Paper shredding might not be at the forefront of every business’s mind, but shredding services handle highly sensitive information or protected data that must be disposed of securely. While these services are crucial for maintaining privacy standards, not all providers follow sustainable practices. Often, companies choose to send paper waste to landfills instead of recycling it to create new products, which can significantly impact our environment.
This article will delve into the impact of unsustainable paper shredding and the importance of choosing a sustainable paper shredding service that takes a green approach to paper waste management.
What Is The Impact of Unsustainable Paper Shredding?
Simply throwing your confidential documents into the general waste or recycling bin risks exposing the company and staff’s personal data. Aside from vulnerability to identity fraud, improper document disposal brings significant environmental threats.
Paper is made from trees, so when it isn’t recycled, more deforestation is required to produce paper pulp. However, forests are crucial for managing carbon levels in the air and combating global warming.
During photosynthesis, trees absorb and store carbon in their stems, branches and roots and release oxygen for us to breathe. This removes a significant quantity of carbon from the atmosphere, which slows the carbon effect, a significant contributor to global warming.
Aside from locking up carbon, trees support our environment by preventing flooding, lowering temperatures in cities, reducing pollution and keeping soil full of nutrients, which supports biodiversity.
When trees are cut down at an unsustainable rate, we cannot replant enough trees to replace them. Fewer trees mean less carbon will be removed from the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm up faster, accelerating global warming and climate change.
Why Choose Sustainable Paper Shredding Services?
Reduced Deforestation
Sustainable paper shredding services play a crucial role in reducing deforestation. Recycling shredded paper lowers the demand for virgin paper and reduces the need to clear forests for paper production. This helps preserve forests, maintaining biodiversity and natural ecosystems. In the UK, only 13% of landmass is covered by trees, compared with an average of 37% for other EU countries, making preserving forests all the more important.
Reusing Paper
One of the main advantages of sustainable paper shredding services is the ability to reuse paper. Shredded paper can be recycled and reused 5 to 7 times before the fibres become too short to adhere to each other.
Shredded paper can be recycled into new products, extending the lifecycle of paper. By reusing paper, businesses can contribute to a circular economy, where materials are continuously repurposed rather than discarded.
Crafting New Products
Shredded paper can be recycled to create a wide range of new products, such as eco-friendly packing materials, paper towels, toilet paper, napkins and much more. The paper recycling process lowers the demand for pure paper pulp, reducing the rate of deforestation and promoting the development of environmentally friendly products.
Reduced Pollution
Recycling paper through sustainable shredding services helps significantly reduce pollution. The traditional paper production process uses chemicals that can contaminate water and soil. Reducing the need for new paper production lowers the amount of chemicals that end up polluting the environment.
Additionally, when paper waste is sent to landfills, it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Paper waste shredding and recycling diverts paper from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas pollution locally.
Reduced Reliance on Natural Resources
Opting for sustainable paper shredding services reduces the reliance on natural resources. Recycling paper requires far fewer resources compared to harvesting and producing new paper from trees. This conservation of natural resources helps protect the environment and ensures that these resources remain available for generations to come.
Carbon Emissions
Sustainable paper shredding services help in reducing carbon emissions. Recycling paper requires less energy and emits fewer carbon emissions. By reducing the need for new paper production, sustainable shredding provides businesses with lower carbon footprints. Although the UK government aims to become carbon neutral by 2050, reaching this target is unlikely unless deforestation is reduced, material recycling and reuse increases and more trees are planted.
Highlander Security Shredding
At Highlander Security Shredding, we are the largest independent paper recycler in Scotland. provide comprehensive paper and cardboard shredding and recycling services in Scotland. As a leading domestic and commercial recycling company, we can help your business handle your sensitive data securely, optimise your recycling processes and lower your carbon footprint.
Our Shredding Process
Stage 1: Collection
We provide your business with containers for regular collections or bagged, boxed or palletised material for one-off collections.
Stage 2: Transport
Our trusted drivers will transfer all off-site shredding material into our secure GPS-tracked and alarmed vehicle before sealing for transportation. A Waste Transfer Note is also provided at this point.
Stage 3: Shredding
On arrival at our fully secure site, documents will be shredded according to EN15713 standards.
Stage 4: Certificate of Destruction
A Certificate of Destruction is sent to you as a guarantee that all documents have been securely shredded in line with industry standard requirements.
Stage 5: Recycling
All shredded paper is sent to approved paper mills located in the UK for recycling in line with EN643 standards.
Find out more about our shredding process and the sustainability practices at Highland Security Shredding.
Choose Highlander Security Shredding For All Your Paper Shredding Needs
Paper shredding and recycling is a simple yet highly effective green practice businesses can implement to boost their sustainability. If your business requires paper waste recycling, look no further than Highlander Security Shredding. Our team of experts will handle your paper waste with the utmost care and security so you can rest assured that your sensitive information is in safe hands.
For more information about paper shredding services or pallet recycling, get in touch with one of our team today!
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