Instead of printing copies of documents to bring to a meeting, use electronic copies or simply share with a colleague.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Welcome to Week 4 of the 50 Ways to Reduce Your Waste Line. Last week, we asked you to think of ways to reuse or repurpose an item before discarding it. This week, as we continue our journey through 10 different themes (10 categories x 5 successively greener challenges = 50 Ways), we look at more sustainable ways to have work meetings.
One Thing You Can Do
As an attendee, bring soft copies of documents, not printed copies, or share with a colleague. Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, Publisher, etc.) and Acrobat Reader PDFs can all be easily viewed on your computer or tablet, and those applications also have features to make “on the side” notes. So plan ahead to have access to electronic versions, whether logging in to your Sheridan account on your computer/device, putting them on a USB key, or simply email the documents to yourself and let the meeting organizer know you will not need a printed version. If you cannot do without a paper copy perhaps arrange in advance to share with a colleague or two! Every sheet not printed makes a difference — see below!
Some Facts
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
We often joke about “killing some trees” when we print documents, but since most printer paper has a high percentage of recycled content, the trees may be the least of our worries. When you create paper versions of temporary/working documents, or documents there is no reason to retain in print form, think beyond trees. Think about the energy and resources used to create the paper, to package it, to market it, to ship raw materials to the factory, and finished paper from factory to wholesaler to retailer to Sheridan. Think about the energy used by the printer and about the little piece of carbon footprint with each use (every print job reduces a small portion of the printer’s life cycle). Think about the chemicals (toner) introduced into the world with each page you print. Think about the energy, and more chemicals, that will be used to reprocess your document when you discard it into recycling within hours or days of the meeting, and that paper is mostly “down-cycled” to gradually lesser grades.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Learn more about how paper is recycled. Recycling is better than landfill. Re-using is preferable to recycling. But not creating the object in the first place (Reducing – the other “R”) is even better. You have the power to choose not to bring additional things (paper, chemicals, packaging, etc.) into the world and to reduce *your* carbon footprint in the process.
Log in to Sheridan’s Papercut account via Access Sheridan (under Software Installation in Sheridan Resources) to see the breakdown of resources used by your print jobs. You may be surprised by the amount of carbon being used.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
