Invest In Our Planet’ by Embracing E-signatures!

4.543 billion years! Earth has been around for over these many years, and we have managed to cause an unprecedented level of damage to the environment in a mere century. With rampant exploitation of natural resources, production of too much waste, and air and water pollution, we are steadily reaching the point where there is no return, unknowingly leading the path to the final destruction of our home planet. Almost every day, another research finding, news story, or environmental-related disaster piles more evidence on the reality that our planet is in crisis. It is a well-known yet disturbing fact that needs to be acknowledged on an immediate basis. All of us, on an individual basis, try to do our bit for the planet, whether it is recycling waste, reducing the use of plastic, etc. But the businesses out there impact our environment the most. The paper usage numbers today are staggering. According to Statista, the global paper consumption was 399 million metric tons in 2020, which is foreseen to increase steadily over the next decade to over 461 million metric tons in 2030. A report says 70% of the total waste in offices comprises paper. If every organization decided to go paperless, a significant amount of damage caused to the earth could be recovered. If your organization is looking to contribute to reducing the damage, make a simple change; ditch paper and go digital!

With Earth Day around the corner, several businesses are trying to be more sustainable with more environment-friendly options and reduced paper consumption. The year 2022 commemorates the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day. Every year on April 22, people around the globe mobilize to address some of the most urgent threats concerning our environment, such as climate change, deforestation, plastic pollution, and many more. This is the time to drive a change to preserve and protect our planet. Following this year’s Earth Day theme, we must #InvestInOurPlanet! Dive into this blog to discover the alarming facts about our environment and ways we could contribute to Earth Day this year.

Go green!

Organizations are increasingly embracing digital solutions to combat the effects of current and future challenges. As businesses play a significant role in producing paper waste, there is undoubtedly a need to adopt digitization. One of the most compelling and convenient ways to reduce this paper waste is to digitize document signing. Digital signatures or electronic signatures not only allow remote signing, but also facilitate a greater impact on our environment. Incorporating e-signatures in your business operations helps our planet in the following ways:

Also Read: Financial Literacy: Why It Is Important and How e-Signatures Can Help?

• Reduce paper waste

The U.S. is the second-largest paper-producing country in the world. Moreover, it is the world’s largest consumer of paper! According to a survey, pulp and paper are the third-largest air, water, and land polluters among all industries in the U.S. The paper and pulp industry that makes products such as tissue, office and catalog paper, glossy paper, and paper-based packaging uses around 33-40% of all industrial wood traded globally. Moreover, Americans use about 31.5 million tons of printing and writing paper each year, equal to 660 pounds per person. It requires 535 million trees and 12 billion gallons of oil to be processed.

According to research, the surveyed institutions have used 5,200 reams (13 tons) of 80gm A4 size paper in one year with the economic cost of 7,800 OMR (20,280 US$). The environmental impact of this paper consumption is estimated at 312 trees felled, 144,742 KWh of energy consumption, 73,970 lbs. of CO2 gas emission, 29,614 lbs. of solid waste produced, and 247975 gallons of water wasted. Not to mention the adverse effect on the wildlife that these trees sustained. Switching to more environment-friendly preferences could save a significant amount of economic and environmental resources. Embracing digital signatures in day-to-day operations, various departments of organizations and educational institutions can save a considerable amount of paper waste. DrySign provides digital signatures for all of your needs, which are compliant with the e-signature laws and are a secure way to sign documents digitally. Start DrySigning and go paperless to save our planet.

• Curb deforestation

In 2021, 9,541,559 hectares of forest were cut down or burned globally, which has a whopping 11.3% contribution to global emissions. Deforestation is one of the most substantial challenges our planet faces today. This is also a massive issue for us humans; after all, trees produce oxygen. Furthermore, deforestation destroys the habitats of our animals and threatens their very existence; it’s projected that up to 28,000 species could vanish in the next 25 years if deforestation continues. By 2030, we might only have 10% of rainforests left, and it can all disappear in a hundred years.

