One in Five Businesses Admit to Increased Paper Use Despite Digital Reduction Goals

Research by independent information analysts, AIIM, Silver Spring, Maryland, finds that 21% of organizations are increasing their paper consumption, with more than three-quarters admitting to ignoring what they consider frivolous environmental impact policies concerning reducing paper use.

 

The study, titled Paper Wars 2014 – an update from the battlefield, involved businesses from a number of countries around the world. It found that while 56% of respondents indicated that they have an environmental impact policy covering reduced use of paper products, less than a quarter actively promote it.

 

Reasons for continuing to print given by respondents include printing personal paper copies to take into meetings, and printing documents to add a signature, while 50% indicated that they print copies for reading offline or when away from the office, particularly to review and mark-up.

 

Some 47% percent of respondents said they continue to print as they feel there is a lack of management initiatives, with 44% giving the perceived need for physical signatures as one of the main reasons why there is still so much paper being used in their business processes. Furthermore, the study found that there was also felt to be a general lack of understanding of paper-free options.

 

Legal and finance departments were found to be the most resistant to paper-free working, followed by those working in HR and general administration.

 

More information is available online.