Today we live in what has come to be known as the E-age. With the growing reach of the media and the internet everything seems to be digital. Yet even with the spread of technology man is still highly dependent on paper. Instead of reducing paper consumption computers have invented new ways to increase paper usage by way of print outs!
The manufacture of paper pulp is one of the most water consuming processes ever created. Added to this, the paper manufacturing industry contributes substantially to emission of green house gases. Cutting down trees for wood pulp to make paper leads to deforestation. The chemicals required to manufacture paper also lead to toxic waste which is detrimental to the environment.�
As far as possible, paper that is used should be recycled paper. Another eco friendly option is to use paper alternatives that are made of components that do not involve any natural ingredients. One such alternative is paper manufactured using fibers from plants. Plants such as hemp, bamboo, banana and kenaf, a hibiscus plant from Africa, grow in poor soils and have a fast growth rate.
Here are a few ways to cut down your paper consumption and be a more eco-friendly citizen:
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Reduce the amount of print outs taken in the office. Do onscreen reviews instead of taking print outs and then checking for errors. When printing a document it is possible that we need only half of the document and not the whole thing. Printing paragraph selections can help in saving the amount of paper used.
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When taking a print out, print on both sides of the paper. This will reduce the amount of paper being used for printing giving you more value for the paper you buy.
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Pages can be printed two up. This means that two pages are printed on one side of the sheet. When combined with double sided printing the savings incurred can go up to 75%.
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Instead of printing labels for envelopes try printing directly on the envelope to save on paper and costs.
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Faxes should be sent and received via the computer as far as possible.
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Wall calendars that are erasable and undated can be used over and over again and can eliminate the need for paper planners.
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Use e-greetings instead of paper based ones to save on the paper.
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Subscribe to online versions of newspapers instead of buying the paper form.
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Re-use old printouts for making notes or scribbles.
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Offer documents in PDF formats instead of paper whenever possible.
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