What Really Happens After You Shred Your Documents?
In today’s office environments, paper use remains surprisingly high. On average, an employee might go through around 45 sheets of paper every single day. These documents often contain highly sensitive information everything from employee personal data to confidential client details. Handling such information responsibly is critical to protecting your business and maintaining compliance with data protection laws.
When these papers are no longer needed, most companies in the UK rely on shredding as a trusted method to securely destroy them. But simply shredding documents is just the beginning of a much larger process designed to ensure data security and promote environmental sustainability.
The Risks of Improper Document Disposal
Improper disposal of sensitive documents can expose your business to serious legal risks, including violations of the Data Protection Act. The Act’s seventh principle mandates that organizations must have appropriate security measures in place to prevent intentional exposure of personal data. Failing to adhere to these standards can result in costly penalties and reputational damage.
The Journey of Your Shredded Documents
When documents are no longer needed, they should be shredded to ensure secure disposal. This shredding can take place on-site at the workplace or off-site at a professional shredding provider’s facility. After shredding, the small paper fragments are compressed tightly into dense bales, which are then prepared for transportation. These bales are securely transported to recycling centers located throughout the UK. Once at the recycling facility, the shredded paper undergoes a pulping process, where it is mixed with water and chemicals to separate the paper fibers. The resulting pulp is then cleaned by spinning it in a container to remove impurities. Following cleaning, the pulp is spread onto large mesh conveyor belts to drain excess water, at which point it starts to take on the appearance of paper. Since the pulp still contains moisture, it is pressed and passed through heated rollers to achieve the ideal moisture content and thickness. Finally, the processed paper is wound onto large rolls before being cut down into smaller reels, ready to be reused in the production of new paper products.
Environmental benefits
Ensuring that sensitive documents are thoroughly destroyed through shredding not only protects confidential information but also brings significant environmental advantages. The process of recycling shredded paper greatly reduces environmental impact by lowering air pollution levels by approximately 73% compared to producing paper from virgin materials. Additionally, it conserves a substantial amount of energy and preserves essential natural resources while simultaneously decreasing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. To put this into perspective, recycling just one metric ton of paper can save around 17 mature trees, conserve nearly 7,000 gallons of water, and prevent over three cubic yards of waste from ending up in landfills. This makes document shredding and recycling a critical practice for businesses aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts while securely managing their information.
Business benefits
Shredding offers numerous advantages for businesses beyond just secure disposal. It can lead to significant time and cost savings while also boosting overall productivity. Research suggests that for every 12 filing cabinets in an office, an additional staff member is often needed to manage the paperwork, so reducing physical documents through shredding can help optimize workforce efficiency. Furthermore, by shredding and recycling paper, companies contribute to lowering their carbon footprint, especially considering that paper accounts for approximately 80% of typical office waste. Beyond environmental and operational benefits, shredding plays a vital role in protecting sensitive information no longer required in the workplace, strengthening security measures and minimizing the risk of data breaches or fraudulent activities. This makes shredding an essential part of a company’s comprehensive data protection and sustainability strategy.