Sustainable Paper for Your Home Office

I recently read that Americans use about 580 pounds of paper per year. That is a ton of paper and tree waste if you’re using new virgin fiber paper and not recycling.

Easy tips for more sustainable paper use:

Switch to a mostly paperless office – use your computer calender, electronic fax, pay bills online, and don’t print out emails. Cut paper use wherever you can.

If you have to print, make sure you REALLY need to print. For example, as a writer, I can’t proof on my computer, it just doesn’t work as well for me as a print out and a red pen. However, I know this about myself, so I make sure I’m close to an end proof draft before I print out copies. I never say, print out a first draft.

When you do print, use both sides of the paper.

When you do print out something unimportant (say like my proof drafts I mentioned above) use old scrappy paper you’ve got laying around. You’re the only one who is going to see it.

Recycle all your paper after it’s been used.

Buy the best eco-friendly paper. You want to look for 100% post consumer waste paper, chlorine-free paper, acid-free paper, and paper with smart eco-packaging (soy inks, paper not plastic, and so on).  You can snag some earth-friendly paper from the following companies:

• Green Earth Office Supply
• Living Tree Paper Company
• Dolphin Blue
• New Leaf Paper

NOTE: Even places like Office Depot and other mainstream office stores carry recycled content paper nowadays, so if you don’t want to shop online, you still can find eco-paper.

Learn more!

• Where to Get Eco-friendly Home Office Supplies
• Green Your Home Office – Home Office Eco Ideas
• Learn How to Make Your Own Paper

How are you greening your home office? Do you recycle all your paper?