Introduction
The proper use of available resources and efficient initiatives on their recycling is the key to preserving the environment. In this case, the applicable methods differ depending on the type of materials and other factors, but the most significant aspect is not the procedure but people’s awareness regarding the need to act. Therefore, the paper aims to present one of the issues of this nature, which is paper waste in offices and propose a medium for informing employees regarding their influence on this ecological challenge.
Problem Statement
The work of present-day organizations and businesses heavily depends on the paper. Whether it is used for printed newspapers or manufacturing contracts, the companies keep wasting this material. The problem arises when the statistics concerning its production are evaluated. For example, according to researchers, each week’s Sunday papers of the New York Times require 75,000 trees (Ferguson). Considering this fact, it is easy to imagine what the misuse of this resource might mean for the environment. In turn, recycling stemming from environmental consciousness can help avoid harm. As per the data provided by scholars, the attention to this matter in the past could have saved about 26 million trees per year only by recycling newspapers (Taylor). Therefore, it is vital to take immediate action in this respect for the well-being of humanity in the future.
The described situation should be viewed as a problem because it implies severe consequences for both animals and people. The former suffers from the loss of habitat since 80% of them live in the forest (Ferguson). This outcome indicates a crash in biodiversity and the lack of other resources, such as soil or clear water (Ferguson). Consequently, the threat is posed to the security of humans since bears, foxes, and other species go out searching for food (Ferguson). In addition, the neglect of this issue contributes to climate change and the creation of an environment unsuitable for living. Hence, addressing this challenge is essential because of its connection to other serious obstacles to survival.
Overview of the Project
The Objective of the Project
The principal objective of the project is to raise awareness among people regarding their contribution to the preservation of the environment. More specifically, it aims to explain the impact of improper use of paper in offices in the field and motivate them to take action in this regard. As follows from the analysis above, the situation in this area remains critical, and the problem is not new. It means that the decisions and initiatives of environmentalists and political activists in the past did not provide sufficient results and were inefficient in combatting this challenge. In turn, a change might come in the form of a shift in people’s consciousness in relation to the case under consideration. It will be underpinned by their desire to assist worldwide organizations in eliminating the identified threats deriving from paper waste and thereby improve the quality of their lives in the long run.
How It Can Raise Awareness About the Problem
The practical implementation of the project will help raise people’s awareness of the problem in several ways. First, citizens do not seem to be familiar with the statistics presented above, and the provision of this information will be beneficial for enhancing their understanding of the actual situation. It will attract their attention to the outcomes of paper waste for humanity as a whole and motivate them to learn more about the consequences. Second, the explanation of the role of this issue in other spheres of life and the threat to the availability of essential resources will contribute to citizens’ intention to participate in corresponding organizations. The seeming lack of connection between the misuse of paper and other fields does not allow to link them in their perspectives and thereby adds to the overall inactivity of the population. In turn, once they see the harm caused to different areas, it will be easier to convince them of the importance of immediate measures.
Target Audience
The target audience for the project is employees of different companies. Their selection is conditional upon the fact that most paper waste in the United States comes from the daily operations of various enterprises (Ferguson). It makes the introduction of the plan in this setting feasible since the awareness of these people concerning their individual contributions to the matter can make a difference. It is clear that it is impossible to refuse to use paper for documents at this stage. Meanwhile, the shift in attitudes can reduce the number of trees destroyed for this purpose. In addition, the presentation of practices allowing to avoid complications in this regard will be a good complement to the initiative in the future.
Medium
The medium selected for the project is a series of short animated videos comprised of particular elements. They will start with the scenes in which office employees use paper improperly, for example, making airplanes out of old reports or drawing cartoons. These episodes will be contrasted by the typical ways of waste, such as using only one side of the paper when sending faxes, followed by the question: Do you see the difference? Afterward, brief facts containing statistics as shown above and other data will be demonstrated. In this way, the workers will start perceiving the two ways of improper use of this material as equivalent in terms of the outcome. Consequently, their behavior will be automatically readjusted as they will start to understand the importance of their actions and their effects on the environment. These results will be underpinned by the development of appropriate practices by the managers in the future.
Practical Implementation of the Idea
The creation of videos is insufficient for ensuring the required outcomes regarding the change in people’s perceptions of paper waste. Hence, this step should be complemented by deciding where they should be demonstrated to employees. This part of the project depends on the presence of screens and other technological solutions for showing the episodes. Moreover, they should be located in such a way that workers could unintentionally see them during the day, and the information could be acquired in a natural way. It will be beneficial in terms of efficiency since they will feel no pressure regarding the need to learn something which is not directly related to their duties in the workplace.
Conclusion
To summarize, the proposed project for increasing the awareness of companies and their employees concerning paper waste and the elimination of corresponding threats is feasible from the perspective of the outcomes of this issue’s neglect. They include the overall harm to the environment, people, and animals combined with the lack of essential resources and security issues in the long run. Since the actions of environmentalists were insufficient for overcoming the challenge, change is needed in people’s perceptions and, consequently, motivations. Thus, the chosen medium, short animated videos, will efficiently address this task in the identified setting.
Works Cited
Ferguson, Anara. “The Problem with Paper.” Busch Systems, 2017, Web.
Taylor, Sally. “Negative Effects of Paper Wastes.” Sciencing, 2019, Web.