Many businesses are now aiming to become paperless environments, but this is not always a practical option, as many still have important documents that they need to make use of or hold on to.
However, this can present a problem when the time comes to get rid of them, as they not only need to be properly destroyed in order to maintain confidentiality, but their disposal should take the environment into consideration.
In this article, Rads Storage take a look at how document shredding works and examine whether it is an environmentally friendly option by considering what it offers and what the alternatives are.
What is document shredding?
All businesses have documentation that needs to remain confidential, whether it is for business purposes or to protect the private data of customers or employees. When this is disposed of, it cannot simply be thrown into a recycling bin, as there is a chance that it could still fall into the wrong hands. Businesses therefore need to ensure that they destroy their documents properly, ensuring that they cannot be read by anyone who might come across them.
Document shredding is proving to be a popular choice, as it cuts all paper into long ribbons that cannot then be read or used for any other purpose.
Environmental impact
Document shredding has been found to be one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get rid of documentation for a number of different reasons. Options such as burning have offered the complete destruction of documentation, but the process releases carbon dioxide into the air, which can be incredibly harmful to the environment as this is a greenhouse gas that can contribute to the process of global warming.
In addition to this, most paperwork will contain inks and dyes which can produce some very toxic fumes when they are burnt. This can have a lasting effect on the environment and the health of anyone who might breathe it in.
One of the major benefits of document shredding is the ability to recycle the waste that it produces. As it turns documents into huge numbers of tiny, unreadable pieces, it is then easy to send them to be recycled, as there is no danger of any confidential information being accessed. This not only means that it is not creating waste, but it also reduces the amount of newspaper that needs to be produced. In turn, this can support the environment even further as the amount of deforestation is reduced and less water is used.
If paper is not sent to be recycled, it can still be used in other ways. It has been found to be a really important ingredient in any compost pile as they can be used to create layers between other elements. They are great for absorbing odours and encouraging breakdown, therefore increasing the rate at which the compost is produced.
If you don’t have a compost heap of your own yet, then paper shreds can still be used for all sorts of other things. They make great packing materials, and they can even line the cage of your pet hamster.
Shedding your documentation is now the only way to ensure the safe and secure disposal of confidential or sensitive information without damaging the environment. All businesses now have a responsibility to look at the way they behave and the impact that they have on the planet in order to find a way to reduce their carbon footprint. Documentation can be one of many small steps in the right direction as it can be used in any quantity and still offer all of the same benefits.
