Cutting Down Paper Use in the Office
October 8, 2010
Paper is commonly associated with the working world, just as it is commonly associated with trees in the forest. This gives economic success and environmental prosperity an inverse relationship in terms of paper use. The more successful a company is, the more paper it is likely to use. Here are a few tips to help mitigate the effect of growing your business on the outside world around you.
- Switch to automatic hand dryers You may not like for employees to blow hot air at you, but when it comes to washing your hands, there should be no problem. Paper towels are wasted by the dozen in office bathrooms around the country. Motion sensor hand dryers are not new technology; they are plenty affordable on almost any company budget.
- Axe the memos/newsletter (or any form of non electronic internal communication really) Not the content, just the physical newsletter itself. It is still important to maintain contact lines with those who would read it, however, digital prints of the publication are just as effective and with the number of people who have personal computers or even e-reading devices, there should be no problem with maintaining readership.
- Read the newspaper online It may be important for you to stay up with daily news outlets, maybe trade periodicals, the Wall Street Journal, but be sure to so online as opposed to daily delivery. If you require employees to stay current via the press, encourage them to do so via online editions as well.
- Charge for printing It may seem cruel and unusual, but charging for printer use will discourage employees from printing personal items at the office, not to mention make them think twice about printing items that may not be necessary.
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