Paper Consumption in Offices

Paper is one of the basic necessities. From napkins, tissues, toilet papers, books, and notebooks to magazines, newspapers or banknotes and many more wood-based products.

An average office worker generates a considerable amount of waste every year. About 1 kilogram worth of paper and paperboard products are consumed by only one office worker. This makes 10,000 sheets of in total per year. And on a global scale, these rates reach a scary point. 115 billion sheets are consumed in offices every year.

Why Is There Such a Waste?

Using paper like it is an endless source lies at the root of this problem. Surveys show that 70% of the waste consists of printing mistakes, junk mails, handouts, billings, presentations, packaging, and mixed paper products. Moreover, according to the statistics, 30% of print jobs are never even picked up from the printer, and 45% of them end up in the trash by the end of the day.

What Can Be Done to Reduce The Waste?

WWF (World Wildlife Fund), had prepared a list of suggestions that would reduce the waste. The list goes off as:

• Think before you print.
• Use paper more effectively.
• Reduce unwanted mail to your office.
• Reuse.
• Use less paper by effectively using computers and other technology.
• Use better information systems.
• Use thinner paper.

Each one of these suggestions is a solution to the problems that are listed before. Removing the forgotten print jobs out of the equation, alone, provides 30% austerity. Using a sheet until it is cannot be used one more time, sending junk mails to recycling, adapting the office to technology and digitality so paper bills and mails are not necessary anymore are all highly efficient solutions.

The last suggestion advises the use of thinner paper. Because each paper type has a weight that called GSM (Gram Per Square Meter). Most printers work well with 70 and 80 gsm. Using thinner one most often does not change the performance and can save money for you. For example, a paper with a basis weight of 70 gsm uses and costs 15% more than 60% gsm. And 60 gsm uses and costs 20% more than 50 gsm.