Top Reasons to Go Paper-Free

Saving money by going paper-free can mean saving the environment.

Most companies with any kind of foot in today’s world — even if it’s a dial-up foot wearing a 10-year-old computer — knows that paper is no longer necessary. Or, at least, not as necessary as it once was. In fact, if you look at it from Earth’s point of view, it may be the opposite of necessary; it might be downright destructive.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the primary greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by the pulp and paper manufacturing industry include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), all contributing factors in climate change. Basically, these GHG emissions accumulate in the air eventually warm up the climate and affect the atmosphere — in the air and on the ground — all around the world.

Because these emissions are preventable, scientists and environmental organizations are working hard to reduce emissions and educate consumers and companies. The Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) is one of those organizations. They’re working diligently to get the word out about what a mess paper is making in our modern world. In fact, it’s estimated that approximately 300 million tons of paper produced each year, resulting in almost four billion trees cut down annually.

John Mancini, president of the Silver Spring, Maryland-based AIIM estimates that if people around the world act then 821,918 tons of paper and 10,958,904 trees could be saved. “That’s got to be worth thinking about,” says Mancini.

Going paper-free is one of the easiest and most effective ways for companies of all sizes to impact the environment in a positive way. And the benefits for your bottom line are pretty good too — many of Actsoft’s Wireless Forms users report savings of hundreds and sometimes thousands each month. From paper costs and storage to streamlining operations and ensuring paperwork is accurate and on time, these savings really add up.

So what’s in it for Mother Earth? Let’s look at some facts:

• Major greenhouse gases can remain in the atmosphere for tens to hundreds of years after being released. They become globally mixed in the lower atmosphere, reflecting contributions from emissions sources worldwide.
• Each year more than 20 million trees are consumed for the production of book papers and about 95 million trees are consumed for newsprint.
• Deforestation is the source of 25 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
• Over 40 percent of the global industrial wood harvest is used to make paper.
• Forests that have been cleared and allowed to regrow do not store as much carbon as an undisturbed forest. In one study in Ohio, a forest that was cleared and allowed to regrow for 70 years stored only half as much carbon as a nearby forest that had never been disturbed.

To learn more about how you can replace your paper forms with easy-to-use electronic versions that can be deployed on your smartphone or tablet, call Actsoft today. We’ve helped countless companies make the transition. Let’s get together and create a smarter planet!

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