Q.1105: Is the tagline in e-mails Please consider the environment before printing this email. valid, or misleading?

Ans. On one level it is correct, in that any activity should be thought about from an environmental point of view. However, printing on paper does keep a permanent record and can be vital for important documents. Paper is also based on wood, a renewable and recyclable material, and should promote print as a sustainable way to communicate. Electronic document storage and retrieval as well as emails and other e-communication has a footprint of its own which can be considerable.

So a much more affirmative footer should reads:

"Printed emails create a permanent and sustainable record but please ensure all your waste paper is recycled."

Source: Two Side Info

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