The UK government's green paper tax went live today, with businesses now forced to pay a 25p tax on every ream (500 sheets) of paper they allow into their office buildings.
The tax is seen as a boon for the promotion of electronic document management systems.
Sensitive to market reactions in the wake of the failed Copenhagen climate change summit, and the continuing difficult business climate, chancellor Alistair Darling was careful not to make too much of the new green paper tax in his recent budget.
However, in the longer term, the government believes the tax will eventually be accepted as a key driver towards successfully promoting the paperless office, contributing to government efforts in bringing down the UK's carbon footprint.
Arthur Crown, office manager of car insurance firm Impact, said, "This tax was a surprise to me when my paper merchant informed me about it, but I suppose it now puts the onus on firms to deploy greener electronic document management, and save money at the same time."