when the glue runs out, the container can simply be refilled.

University team: Team GreenSparkle from Tsinghua University (China)

Spin Pad

A sleek reusable notepad made of recycled and biodegradable materials, and is designed to eliminate individual paper waste. The Spin Pad can hook onto key rings or handbags, so notes and lists can be carried anywhere with ease.

University team: Team Simplicity from the University of Cincinnati (US)

The EcoEasy Button

The EcoEasy Button is an evolution in surge protector design that is made of environmentally-preferable materials, and can be placed on the user’s desk for easy access. It also alerts the user when their devices have been draining energy for extended periods of time.

University team: Team Silver Monkeys from the University of Cincinnati (US)

Eco-Tab

Instead of using a metal staple, this device creates a strong hold on documents without wasting material to secure it. This is an environmentally-preferable solution to the everyday stapler.

University team: Team Bolton from the Dublin Institute of Technology (Dublin)

Which student team do you think should take home the grand prize of $25,000?