PaperPulse Blog

Boise Paper's online blog brings you a paper maker's perspective on current events, tips for a better office life, and information on paper market trends. Check out these tips for making the most of your office, home, and community life...

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Tips for Reducing Paper Waste by Optimizing Printing

Tips for Reducing Paper Waste by Optimizing Printing

Printing is a common and sometimes essential part of our daily work routine, but it can also be a large source of paper waste in the home or office. The good news is that with a few simple changes, you can optimize your printing practices and reduce paper waste. Here are four tips to help you get started.

A Professional’s Guide to Writing Emails

A Professional’s Guide to Writing Emails

According to Oberlo, over 347 billion emails will be sent and received per day in 2023. That’s a lot of digital communication! For many people in the workforce, sending emails has become second nature.

3 Things You’ve Never Considered About Paper

3 Things You’ve Never Considered About Paper

Paper is just paper, right? Well, not quite. Paper is an essential part of our lives, providing us with the ability to express ideas, organize thoughts, and communicate with others. The role it plays is big, but smaller details can often be overlooked.

2022 Fire Impacting Recycled Paper Production

2022 Fire Impacting Recycled Paper Production

If you noticed it was harder to get recycled paper over the past several months, you weren’t alone. On Oct. 6, 2022, a large fire broke out at the Resolute Forest Products warehouse in Menominee, Michigan. Resolute – a global leader in the forest products industry, producing market pulp, paper, tissue, and wood products – is one of the largest producers of the pulp used to make recycled office paper in North America.

Staying Organized to Build Productivity in 2023

Staying Organized to Build Productivity in 2023

Many people have just one New Year’s resolution: get. more. done. Who wouldn’t want to be productive, stay organized, and lessen stress in 2023? But it’s not always easy. Productivity often means creating daily habits that require effort, consistency, planning, and using the right tools to stay organized. Here are a few to get you started.

Get the Most Out of Color Printing

Get the Most Out of Color Printing

With the rise of inflation, even the smallest expenses are under scrutiny. Color ink is notorious for being expensive, but there are ways to optimize the quality and quantity of your printing. Make the most out of your ink investment with a few of these tips:

Learning with Paper in a Digital Age

Learning with Paper in a Digital Age

Over the last decade, people of all ages and demographics have turned to remote learning and work, keeping notes online and using digital calendars and to-do lists. But for many, using pen and paper to take notes is a better way to learn and remember.

How to Store and Load Paper for Optimal Performance

How to Store and Load Paper for Optimal Performance

At Boise Paper, we pride ourselves on providing the products you need with the service you deserve. Our paper products are rigorously tested and engineered to deliver the best results. To get the most out of your paper, follow these five steps for optimal performance.

Mentor Programs Improve Employee Experience

Mentor Programs Improve Employee Experience

Mentor programs in the workplace are often used to integrate new employees into their new role. However, a mentoring program is also important for ongoing employee satisfaction and retention, as well as building an overall positive company culture.

Value Propositions to Consider when Buying Paper

Value Propositions to Consider when Buying Paper

Paper is one of the most utilized tools in the workplace and is likely a large part of a business’s spending, so the price of paper is a main concern. However, price is just one component of the total cost of buying and consuming paper. Other factors that impact cost include performance, consistency, appearance, and manufacturer support.

Seven procurement trends to consider in 2022

Seven procurement trends to consider in 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains have faced unprecedented challenges at every step of the process. Logistical problems have affected multiple industries, and regardless of your specific sector of business, challenges and accompanying trends are expected to continue.

Complying with the Made in USA Standard

Complying with the Made in USA Standard

Over the years, the rules for what can be claimed as a product made in the U.S. has changed. Originally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that the product had to be completely made in the U.S. or close to it.

Value of Sustainable Procurement Practices

Value of Sustainable Procurement Practices

Since sustainability is still relatively new to procurement practices, the ability to express these benefits in financial terms is one of the key drivers needed to make a case for implementing sustainable practices into business models.

