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I can only speak for Laserfiche as an EDMS when I say that people have confidence that when a document is scanned it can be instantly viewed by multiple people simultaneously, without concern that it will be lost or misplaced by anyone.
Specifically to your point, there is some point of contention in the industry as to the term used, but suffice it to say a document is "produced" between 16 and 20 times.
In point of fact, this trend has been on the increase specfically in printing, not copying. According to Gartner, copy volumes are on the decline (or flat at best), while printing volumes continue to rise.
This trend is indicative of a wasteful society moreso than people misplacing the "copy". My assertion would be that 'they' actually throw the originals away because the attitude is, "we can always print another". Gartner's figures would support this, as would my own observations as I consult with company after company who has very little control over their output fleets, and marginalizes the impact this has on the environment. Even for the "greenest" of companies this is true - I can assure you.
If LaserFiche would like to post a rebuttal article, I will be happy to display on the front page of my blog.
Again, thank you for your comments and your feedback is most welcome here.
I am amazed at how much from the copier and document imaging industry I have seen posted lately on the stupid "green" movement <s>in this ten year period of dropping temperatures</s> because of global warming.
As a counter-point to this, at least there is more awareness of a problem today than 5 years ago when people were still in some levels of denial.
All smart companies will see what is a current "hot button" in the world and attempt to create opportunities, and that's not a bad thing to engender some good will or even make a few bucks.
This is to say that they are actually helping to solve the issue, but unfortunately many in this boat will sadly attempt to use it as an opportunity to just make off with some dough. Look to the horizon for companies that are truly walking the walk, not just talking the talk.
How does a claim of saving trees have on the impact of anything based in reality? Especially when the trees used for making paper are grown for that purpose and not taken from natural growth anymore? Source: <a href="http://www.tappi.org/paperu/all_about_paper/earth_answers/GrowTree1.htm"
It was marketing by convenience.
To your point on the claim of saving trees having an impact of anything based in reality, I suppose you should review current scientific evidence on global warming and make up your own mind (if in fact it is not already made-up). I have been given to understand it is in point of fact the deforestation of tropical rainforests that are of more concern than within the US. However, I would defer to those more expert than myself on this subject.
I would also not infer that saving those tress made for paper-consumption would have a dramatic impact on the present state of the environment - at least as a major contributing factor.
I am more inclined to agree with the recent post from Sue, but that would be supposition on my part. Since I was not present for the focus group, nor for the marketing exercises - I could not make that assertion, however.
The New York Times wrote scary articles about cooling in 1924, warming in 1935, and back to cooling in 1975. So called "smart people" have been talking about Global Warming now yet the temperature as decreased since 1998 and the World Meteorlogical Organization says that 2008 will be cooler as well.
Crap... there I go on my soap box again.
Bottom line, you and I seem to agree that it is more of a marketing move than an actual "Save the Trees - Save the Environment" kind of thing.
So, it isn't just me? All this Green stuff?
I actually love it.
Global Warming, phut! Ted Danson - yeah, right.
But, people are BUYING IT.
It's not really a "Barnum Effect" - it's the high cost of energy, and the reduction in energy use means a more significant reduction in operating cost...