93% of paper comes from trees. If your organization is still reliant on paper for administration, your business inadvertently contributes to mass deforestation. Going paperless would not only help reduce paper waste but will help safeguard our forests and the biodiversity within. Moreover, digitizing your operations is going to help you keep up with the current market trends and thrive in the market. Businesses can actively put a curb on paper wastage using e-signature systems and aid our environment to breathe better. Start your paperless journey today with DrySign electronic signatures and do your bit to curb deforestation.

• Reduce pollution

No matter how hard you seem to try, single-use plastic products are constantly in circulation for daily and mundane objects, and they cause severe environmental consequences. Right from pens to stationery, plastic is everywhere. You throw the pen away whenever you run out of ink, unknowingly polluting your household, work areas, and school, just like plastic bags and straws. Disposable plastic pens and refills contain toxic materials such as lead that eventually end up in waterways, landfills, and rivers, causing an unprecedented level of damage to the natural reserves and aquatic life. Every year, we produce approximately 300 million tonnes of plastic waste, which is nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. About 75 to 199 million tonnes of plastic is currently found in our oceans. These stats are enough for us to wake up, ditch plastic usage right away and attempt to save our planet. We have already started seeing the hostile effects of plastic on our environment and human bodies. It’s time for us to do our bit and use more environment-friendly options in businesses, schools, and households. E-signature solutions help you ditch this traditional pen and paper method. DrySign’s digital signatures provide a vast range of features and benefits that might be an add-on to your initiative to go green.

From school admission forms to insurance and banking documents, you can sign it all with DrySign!

• Minimize greenhouse gas emissions

Paper and pulp industries produce 100 million kgs of harmful contaminants like H2S, CIO2, CO, and SO2 every year. In addition, a typical passenger vehicle emits approximately 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, which can vary based on a vehicle’s fuel, fuel economy, and the number of miles driven per year.

Burning one gallon of gasoline emits 8,887 grams of CO2, and burning one gallon of diesel emits 10,180 grams of CO2. On top of that, it is estimated that the average passenger vehicle emits around 404 grams of CO2 per mile. If your organization is using transportation services to travel, send, or receive documents, you are an active contributor to multiplying the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, wildfires, droughts, extreme weather conditions, and a lot more. An important use of paper is to produce essential contracts and agreements for business purposes. Business individuals need to travel to complete a deal or sign important documents or agreements in multiple instances. Electronic signatures help you sign these documents digitally and securely manage electronic records. Using e-signatures would save a lot of time spent traveling and reduce harmful emissions from vehicles. DrySign provides legally binding and secure electronic signatures that can easily be used to sign essential business agreements or contracts.

Why choose DrySign for your #InvestInOurPlanet initiative?

• DrySign empowers individuals to go paperless.
• Using DrySign electronic signatures, you can save printing and postal costs.
• DrySign E-signatures improve the overall speed of contract or agreement execution.
• You can self-sign necessary documents and manage an electronic record to streamline your future signing experience.
• Intelligent dashboard to keep you updated about your contract and agreement process.
• Using the Group Sign feature, you can request signatures from multiple signatories with DrySign.
• DrySign electronic signatures are flexible and can be seamlessly integrated with other products that require digital signatures.
• DrySign is suitable for businesses, including SMEs, Government and non-Government institutions, and individuals.
• DrySign e-signatures are legally compliant with e-signature laws and provide a password-protected, secure signing experience.

The well-known and alarming yet often ignored facts in this blog can help us understand where we are heading. All our day-to-day operations and habits cause severe damage to Mother Earth. It is our responsibility to keep our surroundings toxin-free. Small changes in our old habits could contribute to recovering the damage we have caused to our planet. It’s never too late to start; do your bit in helping our planet by digitizing your operations and embracing DrySign e-signatures today. Check out our plans here.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change quickly, and Exela cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.

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