How to Cut Back on Paper Products

Paper is the largest contributor to household waste. EnviroCitizen.org has found that this can be attributed to our habits. The United States has the largest paper product market in the world, with the average American consuming close to 55 pounds of it every year. The paper industry consumes 35% of all harvested trees every year, accounting for the harvesting of nearly 4 billion individual trees yearly. A large majority of the paper products available on the market today are made from trees that were unsustainably harvested, leaving behind barren landscapes that are unable to support life. Another problem with paper products is the way the pulp is processed. Chlorine dioxide is often used as a bleaching agent in facial tissue manufacturing. This process creates hundreds of chemicals that are released into the environment, including dioxin, a known carcinogen. The problems associated with paper products such as tissues can be eliminated by cutting back on the use of these products.

In place of paper towels, you can instead use cloth to clean messes and spills. You can buy the cloths at stores in a broad array of varieties; from regular cloth to organic cotton or even hemp cloths. An even more resourceful alternative is to make your own. This is done by cutting up old clothes into manageable squares. The benefit of this is that cloth is typically more absorbent than paper. They are also reusable because they can be washed and used over and over again.

In place of tissues, handkerchiefs can be used. These can be discreetly kept in purses and pockets. As soon as they are no longer usable, you can simply wash and disinfect them. Once this is done, they are ready to be used again.

Paper wet wipes can be substituted by reusable cotton and hemp ones. Several manufacturers such as Under the Nile offer organic varieties. The solution to disinfect is sold separately and often is more efficient than using the prepackaged paper ones available by most conventional manufacturers.

These are just a few ways to stop bad paper habits. Planet Green and several other companies have come up with solutions to living a more green life in regards to the way we consume and use papers products. EnviroCitizen.org suggest that you do some research and come up with ways that you can reduce your paper consumption and increase your eco-friendly habits.