As defined in wikipedia, webform "allows a user to enter data that is, typically, sent to a server for processing and to mimic the usage of paper forms." By it's very definition a web form can help to improve the environment.
How much paper can be made from a tree? Or, how many trees are required to make a certain amount of paper? It's very difficult to answer these questions directly and the best that can be obtained are ballpark estimates. In the 1970s a report by the Conservatree estimated that a ton of newsprint paper saves 17 trees. This is a rough estimate. News paper isn't made of the same tree materials that office paper is made of.
It's difficult to make exact calculations on converting trees to paper as paper is made from a mix of trees. Some are hardwood, others are softwood. Some are young trees while others are old growth. Some are wide trees while others are skinny trees. Some paper is made from sawdust.
Whether or not we can calculate exactly how many trees can be saved by switching from paper forms to web forms isn't an issue. No one can deny that the environmental impact of corporations and government switching from printed forms to online web forms would be significant.
Therefore, all corporations and government should be encouraged to use web forms wherever possible instead of paper forms.
By Kyle Ware
