Office supply, procurement
Using recycled paperObjectives
- Reducing forest destruction
- Reducing environmental pollution
- Reduction of the volume of waste by businesses
- Reducing water use
Green Value indicator
Paper cannot be recycled many times as its fibres are destroyed and eventually decomposed, but can still be recycled 4-5 times in total. The figures show why paper recycling is a good green practice:- Reduction of energy use: 23-77%
- Reduction of air pollution: 75%
- Reduction of water pollution: 35%
- Reduction of water use: 58%
Explanation
With focus shifting towards greater ecological sustainability of business and by extension the planet, companies and individuals within them should use recyclable / recycled / biodegradable materials in day-to-day office activities.An example of these materials is paper, which is used in many forms, such as paper documents, brochures, business cards. Any company can recycle documents that are no longer needed. It is possible to have paper recycled either by companies specialised in paper recycling or by machines designed to recycle paper themselves.
The recommended specifications of recycled paper chosen by companies include:
- suitable for all types of printers (laser & inkjet)
- produced in plants Certified for environmental management in accordance with EMAS or ISO14001
- paper made of 100% recycled fibres and meets the requirements of the European label “Ecolabel”
PROS/CONS of the action
Pros:- Reduction of net raw material used
- Reducing water pollution
- Reduction of municipal waste
- Trees and forest spared
- Reducing water use
- Raising citizens’ awareness of the environment
- Possible poor quality of recycled paper
- Reduced variety of paper and/or colour items
- Increased costs in creating recycled paper
Certified
Not CertifiedLink to useful sources
Environmental Calculator https://recycled-papers.co.uk13 Advantages and Disadvantages of Recycling https://futureofworking.com
