Bits and Pieces on Paper

This month, we at Living Lightly, would like to share some old facts and introduce new ideas that came to light while researching new stationery choices for the Foundation's office use....the many things we came across while weighing the options available in commercial paper products. Indeed, we've come a long way from the decision being limited to choosing recycled or new.

First and foremost, we should all be concerned with limiting all of our use of paper products. After all, any use of paper is a use of resources. The best thing we can do is to reduce, reduce and REDUCE. Computers were once said to be the key to reducing our dependence on paper products. Look around your home or school or office. It certainly seems that what has happened is that today's technology has simply given us faster access for more and more paper to enter our lives as we find information that simply MUST be printed out.

Perhaps in generations to come, this prediction will come to pass but for now, looks like we'll just have to make a very conscious choice to use products that are earth friendly and resource saving.

Since you're here, reading this on-line and doing your part to conserve paper; here's a few more suggestions for keeping your desktop free from clutter:
1. Work on-screen rather than on paper. Read and edit online, and print final copies only.
2. Preview files with display commands, editors and viewers before you print them. The way something looks on-screen is usually pretty close to the way it will look when printed out.
3. If you're revising a file, print only the pages on which you have made changes, not the whole file or document.
4. Check your print settings carefully before you send something to the printer.
5. Reuse draft copies. Remember, paper does have TWO sides! Make sure they are both used before it hits the recycle bin or (heaven forbid!) the circular file!
6. Rethink your expectation of what quality paper looks like. In this day and age, what has gone into making the paper should be given as much priority as the gloss finish it has (or has not in this case!)
7. Read E-Mail on-line.
8. Read the newspaper on-line.
9. Send cyber cards...save money AND trees!
Sustainable Forestry Challenge...Try your hand at decision-making that preserves both jobs and trees!
Did you know that these days we can write on:

Kenaf leaves
Worn denim
Hemp
Old currency
Banana leaves
Educational Activities:
Paper Weight (grades 4 - 6)
Follow Dartmouth's example with ECObooks
Saving Trees (grades 3 - 6)
Your own Recycled Paper
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (high school)
Recycling as a Fossil Record (6 through 12)
Junk Mail Airmail (middle school)
Polystyrene Containers (middle - high school)
  
"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now." -- Anonymous
For those interested, the Windstar Foundation has chosen to use a %100 Kenaf paper for our public correspondences, which is tree-free, acid free and chlorine free. The Windstar Foundation will continue to use recycled paper for all our other paper needs and encourages you to do the same to keep the recycle cycle going strong!

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Web Posting 01/12/01