Reduce, reuse, recycle and buy responsibly this World Paper Day
Paper is something we rarely stop to think about, but it’s an incredibly precious resource.
To coincide with the celebrations for World Paper Day on November 1, we’ve selected some simple ways you can reduce, reuse, recycle and procure paper responsibly both in the office and at home.
Reduce
- Hot desking – removing set desks is a great way to keep paper use to a minimum. It’s much harder to amass a collection of papers if you’re sitting in a different seat each day.
- Go paperless - both in the office and at home, check you have changed all your bills to paperless and pay them online or by phone. Most companies will make this easy for you to do as it is more cost-efficient to email a bill and it avoids the risk of mail being lost in the post.
- Change your morning routine - Europeans are renowned for their love of coffee. When you’re grabbing your morning fix – avoid paper cups as they are less environmentally friendly. Buy a reusable one and take it with you, many retailers also offer a discount to customers who bring their own cup.
Reuse
- Upcycle - paper is a fantastic resource for crafting and can be transformed into many new items including wreaths, decorations, vases, boxes, bowls, lamps and so much more. Visit Brother’s Creative Centre website [LOs to insert hyperlink] for more inspiration.
- Shop smart - choose materials that can be reused. For example, instead of opting for paper towels, use cloths that you can wash and reuse multiple times. There are a lot of environmentally friendly versions available, made from materials including bamboo.
Recycle
- Separate and recycle - did you know that each tonne (1,000kgs) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 1,700 litres of oil, 2.3 cubic feet of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 31,822 litres of water?2 Making this small change to your routine and being more conscious about recycling paper, can have a big impact on the environment.
- Have a clear-out - both in the workplace and in the home, you can recycle any old files taking up space and digitise documents and records. Scanning documents to your system eliminates the need of having paper taking up vast space on your desk. The mantra of clear desk, clear mind, will make you feel positive about your revamped workspace.
Procure
- The shoots of change - on average, it takes a staggering 384 trees to make the toilet paper that one person uses in their lifetime3. Help combat global warming by making a simple switch to bamboo tissue and toilet roll. Bamboo is the world's fastest growing plant and absorbs 30% more carbon and releases 35% more oxygen than trees.
- Look for approval - when buying any paper related products from kitchen roll or to your favourite book, look for the FSC label. There are three types of FSC on-product labels – FSC 100%, FSC recycled and FSC Mix. Buying products with the FSC mark means that you’re helping to take care of the world’s forests.
Why not celebrate World Paper Day by adopting smart yet simple ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and procure into your everyday routine?
Find out more about Brother’s free printer cartridge recycling scheme and how you can help to protect the environment.
1 http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Paper-Waste-Facts
2 https://www.usi.edu/recycle/paper-recycling-facts/
3 http://www.toiletpaperhistory.net/toilet-paper-facts/toilet-paper-fun-facts/
