Trees are an essential part of the planet's ecology, they provide oxygen, clean the air, provide shade and food, and they're used as homes by many different creatures.Each year millions of trees must be planted to create paper and other wood products.Logging can be very destructive to the environment if it causes pollution, leads to soil erosion, and uses a lot of energy.There are many things you can do to cut down on paper use.
Step 1: Reusable cloths are better than paper products.
Paper is wasted around the house on things like paper towels and napkins.If you use lots of paper products for cleaning, drying, and wiping your nose, you can save a lot of trees.Tea towels, old rags, and sponges can be used to replace paper towels in the kitchen and bathroom.To replace facial tissues, invest in a few handkerchiefs.Cloth napkins can be washed and used as replacements for napkins at the dinner table.
Step 2: You can use real dinnerware instead of paper.
Paper plates and dishes are not good for the environment.The paper isn't recycled properly when most plates end up in the trash.Don't use paper plates when you have a party, use the real ones.Reusable plastic dinnerware is great for camping and picnicking.You can get plates, bowls, cups, and utensils that are not made from paper.
Step 3: Paper can be used from other plant sources.
Sometimes it is not possible to avoid paper products.There are tree-free paper products that are made from alternative plant sources that have a lower impact on the environment.The plant grows fast and produces more fiber than a tree.Writing paper, greeting cards, envelopes, and other paper products can be turned into fabric.Another fast-growing plant that can be used for alternative paper products is bamboo.bamboo bathroom tissue, paper, towels, and even disposable dinnerware can be found.
Step 4: Bring your own mug or thermos to the cafe.
Lots of paper is wasted every year because of disposable cups from cafes and restaurants.Paper cups are usually coated with plastic and end up in the trash because they aren't recycled.Take a coffee mug or thermos with you when you go to a restaurant or cafe to get a drink.
Step 5: Reusable grocery and lunch bags can be used.
Paper bags are provided by many grocery stores.Reusable grocery bags can help your family save paper.If your lunches are usually packed in paper bags, it's a good idea to switch to a reuseable lunch bag.Ask your family how much they spend on paper bags and grocery bags each year if they are hesitant about changing.Compare that to the cost of disposable bags.
Step 6: Send e-cards.
Lots of people like to send greeting cards for birthdays, holidays, and other events and this leads to a lot of paper waste.The card is also sent in a paper envelope.Send electronic greeting cards to your friends and family instead of sending paper cards.You can personalize designs, messages, and graphics with a lot of e-card services.Sending out invitations to parties, weddings, and other events can be done with e-cards.
Step 7: You can read e-books or library books.
Books are great for school and work projects, and they're also great to read.You can save paper by using public versions of books that are available at the library, or by reading electronic copies instead.Buying used books is a good way to reuse something that has already been printed.
Step 8: School and work can be done on computers.
School and work notebooks are a great way to keep track of things you're supposed to learn, but you can save paper by keeping electronic notes.That way, you don't have to rely on paper notebooks, and you can always have your notes saved to your computer.If you're in school, ask your teacher if it's okay for you to take notes on a computer or laptop instead of in a notebook.
Step 9: Products that come with excessive packaging should not be used.
Consumer packaging, which is used to wrap and label food, toys, clothes, and other goods, is one of the biggest culprits for creating paper waste.Products made with minimal or no packaging can be used to help save paper.Many of today's consumer items are wrapped multiple times, such as a candy that comes in an individual wrapper within a bag that is also placed inside a box.Look for packaging that has a sticker or a tag instead of a full box.Purchase items that haven't been wrapped before.Buying in bulk can help reduce paper waste.If you go shopping with your family, make sure to buy what you can in bulk.
Step 10: Don't use takeout containers at restaurants.
takeout food containers, which are made of paper products or packed in paper bags, are a large contributor to paper waste.If you and your family decide to eat out, request that you sit down in the restaurant and not take the food in to-go containers.Ask your family if you can eat at a sit-down restaurant for your next night out because most fast food restaurants use paper products to wrap their food.
Step 11: Be careful with what you print.
You can save paper by cutting down on the amount of paper you print.If you really need a paper copy, ask yourself if you need to print it.Print on both sides of the paper so the project can be printed on fewer pieces of paper when you need to print something off.If you have to hand in paper copies of projects or assignments, ask if you can submit them electronically.You don't have to print off a second draft of an assignment, letter, or personal project if you proofread it on the computer.
Step 12: Send, receive, and store records electronically.
You don't have to print off paper copies for most documents these days because they can be shared and stored electronically.If you need a copy of an electronic document, you can request it be sent to you by email.If you need to save a sensitive document to a flash drive, ask if you can.If you need a record for your files and an original paper copy already exists, you can use a version of your computer.When you need to provide copies of documents to friends, family, teachers, or people at work, ask if you can send them electronically using sharing services, email or other electronic methods.
Step 13: Go for paperless communications.
Electronic correspondences can be used to replace paper copies in the mail.If you can, sign up for paperless communications for items like Bills Newsletters.
Step 14: You can use electronic calendars.
There are many free calendars and schedulers online that you can use to plan your days, keep track of dates and assignments, and schedule meetings and interviews.An electronic calendar will allow you to save the paper that would have been used on a calendar, journal, or other type of scheduler.Both Apple and Google offer free calendar products.There are many calendar apps that you can use on the go.
Step 15: Encourage others to save paper.
It is possible to encourage friends, family, classmates, and coworkers to save paper as well.There are signs around the house, school, or office that let people know how they can help.There are a lot of signs that you can use on the internet to raise awareness about the importance of saving trees.You can download and print WWF signs.The back of an old assignment is a good place to make sure you print or draw your signs.Trash containers and recycling bins are great places to put signs.
Step 16: Buy recycled paper products.
No new trees were cut down to make the recycled paper products that are available.When you need to buy paper products, look for things that were made with post-consumer waste.
Step 17: You can use both sides of the paper.
Make sure you write on both sides of the paper in order to get the most out of it.If you only use one side of each piece, you can cut down on paper use by half.You could use the back of the paper for mathematical calculations if you only use one side.Writing or printing in a smaller size will help you cut down on the amount of paper you need for your work.When writing in notebooks, always fill the pages without skipping lines, and don't start a new book until you've filled the entire page.
Step 18: Wrap gift bags, paper, and tissue.
You don't have to use brand new wrapping paper for every gift you give.You can use the bag or wrapping paper for another gift if you keep it.Newspaper can be used to stuff a gift bag.
Step 19: Old paper products can be turned into crafts.
Instead of using fresh sheets, why not reuse the old ones that were already bound for the recycler?You can use old newspapers, notes, cards, and other paper to make things.
Step 20: You can't reuse paper.
If you have paper that you can't reuse or recycle, make sure you recycle it.Paper that is thrown away ends up in a landfill.The paper can be turned into something new by sending it to a special facility.