Benefits of Using Paper
We need only to look around us, at our everyday lives, to see the benefits of paper. Paper products serve as valuable and proven learning tools, effective communication and connection points, permanent records for life’s milestones and secure forms of documentation.
Sustainable
Paper is made from a renewable resource — trees that are replanted and managed to ensure a sustainable supply for generations. Paper is also made from recycled paper products, which can be recycled and reused multiple times, reducing waste in landfills.
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Reliable and Secure
Paper offers reliability and security that online documents have difficulty providing. With paper, security breaches are decreased, and online hacking is not a concern. Because paper is permanent, there is a level of control over paper documents, including where sensitive information is stored.
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Practical
Paper is essential in everyday life, from households to large corporations. Whether it’s a grocery list before running out the door or documenting business deals, paper serves as a quick and convenient resource.
What is Paper?
Today, paper is made from trees mostly grown on sustainably managed forests and from recycled paper.
Recycling has always been a part of papermaking. When you recycle your used paper, paper mills will use it to make new newspapers, notebook paper, copy paper, paper grocery bags, cardboard boxes, envelopes, magazines, cartons, and other paper products.
Besides using recycled paper and trees to make paper, paper mills may also use manufacturing leftovers from saw mill operations (whose products are used to make houses, furniture, and other things). In 2022, approximately 80% of all mills used some recycled paper to make new products in the United States.
What Kinds of Things are Made from Paper?
From the thinnest tissue, to the most absorbent diaper, to the toughest corrugated box, there are almost as many different kinds of paper as there are uses for it.
Most of us begin our mornings by enjoying the comforts of paper products — from facial tissue and paper towels, to the carton that holds our orange juice, and the paperboard packaging that holds our breakfast cereal.
Our children benefit from paper each school day from classroom drawings and notebook paper to text books.
At work, office papers help us communicate. Even in this digital age, and despite talk about the "paperless office," office papers are essential for copiers, laser printers, brochures, notepads, and other uses. And since digital documents can be deleted or changed, there's nothing like having a back-up on paper…or at least noting it on our to-do list!
Wherever we go, paper is there to make our lives easier. It's the bags that hold our groceries or latest clothing purchase. It's the cards, letters and packages we receive, the cup that holds our takeout coffee, and the album that holds our memories.
Even while we sleep, paper is still hard at work providing a host of innovative products that help hospitals deliver cleaner, better patient care and protect healthcare personnel. Paper is at work in thousands of industrial and manufacturing applications keeping the air clean, and providing protective apparel and innovative packaging.
When you consider the tremendous benefit of paper, it's clear that we must all continue to work together by recycling used paper. Recycling is easy to do, and it's good for business and the environment. Next time you read the paper, open your mail, clean out your files, or empty a box, don't put that paper and paperboard packaging in the trash. Complete the circle and recycle it.