Using Web Forms to Help Save the Environment

As defined in wikipedia, webform "allows a user totrees can be saved by switching from paper forms
enter data that is, typically, sent to a server forto web forms isn't an issue. No one can deny that
processing and to mimic the usage of paper forms."the environmental impact of corporations and
By it's very definition a web form can help togovernment switching from printed forms to online
improve the environment.web forms would be significant.
How much paper can be made from a tree? Or, howTherefore, all corporations and government should be
many trees are required to make a certain amountencouraged to use web forms wherever possible
of paper? It's very difficult to answer theseinstead of paper forms. Imagine the savings that
questions directly and the best that can be obtainedwould result if every year hundreds of millions of
are ballpark estimates. In the 1970s a report by thegovernment forms were converted to web forms.
Conservatree estimated that a ton of newsprintThe environmental impact would be astronomic.
paper saves 17 trees. This is a rough estimate. NewsIf all corporations joined the drive to move to a
paper isn't made of the same tree materials that"paperless" society and stored all their information in
office paper is made of.electronic format as well as keeping all records in
It's difficult to make exact calculations on convertingelectronic format then hundreds of millions more
trees to paper as paper is made from a mix of trees.sheets of paper would be conserved each year.
Some are hardwood, others are softwood. Some areWherever possible corporations should issue each
young trees while others are old growth. Some areother web invoice forms instead of paper forms. All
wide trees while others are skinny trees. Some paperaccounting records should be stored in electronic
is made from sawdust.format. Services such as can help save the
Whether or not we can calculate exactly how manyenvironment if used by government and businesses.