bank the rest

Thanks Ecoki for this great post on reducing paper consumption in one easy step: internet banking. Get and pay your bills online to save paper, stamps, and envelopes, not to mention time.

Never miss a deadline with automatic payments, and stash away savings without doing anything with an automatic withdrawal program (hello compound interest)!

Ecoki also points us to PayItGreen's “financial paper footprint” calculator, which can tell you how many trees you'll save, and the equivalent savings of miles driven in your car.

Bank away!

C'mon now...there are better ways to save paper

Sometimes I feel like I deserve a parade for my blue box...I eye the towering mound of paper with satisfaction and think "gee, what a planet-lover I am!" But really, wouldn't it be better if I just had less paper to deal with in the first place?

I think so. So, here are 24 ways to try:

1. use cloth napkins
2. clean up with cloths instead of paper towel
3. use electronic fax
4. don't print emails or documents
5. "print" to PDF
6. ok, if you must print, decrease page margins, font size and double side it
7. reusable grocery bags, baby
8. reuse file folders and envelopes
9. make your own greeting cards
10. ...or send e-cards and invites
11. reuse gift wrap (tie with string instead of tape)
12. read the news online
13. jot down a website instead of taking a brochure
14. keep life sane with erasable memo boards
15. post 'no flyers please' on your mailbox
16. ..and take your name off direct mail lists
17. receive and pay bills online
18. get your caffeine fix in a ceramic cup or travel mug
19. buy used books
20. no, no, no! disposable plates or utensils (unless they're biodegradable)
21. buy bulk from loose bins
22. simply refuse to buy items that are over-packaged
23. cancel subscriptions to magazines you don't read
24. use less toilet paper...really

Do you have more ideas on reducing paper use? Comment away!