By Erich Lawson

What do you do with all your paper waste? Document disposal is a challenge for almost any business. Discarded paper in the trash cans forms an astonishing percentage of landfill waste.

Consider switching to industrial paper shredders, which offer dual benefits: They protect your confidential information of businesses and provide an opportunity to recycle and reuse the end product – shredded paper.

The shredding industry has evolved tremendously to incorporate the ‘green’ angle into its processes. Recycling is one such component that makes shredding sustainable. It creates opportunities for the shredded paper to be reused—as packaging material and a host of other recycled paper products.

Let’s understand what actually makes paper shredding sustainable and how can it help boost the security and sustainability factor of your business.

What is Sustainable Paper Shredding?

So what makes shredding sustainable? Three major aspects help define sustainable paper shredding – a) document disposal is ensured to be environmentally-friendly; b) the shredded paper is recycled properly; and c) sustainable disposal methods are chosen after shredding. Most shredding service providers have recycling processes post-shredding as a part of their services. Here’s how:

• After shredding, the shredded paper is placed in a vat where ink is separated from the paper.

• The paper is then broken down to reusable components and is mixed with water to create pulp.

• It is then washed, refined, and prepared for a fresh process of papermaking.

All the necessary paper fibers can be recovered through this process. This is far more eco-friendly than using new resources every time new paper is manufactured.

This shredding-and-recycling process ensures that the sensitive information related to your business is protected and offers an environment-friendly alternative.

How Does it Boost Security and Sustainability of Your Business?

Sustainable paper shredding can help your business enhance its security and sustainability quotient in at least five ways:

1. Paper shredding is the first choice for protecting sensitive personal or business-related information. On-site shredding of confidential documents:

• Prevents identity theft
• Protects customers’ privacy
• Protects confidential employee information

2. Shredded paper works effectively as packaging material. This reduces the need to purchase new packaging material (thus saving money) and cuts down on packaging waste.
3. Consumers today are increasingly becoming conscious about the environmental impact of products they use. Recycling shredded paper not only helps cut back your company’s overall energy consumption and environmental footprint but also promotes an eco-friendly image to your customers. This also gives you an edge over your competitors who do not recycle. Hence, recycling and reusing shredded paper adds positive value to the environmental as well as financial bottom line of your business.
4. Paper industry is believed to be the third largest contaminant of air, water and soil, after oil and mining industry. It doesn’t decompose harmlessly but emits harmful methane gas fumes, which are 25 times more toxic to the environment than CO2 gases. If shredded paper is recycled, it helps the environment by leaps and bounds through conservation of precious natural resources. For every ton of paper that is recycled, around 17 trees, 4,000 kW of energy, 7,000 gallons of water and 380 gallons of oil are conserved.
5. With the help of sustainable paper shredding, you can turn sensitive documents into reusable paper products. Reusing recycled paper products has substantial advantages. Not only does it lower your carbon footprint and save those resources, every ton of recycled paper also saves around 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.

Hence, your business can benefit on dual fronts by choosing sustainable paper shredding. It eases the security concern of your confidential information and offers an environment-friendly option for handling the paper waste generated in your business.

Author Bio: Erich Lawson is passionate about saving the environment through effective recycling techniques and modern innovations. He works with Compactor Management Company, CA and writes on a variety of topics related to recycling, including tips and advice on how balers, compactors and shredders can be used to reduce industrial waste. He loves helping businesses understand how to lower their monthly garbage bills and increase revenue from recycling.

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