#14 17/02/14

  PAPER

   "Just imagine a day without paper" reads one advertisement for a Finish paper company. It adds, " You almost certainly see our products everyday" And they're right. But in most industrial countries, people are so accustomed to paper - whether it's for holding their groceries, for dying their hands or for providing them with the daily news - that its role in their daily lives passes largely unnoticed.

     At one time paper was in short supply and was used mainly for important documents, but more recently, growing economies and new technologies have brought about a dramatic increase in the amount of paper used. Today, there are more than 450 different grades of paper, all designed for a different purpose.

     Decades ago, some people predicted a "paperless office". Instead, the widespread use of technologies has gone hand-in-hand with an increased use of paper. Research into the relationship between paper use and the use of computers has shown that the general method is likely to be one of growth and interdependence. 

     However, the costs involved in paper production, in terms of the world's land, water and air resources, are high. This raises some important questions. How much paper do we really need and how much is wasted?