Despite the prevalence of digital technologies, paper continues to play an important role in office and home life. As paper use evolves in the future, there will be ongoing needs for secure shredding of sensitive documents.
Understanding trends in paper and printing can help businesses, organizations, and individuals plan for their future shredding requirements.
For the past decade, global paper consumption has been declining. According to industry expert RISI, paper demand fell by 1.7% in 2019 alone.
The rise of digital technologies is reducing the need for printing in many contexts. More content is being created, stored, and shared digitally rather than printed on paper.
However, the decline has slowed in recent years, leveling off to around a 1% annual decrease. This indicates paper still has an important place despite digital substitution.
Sustainable forestry initiatives have also allowed paper production and consumption to become more environmentally friendly.
Even as total paper volume drops, printing has shifted heavily from commercial print shops to office and home environments. The use of home printers, multifunction copiers, and desktop printers has skyrocketed. This means a larger share of paper is being consumed and discarded locally.
More paper is being used for small print runs, like creating digital documents, photos, and files that are quickly outdated. These types of printouts are more likely to be shredded soon after printing rather than stored. So shredding needs are increasing even as total paper use declines.
Some paper applications have maintained steady growth even with digital transitions. These include cardboard and packaging materials, tissue/toilet paper, paper towels, and newspaper/magazine printing.
Developing countries are also increasing their paper usage and recycling activities.
Packaging and e-commerce have fueled demand for corrugated boxes and other delivery materials made from paper.
The ongoing importance of paper products in daily life ensures that recycled fibers remain valuable for making new paper. Sustainable forestry and paper lifecycles will remain essential. You can use this code Shredding Coupon Code 2023 to easily get the discount
With high-profile data breaches and identity theft risks, shredding sensitive documents is more critical than ever. Consumers and businesses want assurance their private data will not end up in the wrong hands. Proper document destruction provides that peace of mind.
Financial statements, tax returns, bank records, and medical forms contain private data and are prime targets for shredding. Discarded electronics also need secure disposal, as they store immense amounts of personal data if not wiped properly.
Rigorous shredding guidelines from regulators like HIPAA and FACTA also increase specialized shredding requirements.
Greater awareness has led to more widespread adoption of shredding best practices across businesses, organizations, and households:
Using cross-cut or micro-cut shredders provides smaller particle sizes for higher security.
Shredding discarded paper documents regularly rather than letting them accumulate long-term.
Shredding not just paper, but CDs, DVDs, hard drives, USB sticks, and anything storing sensitive data.
Utilizing professional shredding services for large volumes of materials, electronics, and media.
Securing bins and having professional service to remove and destroy documents.
These practices will continue growing as data security awareness increases. Even though paper use declined, proper destruction and recycling of paper remains paramount.
While environmental sustainability has always been a benefit of recycling paper, more companies and consumers now prioritize it. Proper shredding and recycling of documents keeps paper waste out of landfills and completes the paper lifecycle.
More organizations are gaining eco-friendly certifications and aiming to reduce their environmental footprint by increasing paper recycling rates. Using recycled paper content also saves resources while supporting the document destruction industry.
At home, consumers are seeking ways to be greener as well. Participating in community recycling events helps reuse paper fibers while keeping sensitive documents secure. Local recycling campaigns make events accessible, such as free paper shredding events near me run by recyclers like Shred-it.
With heightened concerns around security and sustainability, technology innovations will further improve shredding capabilities. Multifunctional features on office equipment allow scanning paper records directly into digital formats while shredding originals in a single step.
Portable and on-site shredding equipment options are also advancing for convenience, while automation speeds up processing volumes. Shredding vehicles and plants capable of handling more volume and material types will evolve.
Their capabilities will also be strengthened through AI and machine learning integrations to optimize destruction processes.
While paper use declines globally, there remains a steady needs for secure shredding and paper recycling now and in the future. More emphasis is being placed on privacy, sustainability, specialized destruction, and innovative technology.
Keeping sensitive documents out of the wrong hands through proper shredding techniques continues to be vital even as digitization advances.
With informed planning and adoption of best practices, businesses, organizations, and households can stay ahead of their paper management and destruction requirements.
Even as digital content grows, paper is still critical for documents containing private data like financial, medical, and personal information. These sensitive materials require proper destruction and recycling to prevent identity theft.
More printing volume has moved from commercial print shops to small offices, home offices, and households. This local printing often generates documents containing private data needing quick shredding after use.
Packaging materials like corrugated boxes and e-commerce shipping materials are growth areas fueling paper production, as are tissue and paper towel products.
Newspapers and magazines maintain steady usage as well. Developing countries are also increasing paper consumption and recycling activities.
Use cross-cut shredders and shred documents regularly rather than letting piles accumulate. Shred not just paper but anything storing personal data, like CDs and hard drives.
Take advantage of community shredding events for large volumes. Only use secure bins and vetted professional shredding services.
Innovations in multitasking office equipment, portable and automated shredders, on-site document destruction vehicles, and AI-enabled optimization will improve shredding efficiency, security, and sustainability.
