Climate change is a hot topic and many of us are beginning to do what we can to have less of an impact on the environment – lots of companies are moving away from using plastic packaging, switching to energy efficient lighting, using renewable energy sources, enforcing strict recycling policies – the list goes on. However, even with the many alternatives available, lots of offices are still using a great deal of paper.
Yes, paper can be recycled, and yes, you can buy paper from sustainable sources, but is it possible to do without paper altogether? While it may be impossible for some companies to achieve a totally paperless operation, many of them are still able to drastically reduce the amount of paper they use.
Sustainability is an important factor, but there are other benefits beyond the positive effects going paperless has on the environment:
Paper can take up a lot of room – 15% of the average office. And It’s not just the paper, it’s everything that goes with it – stationery, shredders, recycling and disposal bins. Then there’s the storage of documents, with sometimes countless filing cabinets.
Digitising documents and electronic storage could reduce the amount of space you have to dedicate to paper storage.
Collecting digital signatures on tablets and smartphones can also help to reduce your paper consumption.
The paper you use, storage and filing cabinets to keep it in and the time it takes to file it all cost money. Not to mention misfiled or lost documents that can also cost a company lots of resources and money.
Going paperless can provide considerable savings, money that can be spent in other areas of your business. Research shows that digital leaders are more profitable and have higher market values than their peers.
However, it is important to remember that the software, technology and security required to enable paperless operation still has a cost.
Customers value sustainability and appreciate a companies decision to operate without using paper – some are even willing to pay more for services rendered by environmentally-friendly companies.
Going paperless could help you win more business and impress more clients.
For many companies, the transition to a paperless operation is, at least for now, not possible or not cost-effective. Putting new systems in place is time-consuming. Sure, if you are starting a new business, then going paperless from the get-go should be relatively straightforward, but for well-established businesses with acres of filing cabinets and thousands of personnel, it’s going to be a long transition.
In the meantime, ensuring that you adhere to a strict recycling policy and use sustainable and eco-friendly office supplies will still have a positive impact on the environment.
Global Office Supplies specialise in cutting down costs on the products your office consumes on a daily basis. As well as this, we offer excellent recycling services to help companies lead the way towards their green energy targets and help turn their office into an eco-friendly working environment.
In most cases, we can deliver all of your office supplies, including paper, the very same day.