Use of Technology to Save Environment by Saving Paper in an Online Era

Abstract

It’s a saying that it takes “17 (full-fledged average healthy) trees to make a ton of paper.” This might make you believe that if a ton less paper were used every year, then at the end of the year, 17 more trees would remain standing on mother earth which may give.

A healthy tree stores about 13(5.896kg) pounds of carbon annually. A single healthy tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 (21.772 kg) lbs/year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support 2 human beings. On an average a single tree produces nearly 260 (117.934kg) pounds of oxygen each year.

There is a need to conserve our environment. Government agencies, Non government agencies and public action groups are all trying to contribute towards conservation of environment. Various governments are allocating funds towards environment protection. Government and non government actions are important but equally important is a broad base participation of all people.

Paper industry is a one of the largest user of wood for which trees are cut, leading to detrimental effect on the environment. Paper is required for almost everywhere. In a country like India legal requirements force a lot of use of paper, exam systems, colleges and universities consume paper heavily. Technology has come to the aid of mankind whenever there has been a problem. The online technology is very developed and capable of handling almost all kinds of transaction related to organizations, colleges, institutes etc.

In spite of technology offering an environment friendly alternative the use of paper has not reduced in the Indian context. In some developed countries the online technology has helped to reduce the consumption of paper.

Our paper aims at understanding the consumer behavior regarding the paper use, substitution of technology with print outs in organizations and academic institutes. This is an empirical study to find and evaluate the variables that define the consumer behavior regarding the paper usage in the Indian context.

Keywords: Environmental Concern, Alternative technology, Waste management (Recycling), change in working style