4. You have noticed a practice in your office that you consider unethical: your colleagues do a lot of unnecessary printing, wasting both paper and ink cartridges. For example, the agendas for upcoming meetings are printed for all potential participants instead of distributed in text or e-mail messages.

The résumés and cover letters of job candidates, though submitted online, are printed—in triplicate—for the hiring committee in their preparation for interviews. Paper copies of policy memos and financial reports are circulated for editing and revision, and final versions are again published in paper copies. You realize that all this extra printing costs money that could be better applied to upgraded office equipment or higher salaries, but it is also ecologically unfriendly. Yes, all the paper and plastic cartridges are recycled, but you know that the first word in the refrain of “reduce, reuse, recycle”

has the highest priority in sustainability efforts. Compose a brief e-mail message to your office manager in which you identify this ethical issue and propose a satisfactory solution.