Reduce use By 2020 worldwide paper consumption is expected to double, however paper already accounts for 42% of industrial forest use.
Also, in the UK it is estimated that in order for us to consume our fair share of the world’s wood resources we should reduce our consumption by 73%.1

Minimising your paper use is easy....
Minimising your paper use is the easiest way to reduce your impact on the environment, and save money at the same time! Use the following tips to help you cut your paper use by up to 20%.

• Does it have to be printed? If it is an email or a document that can be stored electronically it is better not to print it. Printing just causes clutter and wastes money, paper and trees.

• Email. Sending emails rather than letters saves money, time and paper.

• Printing e-mails. If you have to print e-mails, select all the e-mails by holding down Control whilst clicking to select them. Then click File-Print and make sure that Start each item on a new page is not ticked.

• Printing long documents. You can often fit two pages onto one A4 sheet. Try clicking File-Print-Properties-Features and choosing 2 pages per sheet.

• Margins. You can reduce margins on word under File-Page Setup- reducing them to 2cm and click ‘default’. This will reduce the amount of paper used for large documents.

• Font Size. Using a smaller font size will also reduce paper used for large documents.

• Both sides. If you only use one side of paper you are only using half the product you paid for! Click File-Print-Properties-Features and select Two-Sided.

• Use Scrap. Paper already used on one side can be used to print internal documents if your printer does not support double-sided printing, as well as for making notes.

• Sign up to the Mailing Preference Service. Go to www.mpsonline.org.uk to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive

Download the following support materials to help promote paper minimisation in your office:

Click here for a poster to put by photocopiers and printers to remind your colleagues how to minimise their paper use.

Click here for a poster to stick on your paper bin to remind everyone what to recycle

Click here for a label for your paper box lid, can be used for scrap paper

Click here for a reminder card for your computer monitor.

1. BioRegional Solutions, P Desai and S. Riddlestone.

Last updated 18th September 2007