EKOS Communications, Inc.

"Paperless office is pure fiction:report" CBC News Nov. 10, 2006. This news item caught my eye while debating whether or not to strive to recollect my thoughts lost by the errant key stroke. Apparently Statistics Canada just released a report entitled "Our Lives in Digital Times" which reveals that, between 1983 and 2003, paper consumption more than doubled in Canada, going from 1,198,100 tonnes to 2,867,442 tonnes!(2) This inspite of wide-spread adoption of telecommunication technologies which supposedly should eliminate or reduce the need for paper. But not so. As the agency notes "...a visit to any modern office workplace will confirm that printers everywhere continue to spit out massive amounts of paper, and paper recycling bins are full." (3) Additionally, between 1983 and 2003, the number of pieces of mail has risen from 6.6 billion to 10.7 billion pieces. And if my casual observation counts for anything, the majority is junk mail barely glanced at before being tossed aside. If anything, the advances in telecommunication technologies have only made it easier to be extremely wasteful with minimal effort. But it needn't be this way. For example, I strive to run a "paperless classroom." Except for unconsciously photocopying the course outline for hand-out at the beginning of this term, all further information has been posted to the class website. Lecture notes, assignments, required readings, and news clippings are only available on-line. As for the completed assignments, I ask the students to submit them by e-mail which I then grade and return via the same way. Contrary to some of my colleagues, I find the digital form exceptionally efficient and enjoyable. I don't know how many students print off the material; however, there's not too much I can do about their consumption habits, except to encourage them to also go "paperless" as much as possible. Then there is the final exam. At this point, I don't see how I can get around using paper booklets, but maybe there's a way. I'll explore this. In the meantime, I disagree with Statistics Canada. A paperless office, like a paperless classroom, is not a myth, if a little slack is allowed. Paperless, after all, can mean "less" paper not none at all. The critical question being "how much less is possible?" There is much that can be done to reduce paper consumption in the workplace. Instilling a conserver ethic which engenders consciousness about everyday choices and encourages taking those that reduce ecological footprint is part of the mix. I know this sounds polly-annish, naive or simplistic, but sounding so doesn't make it so. It may be difficult to do, but not impossible. Social marketing and environmental education can bring about change. However, while they are necessary, they are not sufficient. A "hole in the soul" of Westernized societies must also be addressed, and the sooner the better. But that's a subject for later discussion. References: (1) "Paperless office is pure fiction: report" CBC News. Posted Nov. 10, 2006. 1:38EST. Retrieved on Nov. 10, 2006 from www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/11/10/ tech-paperless.html (2) "My Ton of Trash" Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website. Retrieved Nov. 10, 2006 from: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/teacher/ tontrash.htm (3) "Paperless office is pure fiction: report" CBC News.