WWF’s forests expert Jana, has put together a few tips on reducing the impact of paper use on the environment.
- Think before you print! Can you read that document on the screen and circulate it by email, instead of printing out several copies?
- Collect all waste paper for recycling.
- Use papers made from post-consumer waste recycled fibre. Where virgin fibre is used look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo, to ensure your paper comes from a well-managed forest.
Tips and Tools
- Never tick the box on a form saying you would like to receive more information.
- Stick a “no junk mail” sign on your letterbox and write to people who send you junk mail asking to be removed from their database.
- Use scraps of paper for notes instead of post-its.
- Re-use envelopes by using address labels.
- Archive information electronically.
- Print double sided
- Use the blank sides of unneeded single-sided copies for printing drafts.
- Use outdated letterhead for in-house memos.
- Designate a printer for draft printing and use only used paper in its paper tray.
- Set up office systems to pass reports/magazines/newspapers around to multiple readers, rather than ordering and producing multiple copies.
- Keep paper for recycling separate from other paper supplies.
- Use thinner paper.
The thickness of paper we use makes a big difference both in terms of cost as well as the amount of paper used. You can find the reference to the thickness of paper on the package, mostly ranging from 60gsm or g/m2 (grams per square metre) to 100gsm.
Heavier weight sheets use more fibre, cost more per sheet and cost more to post. Most printers work well with 70gsm and 80gsm. Using thinner paper most often does not change the performance and can save money too.
Paper with a basis weight of
- 60gsm uses and costs 20% more than 50gsm;
- 70gsm uses and costs 15% more than 60gsm;
- 80gsm uses and costs 12% more than 70gsm;
- 100gsm uses and costs 20% more than 80gsm
Lets all do our part and buy paper with the least amount of impact on the environment!
Future generations face hunger, thirst, disease and disaster if we carry on trashing the environment. Sounds like a stark warning, from WWF, as the world celebrates World Environment Day.
I’ve taken it upon myself today, to research what kind of future we all have in a world were environmental issues are in the news everywhere.
Food, clean water, medicines and protection from natural hazards are important ingredients in maintaining our security and quality of life. But, if we want to continue living the way we do then the species, natural habitats and ecosystems that support them need to be protected.
I think this message hit me hardest upon reading WWF’s report 2010 and Beyond: Rising to the Biodiversity Challenge. While reading a report may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it explains how we all will be affected in our changing world.
But, lets not forget that today is a day to celebrate the environment. So, whether your in an office looking out the window, taking a walk, or sitting on a park bench. Take a moment from your day and appreciate the environment that’s around us.
So you’ve signed up to Earth Hour 2008 through the website and are eagerly awaiting March 29, what now?
Well, WWF has some nifty new toys to play with on the Earth Hour website.
Get online to get personal and share your Earth Hour ideas by uploading your images and videos to our gallery or
just check out your personal web page to see who else is joining you during Earth Hour.
Read more…
Inspired in part by Earth Hour 2007, Kim decided to take the next steps and start “greening” her lifestyle. She shares her thoughts at ActNow.
Her conclusion:
I’m really proud that I started this, not just for implementing it and hopefully saving money, but to actually realise how much I could impact the environment by just keeping and keep to my lifestyle. It’s quite astounding. The funny thing is that The changes aren’t that big and don’t impose on my everyday living. If everyone changed one behaviour, imagine what we could achieve. I really believe that little actions make big results.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing Kim 
Danielle over at Greenfoot outlines the Sustainable Sydney 2030 consultation process that’s currently underway. If you live in Sydney and want to have a say in how it progresses towards sustainability, this seems like a great opportunity to do so…
Vincenze beats me to the punch by highlighting the news that Labor has committed to halting the sale of inefficient hot water systems if elected.
I was shocked to learn how much energy heating water chews up in the house - so we turned down the thermostat on our service and installed a water-saving shower head and saw significant savings in our electricity bill. As the shower is also one of the biggest consumers of water this has a double benefit too…
Legislation such as that proposed by Labor would see a very significant reduction in energy use, helping to delay the need for new power sources as population grows - the first pillar of Reduce, Renew, Offset. That combined with compact fluoro lights would make an even bigger dent.
Of course, if you own your home or are building, you don’t have to wait for the legislation - you can take action sooner by installing an energy efficient water heater, like a solar system.
The CityFarm Chronicles blog has a post entitled Musings on water where the author outlines “a vision of how things could be done differently. A few of these are top down approaches, some are bottom-up approaches. Some are tongue-in-cheek but it’s up to you to decide which ones!”
Check it out - and feel free to leave your thoughts over there (or on this post if you’re so inclined)…
Melissa over at ActNow! has a great interview with Michael Mobbs who created a sustainable house in inner-city Sydney.
Ask your government to prioritise safe alternatives to desalination
This month’s lead Futuremakers story focuses on desalination’s impact on our environment. WWF’s June report on the issue was met with significant support from people in areas where desalination plants are being implemented.
Many of you wrote in to express your disappointment and concern over the elected government’s decision to progress local desalination plans without community consultation, against environmental groups’ legitimate concerns, and governments’ own coastal planning guidelines.
You can take action to stop the construction of desalination plants in coastal communities. If you are concerned about desalination and the impact on the environment, take steps to write to your local MP (if you’re not sure of your electorate, you can find it here) or State premier, or to the Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Ask that priority be given to safe alternatives to desalination. Such alternatives include localised water collection such as rainwater tanks, water efficiency projects, demand management and leakage reduction.
Photo: re_birf @ flickr
I’ve mentioned previously that Apple Australia has been lagging behind its U.S.-based parent in providing recycling for it’s products.
So I was glad to read that they’ve now launched a local program.
As far as I can tell it’s for a limited time and only available in Sydney and Melbourne. I’m not sure if the program will be extended, or future dates will be announced. For a limited time they are extending the offer for computers and peripherals from other manufacturers, not just Apple products.
It’s a good start - but hopefully the program will be extended into the future, and perhaps not be limited to specific dates.
