How can you save trees and help the planet? The first step is to start with yourself and make small changes in your daily routine.
Millions of people fail to notice the necessity of saving trees. They use tons of paper on a daily basis without making any effort of knowing the adverse effects of such actions on our planet.
These materials that they use come from trees. So, by consuming more paper products, more trees pay the ultimate price. How can we save trees?
Trees serve as homes to animals, and they also help to eliminate excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
By using less paper, you are indirectly reducing water and air pollution caused by machines used in processing paper or felling trees. So, if you are ready to learn, here is how you can use less paper and save trees.
1. Request your bills in paperless forms
Besides using paper, there are other ways to receive your bill statement. You can have them delivered straight to your email instead of requesting them through regular mail in printed form and with envelopes.
In fact, it’s much more comfortable to manage bills sent to your email directly than dealing with a paper form. When you receive your bills through email, you will easily be able to track your actions.
Also, the email messages will remain in your inbox for months, unless you delete them, allowing you to reference back to a previous bill when needed.
2. Use an app on your phone
There are Apps available that make going paperless a breeze. You can download these to your phone to lift the burden of paperwork duties.
And there’s a certain beauty with using phone apps for note-taking. These notes can remain in your phone for a long time in case you need them.
You can install Evernote on your phone for this act, or do your jotting in the text message box and save as a draft for later use. This helps you and saves trees as well.
3. Endpaper dishware
If you want to take real action to save trees, then make an effort to wash your dishes with water.
Paper dishware is easy to access and use, but the more you consume, the more trees you are indirectly destroying. If you still enjoy using paper dishes, think of how to recycle.
4. Proofread ruthlessly before printing
It is true that we might not be able to eliminate the use of paper all at once, but we can reduce paper consumption by putting some extra effort into the ideal.
Another step is to edit your documents thoroughly before printing to ensure you do not reprint due to minor errors. In other words, hit the print button only when you are sure there are no mistakes in your document.
It is understandable that reading the copy on the screen to check for errors can be tedious and time-consuming, but it would prevent paper wastage at the end of the day.
5. Print only the pages you need
Most documents printed on two pages come out as one page. All you need do is to modify the paper correctly before printing. Adjust margin and font size before printing.
For example, Times New Roman 12 would contain fewer pages than Times New Roman 14. The greater the font size, the greater the number of pages that will be printed.
6. Work on joint projects using software
As a student, your assignments might include working on a project with other students. When more than one person is involved, you might need to make multiple corrections as the project progresses.
The exciting thing is that everyone on the team can make their contributions to the project. Wherever they are using software like Trello, Dropbox, and even Google Docs, you can edit the same document multiple times.
Using digital means will not only make it easier to modify the project but will also help reduce paper consumption and ultimately, save trees.
7. Encourage USB Data Storage usage
Even though USB flash drives come in different sizes, it will not be easy to fill up a 32 Gig memory drive with documents only. Documents don’t occupy much space.
Plus, it would be easier to manage files on this USB storage device than having them in paper form. If you are working with a team, encourage them to move files to a USB flash drive instead of printing them out.
All you would need to access the data is a laptop, which won’t be an issue. Encourage everyone to bring their reports in USB storage devices to reduce paper wastage and save trees.
8. Choose treeless paper options
The treeless paper is available and can help reduce or eliminate paper wastage and thus save trees.
And the good thing is that using this eco-friendly paper will not only benefit the company producing them but also the environment at large.
9. Spread the message to others
Inform your friends, family, and colleagues about the rates of paper consumption and how this is leading to the destruction of more trees.
You can open their eyes to the benefits of conserving trees, what they bring to the table and how deforestation can affect the health of the planet.
Provide them with numerous options on how to reduce paper consumption and urge them to speak to others about it.
10. Cut down on tissue paper
Each year, tons of tissue paper rolls and packages are used for one purpose or the other. And the demand for tissue paper would keep on increasing with an increase in population size.
A great alternative to tissue paper is handkerchiefs. They are absorbent, and you can wash them repeatedly after use. Consider using this material instead of tissue papers.
11. Add email and website address to your business card
If you are a student running a business, ask people to send an email to you instead of mailing. Don’t add your mailing address on your business card or website.
Instead, include your email, phone number and other electronic options for contact information.
Going paperless is the best option
Using less paper will not only help to reduce the burden on trees, but It will also help to make our planet habitable for everyone. Students and business people consume tons of paper each year.
However, we can save trees by reducing the volume of paper used. There is a need to take this message to every corner of the earth because as population size continues to increase, the number of trees destroyed will continue to grow too.
Let’s help make the world better for every living thing.
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