August 16, 2016

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Could Paper Waste One Day Feed Livestock?

While we can all take steps to reduce the amount of paper that we use, it will likely never be possible to fully eliminate paper from daily life. That's why it's exciting to learn about innovative new uses for paper waste that can help to offset some of the damage that is done to the environment by cutting down trees to produce paper. The University of Colombia has proposed a very unusual use for paper waste--feeding livestock.

 

The University of Colombia has created a new type of feed that gets 15 percent of its content from waste paper and 85 percent of its content from traditional feed. Don't feel bad for the sheep that are being fed this food as a test--the scientists believe it will actually be beneficial for them.

 

paper waste

image source: http://www.thecattlesite.com

In parts of Colombia, grass becomes scarce due to drought, leaving sheep, cows and other grazing animals without a source of the cellulose that animals need to be healthy. It’s cellulose that allows cows and similar animals to ferment food in their stomach, digest it and then produce energy. Clean paper waste is rich in cellulose, so the scientists believe that it can be used as a supplement for grazing. This could actually keep many animals from starving or suffering from health problems.

 

The University of Colombia is testing the feed with 300 small to medium sized Colombian farms in an area of the country where droughts are common and grazing conditions are often poor. It will be interesting to see what comes of the test. Who knows? One day, livestock animals all over the world might be eating a paper-rich diet.

February 23, 2016

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Waste Paper Being Used to Clean Up the Earth

Waste paper is a major concern for the environment, and researchers around the world are constantly looking for ways to put it to better use. Now, a team from the National University of Singapore has found a way to use paper waste to deal with another major environmental concern--waste from oil spills.

 

National University of Singapore team

image source: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/from-paper-waste-to-powerful-absorbent

 

The new substance developed by the team is a combination of water, cellulose made from paper waste and a chemical that is exposed to sound waves to fractionate its cells. Then, the mixture is frozen, dry frozen and cured under heat. By the end, the cellulose is transformed into a very light porous material known as an aerogel. Then, it is coated with a chemical that allows the material to absorb oily substances while repelling water. The entire process only takes three days to complete, and it's possible to produce large amounts of it at one time.

 

The absorbent material developed by the National University of Singapore team can hold up to 90 percent of its weight. As a result, the material could be incredibly useful for cleaning up oil spills. Compared to the absorbent materials used at spill sites today, the cellulose aerogel has a much lower eco impact because it's biodegradable and completely nontoxic.

 

The researchers at National University of Singapore plan to begin marketing their aerogel worldwide in May. It can also be used for insulation and as a packing material due to its absorbency and its light weight.

February 13, 2014

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New Printing Method Makes Paper Reusable

A scientist at Jinlin University in China has created a novel method of printing that could cut down on paper waste in many offices around the world.

 

After reading a statistic that 40 percent of all paper printed on laser jet printers in his workplaces is read just one time, Dr. Sean Xiao-An Zhang began experimenting with rewritable paper that could be printed temporarily and then made blank again.

 

The results of Dr. Zhang's work are a brand new type of paper that is coated with oxazolidines polymers. Instead of ink, the paper is squirted with water, which causes a temporary change in the chemical structure of the polymers, making the text or image that was printed appear. Within 22 to 24 hours, the paper will turn blank at room temperature. When heated to temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius, the paper can be rendered blank in just 30 seconds. The paper can be ran through printers a seemingly endless number of times until they become wrinkled and worn.

 

So far, Dr. Zhang has managed to only print in blue, magenta, purple and gold, but his team is working on developing other colors, including traditional black. If they are successful, perhaps all offices will be equipped with water printers for single read print jobs and drafts.

 

               

 

January 23, 2014

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Reseed Program for Eliminating Paper Receipts

           

                       

 

We've talked about saying no to receipts on our blog in the past, but still, many of us just can't do without them. Many businesses, too, are hesitant to go receipt-less, as they want the tangible proof that goods and services were rendered.

 

A new smart phone app called Reseed is currently in development to help eliminate the need for receipts. If this technology takes off, its impact could be profound. In the US, receipt manufacturing uses 250 million gallons of oil, 1 billion gallons of water and 10 million trees annually.

 

Currently a project being completed in cooperation with the Clinton Global Initiative University Commitment to Action, Reseed lets users print records from participating stores on their smart phones. The project is being tested at the University College of London presently in hopes of soon launching it worldwide and encouraging businesses to invest. 

 

                       

 

October 30, 2013

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EverNote, Other Technologies Named Paperless Office Essentials

In early October, Paul Mah wrote a very informative article for PCWorld discussing the paperless office. Although brief, the piece, "Ultimate guide to the paperless office" discusses some of the key areas in which companies can cut back on paper consumption.

 

Each section of the article provides suggestions about various technologies and devices that can be used to make the paperless workplace a reality. The entire piece is an excellent read, but I was especially interested in the section on note taking.

 

Here, Mah points out the benefits of EverNote, a popular app for tablets and smart phones that takes all of the capabilities of note taking and transforms them into a one simple-to-use program. We have recently been reviewing the app ourselves and will be launching a series on it during the month of November.

 

You can check out EverNote yourself in the meantime, and be sure to head over to PCWorld to check out the rest of the piece and get some great paperless workplace tips.

