The ABCs Of Reducing Your Paper Usage In Business

Julie Starr • September 24, 2020



Going green is a responsibility for all modern businesses to embrace. Aside from actively helping the planet, it can remove any personal feelings of guilt. You’ll simultaneously save money. The fact that it often receives a better response from employees and clients alike should be another incentive to get this aspect right. There are many contributing factors to consider when building a greener workspace , but paper usage should be at the top of your agenda. As a single step, it is one of the most impactful. More importantly, the results are visible, which can subsequently inspire further improvements. So, how can you take control of yours? Just remember your ABCs and you won’t go far wrong.

A is for Arrangement

 

A good sense of organization throughout the business will deliver a wide range of benefits. In the modern climate, it is the first step to gaining control over paper usage. Migrating invoices, contracts, and other files to the digital arena will dramatically cut down on paperwork. Meanwhile, utility bills and banking elements can be handled via online banking and payment plans. It’s a simple step that can be embraced by all staff members. Aside from aiding the company in its bid to be greener, cloud computing and digital storage services reduce the risk of lost files. This saves time and boosts compliance. Implement this move ASAP, and the company’s paper requirements will dramatically fall.


Furthermore, a well-organized business environment enhances overall efficiency and productivity. SecureSpace Self Storage can be an excellent resource for companies needing to store physical items that are not required on a daily basis, such as old records or excess inventory. By keeping the workspace free from clutter, employees can focus better and complete tasks more quickly. Additionally, categorizing and labeling digital files and physical items ensures that everything can be found easily when needed. This streamlined approach not only saves time but also reduces stress, contributing to a more positive workplace atmosphere. Prioritizing organization sets a solid foundation for growth and success in any business.

 

B is for Branding

Advertising the company in an effective manner is a priority at all times. Digital marketing instantly removes the need to use paper and delivers immediate client interactions. PPC services don’t only offer greener marketing. They offer leaner marketing as your ads can be tailored to target a very specific audience. You can’t do this with traditional media, meaning many of your posters and magazine inserts will end up in the trash. Social media and SEO are examples of further steps you may wish to take. In addition to reducing the carbon footprint, it can boost lead generation. Being an eco-friendly company is a major part of your brand. Don’t be afraid to celebrate it with greener packing materials.

C is for Communication

Communication can make or break many aspects of your business. Paper usage probably isn’t the first issue you consider, but the impacts are fairly significant. A team meeting held via video conferencing reduces paper note-taking and minutes recording. Meanwhile, emails and team messaging Apps can be supported by project management tools. The collaborative nature reduces paper usage and removes any threat of confusion. In turn, individual team members will produce better results while the collective output improves. While you won’t remove the need for paper entirely, it’s possible that you could see a 90% decline. When added to the green rewards of reduced business travel, it can transform the venture forever.

It only takes a few weeks to embrace winning habits, and their impacts will last a lifetime. If each employee gains a small reduction, the company’s overall situation will look brighter than ever.

 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.