UW Copy and Print Center Gives Back to the Environment

The University of Wyoming’s Copy and Print Center provided money to the UW Facilities Architecture office to buy trees that will be planted on the UW campus. This is the second year the copy center has made the donation.

In its effort to promote campus sustainability, the Copy and Print Center purchased five 6-foot-tall spruce trees to be planted this month; UW plants a large number of trees each year. The copy center is committed to supporting this effort to offset the paper used to produce academic and promotional materials across campus, says John Scozzafava, the Copy and Print Center manager.

“In addition to purchasing paper from companies that produce paper using sustainable forestry practices, we are promoting a positive environmental impact around campus by planting more trees,” Scozzafava says.

The average American uses nearly six trees worth of paper each year, according to the Forest Stewardship Council. That is an average of 100 reams of paper, or 50,000 sheets of paper, consumed every year.

At this rate, trees need to be replanted as fast as or faster than they are being taken down. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) plants one to two trees for every one that is cut down. This keeps up with the regeneration of forests and prevents deforestation, according to the SFI.

By buying trees to be planted, the Copy and Print Center is giving back to the environment so that the trees can provide positive air quality and provide campus beautification, which all result in beneficial sustainability, Scozzafava says.

“Not only are we planting trees, but we are investing in other paper options that contribute to environmental stability as well,” he says.

The Copy and Print Center uses Veritiv Econosource paper for black and white printing and Hammermill Color Copy Digital paper for all color printing.

Scozzafava says the copy center provides environmentally friendly paper options, including 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper.

“This paper helps to save trees by reducing the need to generate fresh paper pulp from living trees,” he adds. “These paper fibers are recycled again and again, and then made into environmentally friendly products.”

To contact the Copy and Print Center, call (307) 766-3890, email print@uwyo.edu or, to order online, visit www.uwyoprint.com.