Paper Reduction Initiative

Did you know? Every ton of paper used destroys an average of 24 trees. Processing that much paper uses enough energy to power the average American home for six months, consumes the equivalent of 7,000 gallons of water, produces 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and creates the equivalent of one metric ton of carbon in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Mailman School of Public Health has accepted a challenge from the University's Environmental Stewardship Office to be a greener school. This month, we kickoff our School-wide effort to reduce paper consumption by at least 20 percent.

Here are some tips to help us achieve this goal:

• Go digital! Do not print out emails, reports, or other documents
• Send meeting agendas ahead of time with email
• Save documents electronically and provide feedback using on-screen markup tools
• Include a "Think Before You Print" line in your email signature
• If you must print: use the double-sided option with scrap paper, and opt for black-and-white instead of color
• Share your progress with others so you can encourage others to do the same

Please join us in saving the earth's resources. Together we can make a difference as individuals, a campus, and members of the global community.