Why Should You Choose a Sustainable Procurement Strategy?

Why Should You Choose a Sustainable Procurement Strategy?

As the conversation around “going green” and sustainability continues to evolve, consumers and businesses alike are forced to look at the role we play in this. For consumers, that often means taking a deeper look into the business you’re buying from.

Four Powerful Benefits of Supply Chain Collaboration

Four Powerful Benefits of Supply Chain Collaboration

Collaboration between business partners happens organically after spending enough time together, allowing them to harmonize quality production and ethical working standards. Similarly, supply chain collaboration is when autonomous businesses begin working together to improve operations in their supply chain.

Measuring Sustainability. Creating Value.

Measuring Sustainability. Creating Value.

While implementing sustainable practices within a business can be challenging, leaders are starting to see that improving ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies can increase the performance of their business!

A Supply Management View of Sustainability

A Supply Management View of Sustainability

As sustainability continues to become a driving force for companies, it’s important to understand the extent of the efforts being taken by companies across the United States. Many companies and organizations have sustainability goals set in order to meet stakeholder and customer expectations.

Sustainable Procurement Barometer 2021

Sustainable Procurement Barometer 2021

Over the past decade, businesses have been feeling the pressure to move toward more sustainable practices. With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many were forced to re-examine their supply chains.

Internal Memo or Important Presentation? Get the Right Paper for Your Job

Internal Memo or Important Presentation? Get the Right Paper for Your Job

All office papers may look the same at a glance, but there is a lot to learn when it comes to which paper is right for your needs. Simply put, different types of documents call for different paper. Since no one sheet fits every project, we’ve compiled a list of paper attributes to consider when looking for the right paper for the job. 

Cost Efficiency Drives Value for Procurement Organizations

Cost Efficiency Drives Value for Procurement Organizations

Cost reduction is at the top of the agenda for any business, according to an article by The Hackett Group titled, “Achieving Procurement Excellence in the Age of Digital Disruption.” The report highlights five key areas of development that procurement organizations need to address to deliver new value and higher efficiency:

How to Evaluate Sustainable Paper Options

How to Evaluate Sustainable Paper Options

Did you know not all sustainable products are created equal? Every month more brands pop up claiming to be more sustainable. Unfortunately, sustainability can be a complex topic that many customers don’t fully understand. When it comes to paper, some think “sustainable” and “recycled” are the same thing, but they’re not.

2022 Supply Chain Outlook and Trends

2022 Supply Chain Outlook and Trends

Last year was difficult for everyone – including the supply chain and logistics industries. The world faced historic supply chain congestion, labor shortages, and high inflation. There is hope 2022 will see infrastructure, prices, and consumer demand begin to stabilize, but there are also a lot of headwinds. Keeping an eye on supply and demand trends can help companies position themselves for success.

Three Types of Paper Every Business Should Stock

Three Types of Paper Every Business Should Stock

Finding the best paper options for your office can be a challenging task. Every office should stock a variety of paper types to ensure the quality of the finished print aligns with your project needs. Here are some paper types to consider when stocking up at work or at home

Five Tips to Master Virtual Leadership

Five Tips to Master Virtual Leadership

Being a good leader in the workplace is challenging, but managing remote workers adds a whole new set of difficulties. COVID-19 accelerated the trend towards remote and hybrid work situations – and it looks like regular collaboration with remote teammates is here to stay.

Speech Writing and Presenting 101

Speech Writing and Presenting 101

If the thought of public speaking makes you sweat in your seat, you’re not alone. In fact, in one study conducted among business school students, three out of four individuals admitted to being afraid of public speaking.

Online Networking Tips in a Virtual World

Online Networking Tips in a Virtual World

Maintaining and building great relationships is important for career development, but the good old days of handshakes, client dinners, and conference meet-and-greets are gone – at least for a while.

