An Epistle from Taiwan - Breathing Space Blog

When I was in third grade, my teacher showed the class a letter she had received from the island of Formosa (now known as Taiwan). The letter was hand-written on the back of cardboard stock that had been used for packaging products.

Everyone in class was amazed that the writer did not simply use a piece of fresh paper. My teacher explained that paper was scarce in Formosa and that people used the clear, backsides of any piece of paper they encountered. I had been unaware of the concept of recycling until then.

From that time until today, if everyone, everywhere had employed the backsides of paper and cardboard stock, collectively, humanity would have saved multi-trillions of sheets of paper.