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October 24, 2013

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Six Fun Things to Do with Halloween Candy Wrappers

                              

After trick-or-treating, you and your kids will have a mountain of candy to enjoy, and when that's been enjoyed, you'll have a massive stash of wrappers on your hands. Instead of throwing them away, try one of these fun Halloween candy wrapper crafts.

 

1. Candy Environments - Blog Me Mom has an adorable candy landscape project that is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. This craft also incorporates candies, so you can put any of those items that your kids aren't keen to munch to good use, too.

 

2. Candy Wrapper Flowers - Kimberly Burkard at Ganondagan has a tutorial for making gorgeous flowers for an arrangement out of old candy wrappers.

 

3. Candy Belt - Stop over at Lil Blue Boo to learn how to incorporate candy wrappers with a boring belt to create a one-of-a-kind accessory.

 

4. Candy Wrapper Bracelet - Erin Bassett has a cute charm bracelet idea on the Imaginisce Blog that is perfect for making with kids.

 

5. Candy Wrapper Button Earrings - Expand you or your daughter's jewelry collection with these adorable earrings on Creative Itch.

 

6. Candy Wrapper House - Leave it to Martha Stewart to create an adorable play house out of candy wrappers.

 

There you have it; a round up of six projects to put that candy wrapper waste to good use. Have a favorite from another site? Post a link in the "Comments" section.  

                                

 

October 17, 2013

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The Importance of Responsible Flushing

At Paperless Kitchen, we offer a number of unpaper towels that are disposable. After reading an article in the Chicago Tribune about a problem affecting the Tinley Park neighborhood of Chicago, I wanted to do a quick blog post to discuss the best ways to dispose of these products after use.

 

The article discusses how flushable wipes and feminine care products are wreaking havoc on the sewage systems in the Chicago neighborhood and about the problems that can arise when these items are disposed of in toilets. A representative of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies was interviewed for the piece and explained that the problem is common throughout the United States. Even though these flushable items are biodegradable, many do not break down rapidly enough after flushing and end up clogging sewage systems.

 

When you ditch paper towels and use one of our paper towel alternatives instead, make sure that you don't toss them in the toilet, even if you've used them for cleaning. Like flushable products, our paper towel replacements are biodegradable, but they could clog up your own plumbing or the public sewage system. Instead of flushing, you can use them for composting, collect them with other waste to drop off at a composting facility or simply throw them away, as they will break down quickly in landfills.

 

October 16, 2013

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Research Institute Uses Food and Paper Waste for Energy

A recent story published in The New Indian Express shows how organizations and institutions can use paper waste to reduce their costs. The Institute of Wood Science and Technology has implemented a plan to transform waste paper and food scraps into biogas on their campus.

 

The research institute studies forest health and timber applications, so paper conservation has always been a priority for the Bangalore-based organization. With the new plan, waste is collected in special bins on roughly 85 buildings on the campus. The food is then processed onsite into biogas and stored for later use.

 

With the gas, the Institute of Wood Science and Technology is able to produce enough fuel to power the appliances in the campus cafeteria. Yard waste collected by the maintenance facility is also processed for biogas. In the future, the institute may expand the scheme to include more waste, as currently only 10 percent of their kitchen waste is being turned into gas.

 

                        

 

October 15, 2013

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Waste Paper Find Its Way Into the Construction Industry

An exciting new development from a project in the European Union shows a promising use for waste paper. The InsulaTFH project has recently unveiled a new type of building insulation made from processed cellulose extracted from waste paper.

 

Cellulose is a natural choice for use in the construction industry because it has the ability to greatly insulate homes and businesses. The researchers involved in the InsulaTFH project developed an economical method of extracting the cellulose and then mixed it with fire-retardant materials to ensure safety once the insulation is installed. To cut down on fuel consumption, the paper pulp used in the manufacturing of the insulation is sourced from mills located in the same communities as the plants.

 

The InsulaTFH project project was funded by the EU as part of an ongoing push to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills across the continent. The new insulation will soon be mass produced at facilities in Ireland, Belgium and Germany, but there's no word about how quickly this eco-friendly insulation will be available in the United States.

                                                               

 

October 14, 2013

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Mobile Apps Are Helping Offices Go Paperless

                                                    

As we've talked about in previous blog posts, moving toward a more paperless workplace offers numerous benefits for businesses, but many companies are struggling to implement procedures and policies that can make a paperless workplace a reality. A recent article on Forbes.com discussed how some companies are using mobile apps to cut down on paper use.

 

At many companies across America, tablets and smart phones are used on a daily basis to help teams communicate with one another at different work sites and while traveling. Now, many companies are having custom mobile apps developed that allow employees to fill out forms, submit reports and complete other tasks that would traditionally be performed on paper. The apps streamline communication while saving paper, and over time, can save companies money.

 

The article provided one example of a home health care service that requires employees to submit paper-based reports after every client appointment. By making the process automated through a custom-made smart phone and tablet app, the company has been able to reduce costs by $200,000 per year.

 

For companies that are interested in having custom apps built, there are a wide variety of design firms that can assist. They range from small businesses to large corporations. Many specialize in creating apps for companies in specific industries. Check out the full article on Forbes.com here and let us know what you think in the "Comments" section.

 

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