Why you should take steps towards a paper-free future NOW! The paper industry is the fifth largest consumer of energy!
It may be recyclable but that certainly doesn’t mean paper is carbon neutral; far from it. Deforestation, water pollution and waste are 3 major consequences of paper production. Worldwide, the pulp and paper industry is the fifth largest consumer of energy, accounting for 4% of all the world's energy use ! The pulp and paper industry uses more water to produce a ton of product than any other industry.
What can you do? Here are 5 tips to reduce your paper use NOW:
1. Electronic billing , online banking and e-statements are available from most banks, and they're much easier to keep track of and organise than piles of paper stuffed at the back of a filing cabinet. You can switch to electronic billing online with a few clicks, or contact your bank if you need more information.
2. Online receipts - Online shopping means you can keep receipts via email, no paper required. However, some retailers have started offering online receipts, even if you purchase in-store! You may need to join their loyalty program for these online benefits but if email spamming is a concern, they always offer an 'unsubscribe' option, and many promise not to spam you! Just ask what their unsubscribe options are. Also, a few emails in your junk folder is a small price to pay for going paperless.
3. E-tickets when travelling - most airlines offer the option of texting your boarding pass to your phone. It's so convenient, requires no printing and you're less likely to lose your boarding pass!
Every minute 100 acres of rainforest is cleared worldwide. So by the time you read and share this article, 1000 acres of rainforest may be gone!
4. Say NO to junk mail - Use 'No Flyers' or 'No Junk Mail' stickers to avoid a build up of paper in your mailbox that will inevitably be tossed away. For tips on stopping junk mail, click here.
5. Subscribe to digital magazines - Get information and entertainment online, rather than in print. Most of your favourite magazines will have a digital version that you can subscribe to. Just check out their website for info.
ANU research shows that logging each hectare of the giant Eucalyptus regnans forests in Tasmania and Victoria releases over 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse pollution.