Introduction 

Many trees are cut to make paper, which leads to large-scale deforestation. We use an immeasurable amount of paper in schools, offices, and other institutions. To make one sheet of paper, about 5 litres of water is used. The production and use of paper affect the environment in many ways because most paper goes in the dustbin. Hence, we must look at why reducing paper consumption is beneficial for nature. 

 

Benefits of reducing the consumption of paper 

 

Reduction in deforestation 

Deforestation is the cutting down of forests on a large scale. Fourteen per cent of deforestation is done to produce paper. This amounts to about 4.1 hectares of land per year. Deforestation adversely affects nature. It robs animals of their natural habitat and causes the extinction of species, population displacement, and climate change. If we work towards decreasing the demand and consumption of paper, we can reduce the rate of deforestation. Even by a small percentage, it will make a considerable difference. 

 

Saving water 

A great deal of water is wasted in producing and recycling paper. Most of the water on the earth is not drinkable. That is why it is crucial to save water. An A4 sheet of paper consumes about 20 litres of water during production. This amount of water can keep a person alive for ten days! If we reduce paper consumption and choose alternatives, such as digital diaries, a lot of water can be saved.

 

Reduction in pollution 

As the production of paper is a process that involves the use of many chemicals, their emission can pollute the environment. When you produce a tonne of paper, it pollutes 20 gallons of water. It also causes excess production of minerals, which results in algae production. Algae is known to contaminate drinking and cause illnesses. The production of paper also releases carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides which are very toxic. A decrease in paper usage will automatically reduce its production, decreasing the emission of toxins. This could help tackle problems such as acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and climate change.

 

Conclusion 

We live in a digital world where there are many practical alternatives to using paper. Wherever we can, we should voluntarily act towards reducing the use of paper in our daily lives wherever we can. Reducing human paper consumption benefits nature as it saves trees from being chopped down and does not add to environmental pollution. Using less paper makes our ecosystem more healthy. 

 

FAQs 

 

1. What kind of pollutants are released into the air during paper production? 

 Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides are released into the air during paper production.

 

2. How is using less paper beneficial? 

When we use less paper, we save ourselves from using that much space to store the paper we have used. It saves time and money, as you can email instead of sending something by post. 

 

3. Does paper production affect the environment? How?

The production of paper emits highly toxic methane, causing air, soil, and water pollution.

 

4. What happens when we reduce paper consumption?

When we reduce paper consumption, we save forests, water, and species.