Waste of paper in companies: how to consume less?

Paper consumption in companies has a significant economic and ecological impact. Despite the rise of digital technology, paper consumption has increased by 126% in the last 20 years. According to a study by ADEME, each European employee uses between 70 and 85 kilos of paper per year: this represents ¾ of the waste produced in office activities. However, by implementing a few simple habits, it is possible to avoid paper waste in the company.

Why reduce paper consumption in your company?

Reducing paper consumption in your company can result in significant savings. After all, in addition to the cost of paper itself, there are also the costs of printers, their maintenance and ink cartridges. By reducing your paper consumption and opting for digital solutions on a daily basis, you also reduce your storage space requirements.

But avoiding paper waste in business also reduces its impact on the environment. To produce one ton of paper, approximately 2 tons of wood are used. 300 million tons of paper are produced worldwide each year, which accounts for 40% of global deforestation. The paper industry also uses large amounts of water (300,000 liters of water for one ton of paper) and chemicals such as chlorine to make the paper whiter. Reducing paper waste in your company is a good thing for the environment.

How to make your employees aware of paper waste?

To save paper, it is important that each employee is aware of his or her consumption. A few simple actions can help avoid wasting paper on a daily basis, if they are carried out by all members of the company. For example, everyone can :

Think before printing a document: is printing essential?

Reread and correct documents on screen to avoid reprinting them;Print on both sides of the page by changing the settings on your computer; Print two pages on one sheet by reducing the margins and the font ;Send documents by e-mail rather than by mail.Encourage good practices by posting these recommendations near all printers in your company, to appeal to everyone's responsibility. Avoid individual printers and set up one or more printing rooms instead: this system allows for more reasonable consumption. Also, consider installing a tray next to each printer so that everyone can leave sheets of paper in the tray that could still be used as drafts. mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

How to save paper on a daily basis?

It is important to set an example by changing habits at the top of the company.  For example, pay slips and invoices can be sent in digital format to avoid wasting paper. You should also know that an electronic signature has the same value as a handwritten signature: it is therefore not necessary to systematically print your documents to have them signed.

To reduce your paper consumption, it is essential to evaluate it. Make an assessment of all the departments and actions that consume the most paper in your company, in order to establish an action plan. Is it possible to replace them with a digital equivalent? For example, you can encourage your employees to use digital tools instead of paper for note taking. Software such as Evernote, Microsoft OneNote or Google Keep offer many interesting features such as note sharing or voice memo taking.

Don't hesitate to ask your IT department to set up a training course so that all your employees master all the functions of a printer. The print preview to avoid errors, the setting of margins and fonts, or the double-sided printing are all features that allow to save paper on a daily basis, but that not all users know about.

To avoid wasting paper without hindering your collaborators in their work, also consider equipping all meeting rooms with screens, so that each speaker can project his or her presentation plan or documents on them: they will be able to share their information more easily without having to print them first. You can also install a notice board at strategic points in the company's premises to transmit important instructions.

How to reduce your ecological footprint with recycling?

To reduce your company's ecological footprint, you can also promote paper or cardboard recycling. For example in France and since January 1, 2018, companies with more than 20 employees are in the obligation to sort and recycle their office paper waste. Consider installing several garbage cans specifically dedicated to paper recycling, and make sure that everyone identifies them well so as not to mix paper with other waste. If you are handling sensitive or confidential data, it is best to use a document shredder before disposing of the paper.

Also, check the weight of the paper you are using: the heavier it is, the more energy it takes to produce. It is therefore preferable to use the lightest possible weight, between 70 and 80 mg/m2. You can also use recycled paper, which is of equivalent quality but has a lower impact on the environment. One ton of used paper can produce about 900 kilos of recycled paper. Recycled paper requires 2.5 times less water and energy than wood-based paper, and its production emits 20% less greenhouse gases. To guide you in the purchase of recycled paper, there are various labels, such as the Blue Angel, a German label that guarantees that the paper is made with 100% recycled fiber. You can also check the environmental rating of the product, ranging from A, for the most efficient, to E.

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