Recycled envelopes

More than that it also reduces pollution and also the need to store, manage and handle expensive and dangerous waste. Recycling is the way forward and we can all do our bit to help.

Here are just a few of the numbers associated with recycling – the benefits are obvious. Making new aluminum cans from recycled cans uses 20 times less energy than making cans from the raw material. Just one recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours. Just one recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes. Just one recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 30-watt light bulb for 6 hours.

When it comes to paper products such as envelopes, 70 per cent less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials. Manufacturing products from recycled paper also reduces water pollution by 35% and air pollutants by 73 percent.

Despite calls for improved handling of waste landfill sites are still the most commonly used disposal method for paper in the developed world. With the production and use of paper having escalated massively over the last 40 year figures reveal that more than 5 million tonnes of paper ends up in landfill every year. On average each of us uses 700 pounds of paper products every year and paper now contributes to almost a third of the material that goes into landfills. A massive 14 percent of landfill space is taken up by newspaper alone.

Landfill is bad news and one of the biggest problems in disposing with paper like this is that it emits methane whilst decomposing ? a potentiality harmful greenhouse gas (20 times more potent than carbon dioxide). Life cycle analysis shows that up to 100m tonnes of carbon equivalent is emitted by decomposing landfill sites. This is equivalent to all the carbon emitted through the use of fossil fuels during the rest of the paper cycle. Using paper once and then dumping it in holes in the ground is simply not a viable, sustainable or sensible way of using paper products ? it’s inefficient and it’s expensive, bad for business and bad for the planet. Of that most people would agree.

The question is – What then, can we all do to help? Well one easy way that business can contribute to help protest natural resources, save energy as well as save waste and reduce landfill is by using recycled products. It doesn’t need grand sweeping gestures necessarily as every little helps. From photocopier paper, ring binders, files, wallets, notebooks, marker pens and envelopes the office equipment and stationery industry is leading the way when it comes to ‘Green’ products and these days you are spoilt for choice when it comes to recycled paper products. What about replacing your standard envelope with recycled envelopes? That would certainly help. With an estimated 400 billion envelopes produced every year imagine the environmental benefits of just a proportion of these being recycled? Some countries such as Sweden and Switzerland already recycle 40 percent of their paper with and Japan recycling 50 percent.

Perhaps the best starting point for adding a greener hue to your company’s office stationery is by having a chat with an experienced and professional office equipment and office stationery supplier. In addition to being able to advice you on a wide range of recycled paper products including recycled copier paper and recycled envelopes you will also get some very attractive pricing, payment terms and delivery options. You might also be surprised at the range of products and also take advantage of special deals and giveaways.