Summary
The benefits of transitioning from paper to digital have multiple environmental benefits. Not only does this benefit the planet, but it is also good for business since consumers have overwhelmingly reported a preference for sustainable, environmentally friendly products and practices in the companies that they support. Didlake Document Imaging can help effectively and efficiently help your business transition to digital documents.
As more companies commit to doing their part for the environment, they are finding effective ways to incorporate green systems and processes into their businesses. One of the most effective transitions a company can make is moving from paper to digital. Digitizing a business by moving records and other printed materials to an electronic format can help them go green in several key ways.
Reducing Paper Usage
The connection between the environment and forestation has been well established. Every tree produces about 16 reams of paper, a small fraction of the annual paper usage for an average company. Saving trees and eliminating the pollution involved in the production of paper reduces a business’s carbon footprint. In addition, when a company no longer needs a paper document, it may be recycled, but this is an imperfect means of saving energy, and a percentage of the paper will end up in a landfill. Moving records and other aspects of the business to electronic format means that a business will no longer need to print or file paper, which can significantly reduce paper usage.
Lowering Energy Consumption
Storing paper documents requires physical space. This can be in the form of a larger primary facility or office, where the Department of Energy estimates 22.5-kilowatt hours per square foot of energy consumption. Alternatively, it can require using climate-controlled facilities that consume additional energy. By digitizing records, particularly existing ones that are needed for historical purposes but are primarily taking up space, a business can reduce the need for physical storage space and lower energy consumption.
Saving Transportation Costs
Paper documents are physical objects that must be transported from place to place. This involves the energy consumed and the emission of greenhouse gasses involved with transportation. Every time a physical document needs to be accessed, it may include fetching it from another facility. Digitizing your records and other documents means that a business can access them electronically, reducing the need for transportation.
Improved Efficiency
Digitized documents, including records and mail, can be accessed and searched quickly and easily, improving efficiency and reducing the time and resources required to manage paper records. Digitizing your records can make accessing and sharing information more manageable, reducing the need for printing, copying and mailing physical documents. This saves resources and reduces the carbon footprint associated with these activities. This improved efficiency can help to reduce the environmental impact of business operations.
The benefits of transitioning from paper to digital have multiple environmental benefits. Not only does this benefit the planet, but it is also good for business since consumers have overwhelmingly reported a preference for sustainable, environmentally friendly products and practices in the companies that they support. The investment in digitizing will also result in significant cost savings over using paper for records and other business documents. For the planet and the business, it is a benefit to go green by digitizing. To learn more about how Didlake Document Imaging can help effectively and efficiently help your business transition to digital documents, contact us today.
