"These come from trees" is a part viral, part DIY campaign to jog people’s conscience just as they reach for yet another paper towel or napkin.
The project features stickers on paper towel dispensers in public washrooms. The lightbulb moment for the project designer, Pete Kazanjy, was when he was in a fast-food restaurant. Napkins were on free supply, and customers were taking more than they needed and discarding them unused.
After some rough and ready research, Pete reckons that each sticker can save a tree annually (around 100lbs of paper). The project’s blog has some pretty impressive examples of adoption of the idea by facilities managers and large companies and institutions, but makes the point that it's the spreading of the word by individuals placing stickers in public places that is really having an impact.
So far more than 50,000 stickers have been distributed. If they’ve all made their way onto dispensers, that’s a pretty big number of trees still standing.
Image Credit: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kazanjy">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kazanjy</a>
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Conscious Consumption
- The 'These Come from Trees' campaign reflects a growing trend of consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of their choices, creating opportunities for sustainable and eco-friendly products.
- Public Awareness Campaigns
- The success of the 'These Come from Trees' sticker campaign highlights the effectiveness of public awareness campaigns in promoting behavior change and encouraging responsible resource usage.
- Individual Activism
- The grassroots movement of individuals placing stickers in public places showcases the power of individual activism in driving environmental initiatives and inspiring others to take action.
Where This Applies
- Paper and Pulp
- The 'These Come from Trees' campaign presents an opportunity for the paper and pulp industry to explore and promote sustainable practices and products, such as recycled or tree-free alternatives.
- Facilities Management
- Facilities management companies can benefit from the 'These Come from Trees' campaign by implementing sustainable practices in public spaces and promoting responsible paper towel usage to reduce waste.
- Printing and Promotional Products
- The success of the sticker campaign opens up possibilities for printing and promotional product companies to collaborate with sustainability-focused organizations and offer eco-friendly printing solutions.
