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• Print on both sides of a page. Using the "duplex" function on office printers, multifunction systems and copiers—especially for documents like e-mail or memos—is a simple way to quickly cut paper use. It saves energy as well: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates say that manufacturing a piece of paper requires 10 times more energy than making a copy.

• Choose recycled paper when appropriate.

• Recycle what you use. Install bins to make it easy to collect paper for recycling or for reuse as notepaper. For every ton of recycled paper used, paper manufacturers can avoid the use of 3.5 tons of virgin fiber.

• Store boxes of paper on shelves or pallets, not on the floor, to avoid moisture absorption. And choose a storage area that’s protected from extreme temperatures and humidity; most air-conditioned areas provide the right atomosphere. Avoid crushing or damage by stacking paper no higher than five boxes.

• Understand how to properly handle paper. It may look "plain," but it is a carefully engineered product whose imaging performance can be affected by humidity, curl and other factors. To prevent waste and possible paper jams, keep paper sealed until loading it into printers, faxes and copiers. Follow the arrows on the wrapper to ensure the proper side of the paper is facing up.