PaperlessKitchen Blog

New Solution for Paper Cup Waste Recycling

Used in cafes and coffee shops all over the world, paper coffee cups are a global waste problem. A recent study in the UK found that 2.5 billion end up in landfills in that nation alone, but a new technology that's being developed by James Cropper plc hopes to change that.

The largest problem with paper drinking cups is that they're not made entirely of paper. About 5 percent of these cups consists of polythene used to make the cups waterproof. This material cannot be recycled through the same processes as paper waste. As a result, the paper drinking cups cannot successfully be broken down and reused through traditional recycling methods.

James Cropper plc's new method of recycling involves separating the polythene from the paper. First, cups are soaked to remove the coating. The polythene is removed from the solution and then recycled independently. Then, the cups can be recycled through the same means used to recycle other paper products. The company has successfully used the paper fibers obtained from the process to produce high-end stationery and other paper products.

Now that successful testing of the new recycling method is complete, James Cropper plc is opening a factory for processing UK paper cups. There are hopes of expanding the operations abroad in the future.

The Problems of Paperless Medical Records

Last week, NPR ran a story about the difficulties that doctors face when trying to transition to a paperless office. The report highlights the need for increased governmental guidance or independent consultants to assist doctors with making the switch to electronic record-keeping.

Currently, the federal government is offering tax benefits for doctors to move from paper to computer-based records; however, many physicians are finding that the transition is not simple. Even those who are concerned about the planet or who would like the tax break quickly begin to rethink the process once they begin.

Part of the problem is that the huge number of electronic record keeping systems that is available. With more than 1,000 programs being sold by various software companies, doctors struggle to find the best one for their needs. Many simply don't have time to review all of the possibilities with their already hectic schedules.

Another problem is external paper use that doctors cannot eliminate on their own. One physician interviewed stated that he received hundreds of paper faxes every day from insurance companies, pharmacies and even third-party businesses trying to sell products and services. While the latter are not instrumental to business, these other faxes are integral to day-to-day operations. Until the companies with which doctors must communicate also transition to an entirely paperless system, practices will still have waste with which to deal.

The articles was encouraging, however, as it evidences the desire of physicians to give up paper as much as possible. We can only hope that these trends will continue with a greater and greater reduction in paper consumption as a result.

Russia Debates: Paper or Plastic?

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs is currently debating a possible ban on the use of plastic bags throughout shopping malls in Russia. Instead of plastic bags, paper bags would be used in these shopping centers.

 The issue is a part of a growing eco consciousness in the country, which has one of the lowest recycling rates in Europe.

Russians have mixed feelings about the potential ban. Roughly 49 percent say that they're in favor of it, believing that plastic waste is a more pressing problem than paper waste. About 32 percent of Russians surveyed are against the proposal, feeling that paper is just as much of a problem. Some even believe that it's the Russian paper industry pushing for the ban. The remainder of Russians felt as if they did not have enough information to decide which was best.

The RUIE does seem to have enough support throughout its membership to pass the ban, despite the mixed sentiments among the Russian people. What's your opinion on this issue? Do you think plastic waste should be minimized even if it means wasting paper? Weigh in in the "Comments" section!

New Method for Reducing Energy Consumption in the Paper Industry

When we think about the problems associated with paper, deforestation and is consequences come to mind first, but the paper industry uses up more than just our planet's woodlands. The paper industry in the United States consumes 2.2 percent of all energy. This means the industry is a bigger energy consumer than many other types of manufacturing, including food processing, textiles, machinery, computers and transportation equipment like cars.

Manufacturing paper requires tremendous heat, and during the process, the heat given off is too low in temperature to continuously power the systems. An innovative new heat pump created by the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands has recently been introduced to address this problem. The pump increases the temperature of the waste heat given off during manufacturing, so that it is suitable for powering the paper making process. As a result, manufacturers can reduce their energy consumption by as much as 10 percent. The device uses natural, eco-friendly refrigerants and produces heat in the form of clean steam.

Currently, the new heat pump is being used at a packaging company in the Netherlands as a part of the research and development process, but there is hope that the pump could soon become available for use in paper mills around the world.

Can You Recycle It?

Even if you're doing everything you can to create a paperless kitchen and to use less paper at home, it's not possible to avoid paper waste entirely. When you simply can't avoid the paper, you should obviously try to recycle it if you can. Here's a rundown of what paper products can and can't be recycled through most community waste management programs.

Recycle It! - These items are generally able to be recycled.

- Corrugated cardboard, but usually only if broken down into flat pieces

- Glossy paper like magazines and advertising circulars

- Printed office paper and notebook/tablet paper

- Newspapers

- Paper envelopes

- Phone books

- Plain paper bags

Check With Your Community - Some cities and towns may accept these items, while others may not.

- Paperboard boxes, such as those used for cereal

- Cardboard liquid containers like milk cartons

- Paperback books

- Plastic lined envelopes

- Tissues, paper towels and napkins

- Frozen food boxes

- Wrapping paper

- Pizza boxes

- Greeting cards

Reuse It or Avoid It - These items typically cannot be recycled, so look for ways to upcycle or reuse them whenever possible.

- Boxes with built-in wax liners

- Hard-cover books

- Plastic-lined boxes like ice cream cartons

- Paper bags with wax liners

If your community doesn't accept the items in the second category, try using an app like iRecycle to see if another facility in your area will accept your paper waste.

What items are you surprised that you can or can't recycle? Tell us in the "Comments" section.