Wildfire Season: Forestry Impact

Wildfire Season: Forestry Impact

Exceptionally hot and dry weather is once again fueling dozens of wildfires across North America, sending smoke all the way from the West coast to the East, and nearing yet another record-breaking year.

Tips and Tools to Use Time Wisely at Work

Tips and Tools to Use Time Wisely at Work

For many people, today’s hybrid work environment allows for greater work/life balance – if they’re able to get the work done. Adding efficiency into your workday can mean more time for family, friends, and fun. Here are some tips and tools to be more productive and efficient with work time, so you’ll have more play time in the long run.

Greenwashing: What is it and how to avoid it

Greenwashing: What is it and how to avoid it

When it comes to what we buy, the vast majority of consumers are interested in making better, more sustainable choices for the planet. In fact, a recent survey by LendingTree reports that 55% of respondents said they were willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products, and 41% of millennials reported spending more on eco-friendly products.

Unexpected Tools to Make Office Life Easier

Unexpected Tools to Make Office Life Easier

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut of day-to-day work, using the same tips, tricks, and tools for years. Refresh your office routine by swapping in a few new tools to make your everyday work life easier.

Using Habits Developed During COVID-19 to Stay Healthy at Work

Using Habits Developed During COVID-19 to Stay Healthy at Work

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all learned a tremendous amount about protecting ourselves and staying healthy. As remote workers return to the office, it’s important to continue taking safety measures and creating long-term habits to protect yourself and your coworkers. Here are four tips to help you stay safe.

The Best Multitasking Paper for the Whole Family

The Best Multitasking Paper for the Whole Family

More than ever, the home has become the center of daily life, serving as the office, school, daycare, restaurant, and more. Even as the world gets back to “normal” with in-person activities starting up again, working and learning from home – at least part of the time – will likely be the “new normal” moving forward.

Face-time vs. Phone-time: Which type of meeting should you schedule?

Face-time vs. Phone-time: Which type of meeting should you schedule?

Video conferencing has quickly grown in popularity over the last year with the mass transition to remote work. While video conferencing is a powerful tool to bridge the location gap and connect teams virtually, the rapid increase in popularity has overshadowed audio-only calls as the best option for certain meetings.

The “New” Work Necessities: One Year Later

The “New” Work Necessities: One Year Later

Our shift to remote work, the increased reliance on technology, the change in our daily commute, and the growing need to maintain a solid work-life balance. With this shift came a reliance on a new set of necessary tools for the workday.

The “New” Office Life: One Year Later

The “New” Office Life: One Year Later

When COVID-19 disrupted the world in March 2020, everyone was forced to alter their typical routines. What initially started as a two-week lockdown turned into our “new normal;” and even when the world gets back to business post-COVID, many changes to how we work are expected to last.

Finding Quality Products Starts with You

Finding Quality Products Starts with You

When we think about quality, we often think about how well or poorly something is made. With paper, that’s partially true. The manufacturing process is important in creating a quality sheet, but what’s more important in determining total quality are performance and outcomes – how well-suited a paper is for what you need to accomplish.

A New Administration Sets Its Course

A New Administration Sets Its Course

Last month, a new administration took over in Washington D.C., with the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Many new senators and representatives also assumed new roles within the government.

A Simple Formula to Influence Strategy

A Simple Formula to Influence Strategy

Traditionally, procurement and supply chain management have been viewed as secondary functions compared to others in management. Depending on whether your company is Finance, Operations, Sales or Marketing driven, it seems like key decisions are made by others and procurement is responsible for negotiating the best deals to make it happen.

The Right Tools to Use to Save Big

The Right Tools to Use to Save Big

The COVID-19 pandemic has been brutal to nearly all businesses. With nearly 79% of small businesses reporting a negative effect by last summer*, cutting costs is more important than ever to survive in this tough environment. Here are some user-friendly virtual tools to help you get work done on a budget.

