In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with paper. Whether it’s a receipt after a trip to the grocery store or a piece of junk mail in our mailbox, paper is pervasive. And while this may be convenient for many people, it can also have negative effects on the environment. Because so much of our waste gets recycled into new products, reducing the amount of paper you use can help cut down on pollution and save trees. So how do you reduce your own consumption? Read on!

Reduce paper use

The first step to reducing the amount of paper you use is to make a plan. A good place to start is by making a list of all the tasks that require printed materials, and then identifying ways that you could reduce or eliminate printing for each one. For example:

• Could you send an email instead of printing out an agenda?
• Could you use online tools like Google Docs instead of printing out meeting notes and distributing them in hard copy?
• Can someone else take on responsibility for generating these documents (for example, getting sign-off from others before sending them out)? If so, ask if they would be willing to do so electronically rather than printing them out themselves.

Buy recycled products

Reclaiming paper is a practice that dates back to the 19th century. It involves collecting used paper and turning it into new products, such as tissue, toilet paper and food packaging.

Today, many companies offer recycled products but …