Dematerialization: saving the environment

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Changing invoicing basics to significantly reduce paper consumption
and the impact of carbon on the environment

One of the main interests of dematerialization remains the contribution to the protection of the environment. These past few years have seen a considerable trend amongst firms toward zero paper, and one that can today be applied to invoicing.

Our outlook has for a goal to permanently review all working methods and activities to make sure that our processes have a minimal impact on the environment.

A beneficial service for the environment

After an initial “Green Washing” phase, the responsible management of resources—wood and water—as well as the reduction of CO² emissions are now at the heart of the company’s worries: to abide by the norms, but also to choose suppliers who take environmental and sustainable development commitments into account.
Whatever firms’ motivations, dematerialization has shown itself to be the simplest, fastest and most environmentally-friendly response to implement.

Having treated a volume of 95 million invoices in 2008, b-process can estimate that these dematerialized invoices represent an economy equivalent to 2,375 tons of paper (1).

Facts to keep in mind...

To evaluate the reduction of the carbon impact on the environment related to the use of the b-process billManager platform, let us do an exercise of comparison:

 

for 95 million invoices dematerialized in 2008
nearly 2,375 tons of paper have been saved
807.5 tons of CO ² were safeguarded in the world
and 29,363 trees saved to compensate this CO ² (3)

  

for 65 million invoices dematerialized in 2007
nearly 1,625 tons of paper have been saved
552.5 tons of CO ² saved were safeguarded in the world
and 20,089 trees saved to compensate this CO ² (3)

The dematerialization of documents also allows:

  • Better flowing trade and thousands of trees saved
  • Reduction of invoicing costs
  • Reduction of sending and archiving expenses
  • Optimization of the controls within the concerned services
  • Innovative services for the customers


(1) Calculation bases: at least 1 invoice + 1 double archiving +1 invoice copy + 1 stamped envelope = approximately 25g (either 5g by sheet)
(2) According to the report published in 2007 by the European organization for the industry of paper, a ton of paper produces 0.34 ton of CO2 (ref. CEPI: Sustainability report 2007)
(3) Calculation of the compensation of CO ² emission realized thanks to the site Planet Urgency: www.urgenceclimatique.org/