How AP Automation Can Help You Achieve Your Green Goals

Finance teams leverage automation to improve efficiency and enhance security in their Accounts Payable (AP) department. While it’s often not the main topic of discussion, paperless AP also provides even more perks – a positive environmental impact and lasting sustainability.

Sustainability in the Workplace:

Sustainability has become increasingly important in the corporate world as leaders look to become more environmentally conscious and go green in the workplace. In addition to powering social and environmental change, sustainability can impact an organization’s overall success through better brand reputation, recognition, and employee morale1. Adopting sustainable business models can drive value for years to come.

Improving Sustainability in Accounts Payable:

The average American office worker uses around 10,000 sheets of office paper per year2. This figure is most likely higher for many manual AP offices considering the paper-intensive nature of traditional accounting processes. Not only is swimming through stacks of paper to find the right invoice or check frustrating, but it can also have a devastating impact on the world around you. Currently, the pulp and paper industry is the third-largest air, water, and land polluter among all industries in the United States and Canada3. Moreover, the pulp and paper industry releases over 100 million kilograms of toxic pollution every year.

AP teams who still manually process invoices and payments might desire to create social responsibility goals and initiatives. Yet, their reliance on paper prevents them from reaching those goals. End-to-end AP Automation helps you lessen your environmental impact by conserving energy, water, and other natural resources, lowering your carbon footprint, and more.

Creating a Better World with AP Automation:

Paymerang, a leading innovator in AP Automation, is committed to helping others achieve environmental excellence. Here are some ways Paymerang is working to create a better world through automation:

AP Automation is positively impacting the environment by:  

1. Eliminating or Drastically Reducing Paper Demand:

Paper waste accounts for up to 40% of total waste produced annually in the U.S., adding up to 71.6 million tons of paper waste in the nation alone4. Since 2010, Paymerang has helped clients make over 5 million electronic payments, saving 127,143 pounds of paper waste from consumption.

2. Tree Conservation:

Paper production leads to deforestation, which accounts for around 20% of the annual greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change4. Paymerang’s solutions have helped save over 1,600 trees.

3. Reduced Greenhouse Emissions:

Increased greenhouse emissions continue to harm the planet and, if left untouched, could lead to more climate disasters and pollution. In 2022, data showed that global carbon dioxide emissions remain at record-breaking levels5. Paymerang has helped reduce nearly 600,000 pounds of greenhouse emissions for over a decade. This is significant as reducing your carbon footprint can have a positive impact, leading to cleaner air, healthier water supplies, and better overall health6.

4. Water Conservation:

Paper production requires enormous amounts of water, using anywhere between 2 and 13 liters to produce a single A4 sheet of paper depending on the mill used4. Paymerang has helped save over 500,000 gallons of water that manufacturers would have used for paper production before it was dumped into rivers, lakes, or streams.

5. Energy Conservation:

Emissions from vehicles can also contribute to global warming as a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year7. By automating payments and eliminating paper checks, Paymerang has helped save over 10,000 gallons of gas.  

6. Reduced Waste:

Landfills are necessary to reduce waste but can still hurt our environment. One of the biggest concerns of landfills is the release of methane gas as it has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide after it reaches the atmosphere8. Paymerang’s automation tools have saved over 1 million garbage bags filled with waste from paper production, ensuring they didn’t end up in a landfill.

A Greener Future:

Leveraging automation and going paperless saves your organization time and money while improving its environmental impact. Creating and adopting sustainable business models can help you transform operations while gaining value as a green workspace.

To learn more about how Paymerang’s AP Automation can help you make a difference, schedule a demo today.

Sources:

1Harvard Business School Online: Why You Need Sustainability in Your Business Strategy

2Road Runner

3Facts About Paper: How Paper Affects the Environment  

4The World Counts

5Global Carbon Project

6Reduce Energy Use DC

7United States Environmental Protection Agency

8Environmental Defense Fund

Anthony Burket

Anthony Burket

Anthony is a marketing professional passionate about leveraging automation and AI to drive meaningful engagement with the modern B2B buyer. He began his career in social media marketing while attending the Robertson School for Media & Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduation, Anthony joined a Richmond-based agency, honing his skills before starting his Paymerang journey in 2020. He managed the social and digital channels before moving into a leadership role on the marketing team. Now, he serves as Senior Marketing Manager, leading the Marketing team.