HOW TO CELEBRATE PAPER FREE DAY
Paper Free day can be celebrated in various innovative and newer ways. First, the idea that comes to our mind instantly is to get rid of papers that are unnecessary and unimportant anymore by sending them for recycling. Secondly, we can celebrate by going digital (By signing up for digital magazines, newspapers, books etc.). Another could be by not buying anything new made up of paper. Further, don’t print tickets, ATM slips, or shop receipts). Last but not the least, we can celebrate by spreading real awareness.
ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE TO PAPER
Despite the onset of digitisation, the demand for offline notes and scribbles has never been reduced. It is always said that paper is the best medium for the written word but it does a lot more damage to the environment than you can imagine. However, with the advancements in sustainable technology, green alternatives can be used to replace paper-obtained wood pulp and trees. So some of the sustainable alternatives to the paper are as follows:
1. BAGASSE Bagasse is the residue left after the juice is extracted from the sugarcane. Bagasse is now
extensively used to make various commercial products. The material is ideal for use after the depithing process (removal of the pith portion of the stem). The pulp can be used to make newspapers, printing papers, tissues, packaging boxes, etc.
2. BAMBOO PAPER
Just like wood pulp, products made from bamboo can be easily recycled. The quality of the bamboo paper is also comparable to the paper wood pulp in terms of strength, brightness, and printability. The applications of bamboo paper are varied. Bleached paper can be used to manufacture paper for typing and offset printing, whereas unbleached paper can be used to make packaging.
3. KENAF
The fibre obtained from the plant is similar to that of conifers, making it suitable for widespread usage and serving as an alternative to wood. The fibre is quite durable and has properties that make it suitable for making green buildings. In fact, the plant also replenishes the soil that it grows in, aerating it and repelling the weeds. Moreover, the material is also 100 per cent recyclable. Kenaf is widely used as an alternative to paper and is considered next in line, after wood pulp. In the pre-historical age, it was also used to make clothes.
4. COTTON PAPER
In terms of strength and durability, cotton paper dominates wood pulp products. it is often used to print essential documents such as theses and dissertation copies. In most countries, this paper is used to print currency notes.
5. STONE PAPER
Also known as limestone paper, the material is durable yet not biodegradable. However, it is photo-degradable and compostable. The paper can be recycled into the same mineral-rich paper again.
STATISTICS OF PAPER USED ALL OVER INDIA
Paper consumption in India is likely to witness 6 to 7 per cent annual growth and will reach 30 million tonnes by FY 2026-27, largely driven by an emphasis on education and literacy coupled with growth in organised retail, according to industry body IPMA. The domestic market/consumption of paper is over 16 million tons per annum (TPA), with over 2 million TPA being imported. By 2025-26, under the baseline scenario, domestic consumption.
World Paper Free Day is a yearly campaign that focuses to reduce the amount of paper generated by people in their everyday work and personal life. It was launched by the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM).
AIIM is a non-profit organization that provides standards, market research, education, and certification for information professionals. It launched World Paper Free Day in order to raise awareness of the huge amount of paper used in vain and to promote paperless technologies.
World Paper Free Day used to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in October, but AIIM has recently moved it to a fixed date, November 6. On this day, businesses and people are encouraged to stop using paper for one day to stop being so reliant on paper.
According to research, the average office worker uses about four dozen sheets of paper per day, of which about half is considered waste. Despite all modern technology, a lot of businesses still have traditional-based filing systems which require considerable space, equipment and maintenance. AIIM encourages such businesses to participate in World Paper Free Day to see the benefits of a paperless office.
First of all, it is a burden on the global environment. Remember, that almost half of the wood humans use goes into the production of paper products. Not to mention the immense amount of water and energy needed to produce the pulp, something else that should be regarded as a more precious resource in its own right. Seen from a purely economic standpoint, the use of paper is inefficient with so many associated costs with a single-use item like paper. Conversely, digitization speeds up processes, boosts productivity and saves valuable time, money and storage space.
CONCLUSION
It is true that we need papers on a daily basis. Papers have a very special role to play in our lives. But everything comes with a cost, paper too. It’s high time to realize and act upon minimizing paper usage to the best possible extent. It seems to be difficult but with changing times we have newer alternatives. The concept of paper-free operations is today a real possibility. Are you still muddled? It’s not that strenuous, we surely can do this! Let’s contribute towards making the earth more efficient! We only need a day!
References:
https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-s-paper-consumption-to-touch-30-million-tonnes-by-fy27-ipma-122050700710_1.html
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