According to the Sierra Club, the average worker in the United States goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper every year. However, that’s not the only startling statistic when it comes to the cost of printing. Here is a synopsis of how PDF readers reduce paper usage and help address this issue.
How Much Do We Print?
3 out of 4 office workers print from the Internet.
90% of people with a printer at home print Internet content.
The average employee prints 6 wasted pages per day, totaling 1,410 wasted pages every year.
The average cost of a wasted page is $0.06, equaling $84.60 every year in paper waste for each worker in the United States.
Now consider the fact that one tree is able to produce just over 8,000 sheets of paper. This means each person working in an office is responsible for more than one tree being turned into paper every year.
It is not surprising, then, that the US uses more paper than any other country in the world. In 2012, the US consumed almost 20% of all the paper used globally, despite having just 4% of the world’s population.
So, how much do we print?
A lot.
Like, a lot, lot…
Like, way more than we need to, and it is costing us both in wasted resources and money. We need to find a way to cut down on our printing and be more conscious of the impact it has on the environment.
What Can You Do to Cut Down on Printing?
Here are a few things you can do to help reduce the amount of printing:
Only print what you need – Think before you print. Do you really need to print that email, or can you just read it on screen?
Use both sides of the paper – When printing, select the option to print on both sides of the paper.
Avoid using unnecessary colors – Printing in black and white uses less ink and is cheaper than printing in color. Only use color when you really need it.
Reduce font size – By reducing the font size, you can fit more text on a page, meaning you will have to print fewer pages.
Copy and paste into a Word document – If you need to print something from a website, copy and paste it into a Word document first. This way, you can format it as you want and print only the relevant information.
Turn your existing documents into PDFs instead of printing them – Use Foxit PDF Editor to work with PDF documents instead of relying on printed copies.
These are just a few things you can do to help reduce your printing. Every little bit helps, and by making small changes, we can all make a big difference.
Using PDF Instead of Printing
As more people become comfortable with reading documents on their computer screens, tablets, and smartphones, documents created in the Portable Document Format become more attractive to organizations looking to practice sustainability.
What makes PDFs such an attractive solution for businesses is threefold.
First, office workers can easily create PDF documents by converting content from another word processing program or by printing that content to a PDF file.
Second, anyone with a compatible computing device can access free PDF reader software, including on mobile devices.
Third, using PDFs in the workplace saves businesses money by reducing the cost of paper, toner, ink, and electricity. At the same time, organizations can reduce their consumption of natural resources used in paper production, as well as waste from discarded paper, toner cartridges, and other materials consumed by the paper industry to produce the millions of reams we use every year.
Capabilities of a PDF Reader to Reduce Paper Usage
What’s more, relying more heavily on PDF readers instead of printing pages of content enables your organization to become more environmentally conscious while giving users capabilities beyond those available with paper, a pen, and a highlighter. Reviewing documents in a PDF reader allows users to search content for keywords and phrases, view multiple pages at once, and even have the PDF software read the document aloud.
PDF reader software also provides the tools needed to annotate, comment on, and bookmark a document, just as users would be able to do on a printed page.
Additional Features of Foxit Software
Not all PDF reader software is created equally, though. Choosing the right tool for the business world is just as important as considering its role in promoting sustainability in the workplace. PDF software such as Foxit PDF Reader 7 provides office workers with the aforementioned features, along with many others that make it a useful tool for a wide range of workplace settings.
Some of the features that make Foxit PDF Reader 7 useful for office work include:
The ability to open, view, and interact with PDF files, including complex documents.
An intuitive interface that makes it easy to find the tools and features you need.
Security features designed to help protect PDF documents from unauthorized access and modification.
A wide range of annotation and collaboration tools that make working with others on PDF documents easier.
PDF software like Foxit PDF Reader 7 is essential for anyone who needs to work with PDFs on a regular basis.
As more companies look to do their part for the environment, an obvious starting point is reducing the amount of paper used every year. That begins with moving from printed pages to PDF software.
The concept is simple: rather than printing out a document, you can share it as a PDF. The recipient can view the document on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. If they need to print it out, they can do so using less paper by selecting the relevant pages or using double-sided printing.
This can benefit the environment by reducing paper consumption. It can also offer benefits for businesses.
5 Important Benefits for Businesses: How the Right PDF Reader Reduces Paper Usage
First, it can save money. Printing costs money, both in terms of paper and the ink or toner used. Moving to PDF workflows can help reduce those costs.
Second, it can save time. Rather than printing out documents and then scanning them back into a computer, you can simply send the PDF. This can be particularly beneficial if you need to sign a document electronically. Instead of printing it out, signing it, and scanning it back in, you can add your signature to the PDF.
Third, PDFs can help protect sensitive information. Digital documents can be managed with access controls and security features, although appropriate safeguards are still needed to prevent unauthorized access, copying, or sharing. This can make PDFs useful for sensitive documents such as contracts or financial statements.
Fourth, PDFs are easy to share. You can send them by email, post them on a website, or even share them on social media, depending on the document and its intended audience.
Finally, PDFs are easy to archive. Unlike printed documents, which can fade over time, digital files can be retained without physical deterioration, provided they are stored and maintained appropriately. This makes them useful for archival purposes.
This not only saves paper but can also reduce waste and cut down on emissions from printers and copiers. In other words, it can benefit both the environment and your office’s bottom line.
Start Moving Your Files to PDF Software Today
If you’re looking for a PDF reader that will help your business promote sustainability in the workplace, consider Foxit PDF Reader. Contact us today to learn more about how our software can help you go green!
Or better yet, download your free PDF reader right now and start saving paper.