Paper is an essential part of our work and our lives.
The average American uses and discards nearly 700 pounds of paper each year. Our consumption has doubled since 1960, and is still increasing rapidly. All that paper has considerable impact on the environment, because it uses energy, consumes natural resources, and creates air and water pollution as well as solid waste. We all have a responsibility to find ways to reduce these impacts. All the Task Force members buy and use large amounts of paper, whether for packaging, business and office applications or publications.