The University has reduced the quantity of paper used

If every sheet of A4 paper used by the University of Tampere were to be put into a single pile, it would be seven times as high as the Näsineula Tower, the symbol of Tampere.  Five years ago it would have been eleven times the height of Näsineula.

In 2009 the University of Tampere achieved a considerable reduction in the quantity of white A4 paper used.  Ekocampus has been monitoring the consumption of copying paper ever since 1994 and the past five years have shown a steady drop.  This was particularly pleasing in 2009; 17% down on 2008.  These statistics cover paper supplied by the central stores.

"The drop in paper consumption is partly due to an increase in the use of electronic systems and to the fact that people have begun to trust them.  Users are now beginning to believe that data can be stored in a system and need not be printed out just to be sure.  In some units the drop can be explained by the outsourcing of certain functions", says environmental coordinator Saana Raatikainen.

The amount of copying paper the University goes through every year can be visualized by comparing it to the Näsineula Tower, symbol of Tampere.  In 2004, when paper consumption peaked, the number of sheets of white A4 paper would have made a pile eleven times the height of Näsineula.  In 2009 the pile would have been a mere seven times the height of Näsineula.

Saana Raatikainen enumerates: "The assumption of double-sided copying, electronic exams and making meeting practices paper-free among others can help keep consumption down."

Kuva: Hannele Salmi