A completely paperless office is a high standard to achieve. You’ll find that as you decrease paper use in your office, productivity will increase, and you will save money. Many items sent to the printer are never retrieved, which can leave sensitive data exposed. Running a green office is about more than using instant messaging software. You can start using these tips for going paperless in the office today.
Get Coworkers on Board To Go Paperless
The most challenging aspect of going paperless in your office is getting everyone on board. You can raise awareness about the benefits of using less paper by presenting research and being an advocate in your department. Don’t be afraid to speak out and make a good case for why your co-workers should print less and recycle more. If you are in the position to do so, you can put weekly or monthly limits on paper use.
Pro Tip: Ask employees to bring in their own mugs and other dishware to cut down on plastic waste.
Use Your Printer Less
Use Cloud Storage
The best way to save paper is to share documents via cloud storage software. The days of printed training guides, brochures, and other publications are long gone. Employees and clients alike can access documents from their devices without the need for a printer. Documents kept in the cloud are not only shareable but live, which means they can be continually updated. Backing up important records to your computer’s hard drive or a cloud software system will even protect your business documents from a natural disaster.
Use Applications
Your office can go paperless even when it comes to important documents and forms. Applications such as Docu-Sign and MDVision let you communicate with clients remotely. Healthcare workers rely on long-distance communication, especially during COVID-19, to ensure patient and worker safety. The types of forms and documents you can make paperless are numerous and include:
- online intake forms
- remote sign-in sheets
- health tracker apps
- digitized new patient forms
Use Fewer Notepads and Sticky Pads
You can take notes and leave memos digitally too. Decreasing your use of notebooks and sticky pads leads to fewer of these items being thrown in the trash or piling up around the office. Numerous applications let you take notes and send messages via the internet or an internal network. Digital files are easier to find and search through, which helps improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace.
Ways To Recycle and Reuse Paper in the Office
You should keep a recycling box next to every printer in your office. Go the extra step by adding a reusable tray for sheets that have very little print or only have ink on one side. Misprints happen, but you or someone else in the office might be able to find another use for a partially used piece of paper.
Nixing every scrap of paper in your office is not the goal when trying to go green. Each step you take to reduce waste moves your office in the right direction. Share tips for going paperless in the office with your coworkers to encourage them to make the necessary changes for an eco-friendly environment.
