According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, the paper industry contributes more to global warming than any other industry worldwide. Harvesting trees for paper reduces the CO2 offset trees normally provide, pollutes our waterways, and creates garbage. Paper products are thought to embody a third of all landfill space in our country. The average American office worker prints or copies 10,000 sheets of paper every year, with the average office sending 4 million tons of paper into landfills every year.

Solution? Besides using recycled paper and only printing a document if absolutely necessary, the best thing you can do to conserve paper is to use both sides of the paper. Adopt a “Double-Sided” Policy. Consider adopting an organizational policy that will ensure all individual documents are printed on both sides of the page. Set Computer Defaults to Print Double-Sided. Set up computer software for default two-sided printing including word processing, spreadsheets, electronic mail, and others. If your printer doesn't have the ability to print double sided, put unwanted paper back in your printer's load tray and print on the unused side. Its a trick that'll save paper and money.

THE FACTS

Harvesting trees for paper reduces the CO2 offset trees normally provide, pollutes our waterways, and creates garbage.