Create an Office Filing System That Works

Create an Office Filing System That Works

Whether working at home or in the office, your filing system can support the management and growth of your business – if implemented the right way. Here are five essential elements to creating an office filing system that works.

How I Make End of the Year Reports and Presentations Pop

How I Make End of the Year Reports and Presentations Pop

During the first quarter of the year, you may find yourself working on projects that call for recapping the work you’ve accomplished over the last year. This usually means creating reports and presentations that share data and information in a meaningful and well-thought out way.

Four Tips to Improve Workflow and Efficiency

Four Tips to Improve Workflow and Efficiency

Do you know what causes paper jams? If not, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey by Boise Paper, more than 50% of office paper buyers believe that equipment malfunctions most often cause paper jams. In fact, low-quality paper is often to blame – a fact known by only 26% of buyers in the survey.

Five Tips to Declutter Your Desk for Success

Five Tips to Declutter Your Desk for Success

No matter where you’re working, it’s important to have a workspace that encourages productivity and allows you to focus on your priorities, free of distraction. Piles of paper, unorganized office supplies, and leftover snacks or lunch can make it hard to be productive.

How to Judge the Quality of Office Paper

How to Judge the Quality of Office Paper

Paper is paper, right? Wrong! Office paper is categorized by a variety of properties that determine the quality of the finished product. From weight to brightness, below are some elements to look for when selecting a high-quality office paper.

Evaluating Wellness Programs

Evaluating Wellness Programs

One of the five most frequently cited ways businesses measure health and safety goals are through health and wellness initiatives and programs (83%), according to a recent white paper from the Institute for Supply Management® completed in partnership with Boise Paper*.

How Groundwood and Uncoated Freesheet (UFS) Paper Stack Up

How Groundwood and Uncoated Freesheet (UFS) Paper Stack Up

We often hear people – particularly those involved in tax supported bids – are confused about the difference between groundwood and uncoated freesheet (UFS) paper. They encounter groundwood products positioned to have comparable performance (and sometimes preferable environmental qualities) to UFS papers, but at a lower cost.

The ASPEN Difference

The ASPEN Difference

There’s a reason Boise® ASPEN® is America’s top-selling recycled paper brand*. Thanks to technological advances and rigorous production standards, Boise Paper’s high-quality ASPEN products are designed to exceed your expectations and provide consistent document production.

Monitor Expenses to Find Ongoing Savings

Monitor Expenses to Find Ongoing Savings

Now more than ever, every dollar counts – especially for small businesses. Most businesses take stock of their expenses at the end of each year and implement a few changes based on their findings.

Made in the USA Defined

Made in the USA Defined

According to Consumer Reports, 80% of American shoppers say they prefer to buy goods made in the United States. But, what does the “Made in the USA” designation really mean?

Ways to Engage the Community

Ways to Engage the Community

With so much going on in our world today, it’s more important than ever that companies focus on how to contribute to their communities to advance company culture and provide a charitable outlet for employees.

Office Must-Haves for Working Remotely

Office Must-Haves for Working Remotely

Working from home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice professional development. Here are activities that you can do remotely to help you stay on top of your game and grow as an employee!

2020 Elections | Security and Safety of Paper Ballots

2020 Elections | Security and Safety of Paper Ballots

As the 2020 presidential election approaches, citizens heading to the polls may face a wide array of options to allow them to cast their votes, ranging from paperless touchscreen digital polling machines to a hand-filled paper ballot.

A Community Coming Together During COVID-19

A Community Coming Together During COVID-19

It’s easy to feel burned out (no pun intended) as headline after headline highlights the negative impact of climate change on weather, people, and economies all over the world. With such a large-scale issue, it can also be hard to feel like anything we do will make a difference.

Working Through It

Working Through It

With so many of us suddenly working from home, the ability to host virtual meetings has become essential. Here are some tips on how to schedule and run an effective virtual meeting with your team.