One billion personal computers have been sold across the world, according to hi-tech consultancy Gartner Dataquest report. The number of computers is set to explode in the next few years, reaching the two billion mark by 2008. Unprecedented technology growth in deed! But this is not about the technology growth. Point here is how computer can help save the trees.
Use of papers has been around since the Egyptians invented the paper making process some 4,000 years ago. The paper making technology was exported to China in the 2nd century BC and later to the Arabs world in the 8th century. Now paper and paper products are made and used all over the world. Though the process has been refined over years but the basic raw material is pulp that is obtained from wood by cutting trees. The pulp and paper industry is the world’s fifth largest industrial consumer of wood. Over 92 percent of today’s paper comes from trees, and paper production is responsible for about a fifth of the total wood cutting globally. A tissue paper we use so discriminately might contain fibbers from so many different trees that might have jointly travelled thousands of kilometres and factories from forest to the dinning table.
Estimate show that paper consumption has trebled during the last thirty years, and given the present trends, it is likely to double by 2010 that is a big cause of concerns because it is linked with seismic environmental problems, from deforestation through industrial pollution to waste.
Developed nations with high standards of living are large consumers of paper products (multi purpose writing papers, tissues, packaging to name just a few) as compared to developing nations with low affordability. Trend watchers say that global paper consumption will double by 2010.
There is a ray of hope. Advent of computers and related technologies can make a big difference in paper consumption all over the world. Computers mediated technologies have made it possible to publish and distribute written words without using papers in this cyber age. The Internet and Word Wide Web can do same things for printing and distribution words what printing does for books and newspapers.
Online publication is already one of the biggest uses of computers these days. It is easier, cost effective, faster and much more efficient. Which is why even traditional print companies like publisher of Encyclopedia Britannica and many more have already started Web publishing?
Web publishing at industrial and individual levels is expected to significantly affect the paper consumption habits over time. Consider how much quantity of paper (read trees) only use of email can save. Online books, catalogues on commercial Websites, personal diaries coming in the form of Web logs may also slow down the use of paper. Result: Less paper consumption, less tree cutting and cleaner environment.
It is not possible to stop the use of paper in the world, nor it is suggested. But it can be brought under sustainable limits. Many international environmental organizations have already called for reduced paper consumption and are doing good job to create awareness. But this cannot be left to the voluntary organizations alone. This need mass realization and conscious effort by every individual, organizations and governments. Every bit can make a difference.
Use of papers has been around since the Egyptians invented the paper making process some 4,000 years ago. The paper making technology was exported to China in the 2nd century BC and later to the Arabs world in the 8th century. Now paper and paper products are made and used all over the world. Though the process has been refined over years but the basic raw material is pulp that is obtained from wood by cutting trees. The pulp and paper industry is the world’s fifth largest industrial consumer of wood. Over 92 percent of today’s paper comes from trees, and paper production is responsible for about a fifth of the total wood cutting globally. A tissue paper we use so discriminately might contain fibbers from so many different trees that might have jointly travelled thousands of kilometres and factories from forest to the dinning table.
Estimate show that paper consumption has trebled during the last thirty years, and given the present trends, it is likely to double by 2010 that is a big cause of concerns because it is linked with seismic environmental problems, from deforestation through industrial pollution to waste.
Developed nations with high standards of living are large consumers of paper products (multi purpose writing papers, tissues, packaging to name just a few) as compared to developing nations with low affordability. Trend watchers say that global paper consumption will double by 2010.
There is a ray of hope. Advent of computers and related technologies can make a big difference in paper consumption all over the world. Computers mediated technologies have made it possible to publish and distribute written words without using papers in this cyber age. The Internet and Word Wide Web can do same things for printing and distribution words what printing does for books and newspapers.
Online publication is already one of the biggest uses of computers these days. It is easier, cost effective, faster and much more efficient. Which is why even traditional print companies like publisher of Encyclopedia Britannica and many more have already started Web publishing?
Web publishing at industrial and individual levels is expected to significantly affect the paper consumption habits over time. Consider how much quantity of paper (read trees) only use of email can save. Online books, catalogues on commercial Websites, personal diaries coming in the form of Web logs may also slow down the use of paper. Result: Less paper consumption, less tree cutting and cleaner environment.
It is not possible to stop the use of paper in the world, nor it is suggested. But it can be brought under sustainable limits. Many international environmental organizations have already called for reduced paper consumption and are doing good job to create awareness. But this cannot be left to the voluntary organizations alone. This need mass realization and conscious effort by every individual, organizations and governments. Every bit can make a difference.