| Records show that about 80% of the world's | | | | records still show that recycling is not enough. |
| forests have already been overused for different | | | | After considering paper trash that went into |
| human purposes, fuel, lumber, paper and other | | | | recycling, paper wastes still represent one third of |
| wood products man could think of. However, it | | | | the country's garbage. Hence, the paperless |
| takes 10 to 20 years before the trees could | | | | society promotes going paperless through the use |
| grow back into maturity and be fit for | | | | of e-mails and e-cards, of online banking and |
| consumption. What's worst, others tend to be | | | | payment of monthly bills, of using payment |
| indiscriminate in the use of these trees by not | | | | gateways and online shopping, and storing all our |
| even waiting for the trees to reach full maturity. | | | | records in electronic devices such as flash drives |
| If the paperless society will prevail, then our | | | | and memory cards. |
| demand for raw materials derived from these | | | | Further, technological development has brought |
| forests will lessen. The European Environmental | | | | improvement in the use of eBooks. Thus, |
| Paper Network berates UK for using 12.5 million | | | | electronic reading will no longer require a PC just |
| tons of paper yearly. That is nothing compared to | | | | to read eBooks. Today, there is the "wireless |
| what the US posted as paper consumption in | | | | reading device" which can store as much as 1,500 |
| 2006 which amounted to 99,778,437 tons or an | | | | eBooks and download almost all types of |
| average of 663 pounds per US citizen. | | | | publications from newspapers, to magazines and |
| Here are some more facts about the paper | | | | blogs. In fact, everything will be in real time and |
| industry's demand from the forests and which will | | | | covers almost all US states. |
| greatly lessen in a paperless society: | | | | This "wireless reading device" runs on |
| - 1 ton of uncoated and non-recycled office paper | | | | rechargeable batteries and a single charge is said |
| uses about 24 trees | | | | to run for about 4 days. Very lightweight at |
| - 1 ton of coated, low grade magazine or | | | | about 10.2 ounces, a reader can bring "wireless |
| catalogue paper uses about 8 trees | | | | reading device" anywhere even to the beach |
| - 1 ton of coated high-grade magazine paper uses | | | | because of its adjustable lighting features and |
| about 15 trees 10 reams of copier paper uses | | | | glare reduction capabilities. Driving alone in long |
| about 0.6 tree of a tree or a tree is used to | | | | distance travels will no longer be as boring |
| produce about 8,333.33 sheets of copier paper | | | | because you can use the "talk-to-me" features of |
| Ninety-five% of the raw materials used in | | | | this "wireless reading device". You can choose |
| producing paper come from the cellulose fibers of | | | | either a male or female voice to read the book to |
| trees. These fibers are derived from softwood | | | | you aloud. |
| species like spruce, fir and pine and from | | | | The paperless society doesn't looks so dreary |
| hardwood species like birch, oak and maple. | | | | anymore because you will now have your reading |
| Based on EPA's records, only 10% of the paper | | | | pleasure using the "wireless reading device" for |
| consumed will be retained to form part of a | | | | your eBooks. Besides, there will be no more |
| user's records, like photos, books, magazines and | | | | shelves with books that gather dust aside from |
| documents while the remaining 90% will all go to | | | | lessening our demand for paper. |
| wastes. Although some recycle used paper, EPA | | | | |