Palm Oil Waste New Raw Material for Paper

Recently, the Malaysian company Palm Republik announced the development of a new tree-free paper made from waste leftover from the manufacturing of palm oil.

Used for cooking throughout many parts of the world, palm oil is a staple of many cuisines. The palm oil industry produces up to 200 million tons of waste per year, mostly in the form of the leftover husks that remain once the oil is extracted.

Palm Republik has developed a new method of transforming these husks into paper. The fibers found in the husks are very similar to those of timber. To produce the palm paper, the husks are shredded and then mixed with post-consumer recycled paper pulp. Then, it is compressed and dried. The resulting product is 100 percent biodegradable and compostable. Unbleached, the palm paper is now being used to produce boxes and heavyweight stationery like note cards.

At this time, Palm Republik is only selling its paper to industrial customers but has hopes of making their products available to consumers in the near future.

PRINTING WASTES MORE THAN JUST PAPER

Need another reason to encourage your employees to go paperless? A new study reveals that printing may be cutting down on their productivity.

The "Dick Smith Productivity Study" released earlier this month shows that office workers spend an exorbitant amount of time dealing with printer problems while on the job. 

How much time does dealing with printer jams and other technical issues related to printers waste? The study estimates that the average office worker in the U.S. will spend enough time struggling with printers each year to add up to two full weeks of work. At that rate, if an employee were to remain with a company for 25 years, nearly one full year of their salary would be paid to them just for the type they spent trying to make documents print.

Companies that wish to reduce time wasted on printer problems can work to make more functions paperless. Online forms, electronic record keeping and paperless signature collection can all reduce how much printing occurs in workplaces. Encouraging workers to save emails and PDF documents instead of printing them can also help to minimize problems.

How is your company fostering a more paperless workplace? Share your strategies and techniques in the "Comments" section.

PAPERLESS CONTRACTS REMAIN ELUSIVE FOR BUSINESSES

Earlier this month, Adobe released the findings of a study regarding the transition to paperless workplaces. Called  "Paper: An endangered species?" the report was based on survey data collected from 1,051 managers at small, medium and large companies across the United States.

The report shows that many managers view paperless record keeping and documentation as preferable to paper. Around 71 percent stated that going paperless was more environmentally conscious and modern, and 74 percent felt that paperless documents were easier to send and receive. Approximately 60 percent of respondents also believed that password-protected digital documents were more secure than paper documents locked in filing cabinets. 

What is most interesting about the study is the disjunction between the beliefs of managers and the actual practices of the companies for which they worked. The study found that 67 percent of managers felt that paper contracts were more likely to be altered or tampered with and 73 percent reported that they saw value in paperless work flow for contracts; however, only 2 percent used completely paperless contracts. Around 18 percent of managers reported that they collected signatures on documents digitally instead of on paper.

Clearly, finding ways to transition to paperless contracts would be better for the planet and also preferable to many managers. It seems that most companies, however, are still struggling to make the leap. Has your company instituted paperless systems for contracts? If so, tell us about it in the "Comments" section. If not, what's standing in your way?

How to Drain Bacon Without Paper Towels

Recently, we asked some customers what's stopping them from going paperless in the kitchen, and one thing we heard many times was, “Cooking bacon.” For many of us, paper towels are the things that we reach for before we take bacon out of the pan. Paper towels may seem to be the perfect thing to absorb all of that grease, but there are some alternatives.

Here are a few ways to soak up bacon grease without paper towels.

1. Substitute cut up paper bags from the grocery store. If you're bringing home groceries in paper bags, cut them into squares to place over your plate.

2. Use Bambooee bamboo paper towels. In our Bambooee kitchen road test, we saw how absorbent these towels really are, and they make a great substitute for paper towels when you're draining bacon.

3. Keep a stack of rags on hand. When you end up with a cotton shirt that is too stained or ripped to be donated, cut it into rags. You can soak them in water and detergent after use and then let them air dry to reuse again.

4. Buy a bacon-only dish towel. Purchase a cotton dish towel that you use exclusively for bacon draining. Just make sure to wash it by hand, as you don't want to put oil-soaked fabrics in the washing machine.

5. Oven-cook your bacon. You can make your bacon healthier and less greasy by baking it in the oven. Place the bacon on a broiler pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees and then turn and bake the other side to your desired done-ness. The grease will run off while it bakes, so there's no need to soak any up.

Do you have your own solution for draining bacon without the use of paper towels? Share it in the comment section!

Students Use Paper Waste to Improve the Lives of Others

At Delhi University, a group of eco-conscious students has found a way to turn paper waste into a blessing for impoverished families and the disabled.

 In 2011, the students founded Project Akshar as a service project sponsored by the nonprofit organization Enactus. This global organization promotes volunteerism among university students and encourages young adults to use service projects as an opportunity to develop skills that can be used in the business world.

 The members of Project Akshar wanted to find a way to decrease the amount of paper waste that ended up in landfills while helping people who were living below the poverty level earn a sustainable income.

 Now, the students make weekly trips to corporations, local schools and colleges in the area, picking up unwanted paper. The paper is then distributed to poor and disabled persons throughout New Delhi with the help of two NGOs. The individuals who participate in the work program process the waste paper into notebooks that are sold around the world.

 In exchange for their work, participants in the program receive an income of around Rs 5,000 per month. Although this is only around $95 here in America, the pay rate puts participants at the average monthly earning level of India. It's a win-win-win situation for the planet, the workers and the students who gain “real world” work experience managing the project.