The average office worker in the USA uses 10,000 sheets of paper, every year. In order to conserve paper, save money, and move into a more modern culture, many offices are switching over to paperless policies. They eliminate the use of paper and printing by moving everything into a digital space, where their team members can access documents via a computer or mobile device. Whatever platform they choose to operate in, files are viewed on screens more than paper. However, is it possible that print is actually sustainable?

Since we sell printers to multiple offices across the Philippines, we wanted to get a better handle of our impact on the environment. As it turns out, print can be sustainable, but our end users must be responsible about it. Surprised? We were too, but here are the facts to prove it.

  • Print has a one-time carbon footprint. Other mediums require energy every time a document is viewed. (source)
  • The wood and paper industry in the USA plants 1.7 million trees daily. (source) Note the paper in the Philippines is imported or recycled, as logging is illegal.
  • For every tree that is harvested in a well-managed forest, several more are replanted or naturally regenerated. (source)

In addition to the facts above, paper is easily recyclable and highly biodegradable. It’s important for your office to do its part in recycling paper and making sure you purchase from responsible brands.