Member Article

AIIM World Paper Free Day

The Arctic has seen some of the greatest increases in average temperatures over recent decades due to global warming. This affects us all, increased temperatures, higher rainfall.

Trees help reduce the “greenhouse effect“ by absorbing CO2. 1x acre of trees removes 2.6 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Today, the world consumes about 300 million tons of paper each year. Nearly 4 billion trees or 35%
of the total trees cut around the world are used in paper industries on every continent. Trees are a renewable resource but the demand for paper. However, as the demand for paper has increased, more timber has been needed to meet the demand for wood pulp. In some cases this has meant the loss of valuable wildlife habitats and ecosystems, as old forests have been replaced by managed plantations, usually of fast-growing conifers. The lack of tree species diversity in managed forests has a direct impact on the biodiversity of the whole forest.

Unfortunately, the papermaking process is not a clean one, pulp and paper mills are among the worst polluters to air, water and land of any industry in the country. Each year millions of pounds of highly toxic chemicals such as toluene, methanol, chlorine dioxide, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde are released into the air and water from papermaking plants around the world.

Most of paper used is made from virgin pulp, but recycled paper only accounts for 38% of the world’s total fiber supply.

Each tone (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution!

Recycling is good, but reduction is better!

Paper is biodegradable. When it goes to landfill it rots producing methane which is a potent greenhouse gas. Climate change is a reality and methane and carbon dioxide needs to be reduced

What can we do about it?

Take part in this years World Paper Free Day! Thursday 25th October 2012

Take on the challenge - Increase awareness in the office.

Tips for reducing paper:

• Digitize information as early in the process as possible
• Only print what you have to
• Send all documents via e-mail or fax
• Send and receive invoices electronically
• If you have to print, spell / grammar check the document before you print
• Reduce the margins on your documents
• Print on both sides
• Save e-mails directly to file – do not print!
• Send minutes and notes ahead of meetings electronically
• Investigate a process that can cut paper waste in your office
• Sign up for digital versions of trade magazines and newsletters
• Set up on line banking and receive statements electronically
• Re-use scrap paper as note pads

Attend the FREE breakfast seminar on “ How you can save money by moving from paper based processing and be green!“

When: Friday 26th October 2012
Where: Tynemouth Golf Club, Spital Dene, North Shields NE30
What time: 7.30 – 9.30am

For more information contact janice@lesspapersolutions.co.uk

or go to http://www.lesspapersolutions.co.uk/news/world-paper-free-day—-october-25th-2012/21

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Janice Palmer .