5 paper shredding facts that you need to know

The majority of companies shred their confidential documents as part of their security policy, but do you really know what the process involves, or where it has come from? Here are 5 paper shredding facts that you need to know:

#1 Shredders emerged in the 1900s

The first ever shredder was invented in 1909, by Abbot Augustus Low. He patented the idea, however the device was not refined enough to ever be mass-produced. After this, the paper shredder idea was taken and modified by Adolf Ehinger in 2935.

This is where all modern paper shredders originate from. At the time, the shredder was intended to be used for destroying anti-Nazi propaganda in case it was discovered by the secret police, and it worked in a similar way to the modern hand-cranked pasta cutter.

#2 Paper shredding popularity grew in the 1980s

To continue with the history of the paper shredder, it didn’t become a household item until the late 1980’s. Prior to this time, they were only found being used in the industrial, commercial and government sectors. After this time, more families began to use paper shredders at home to protect their own confidential information.

#3 There are different types of shredders

Initially, the design of paper shredders was to cut the paper into long, thin strips, but this was soon replaced with more complex cutting since pieces could still be pieced together and information recovered following the shredding process. Now, there are a variety of shredders on offer, including grinders, which use multiple blades to grind the paper into small enough pieces to pass through the mesh located inside.

Other popular designs include cross cutters, which operate using two perpendicular blades, as well as particle cutters, which reduce paper to tiny circular or square pieces, often 3-9mm in size, making it almost impossible to piece back together and therefore protecting information more effectively.

#4 Paper shredding protects your business against legal issues

Paper shredding improves data security and compliance, and has a huge part to play in your company avoiding any legal issues that could occur as a result of failed customer or in-house data protection.

This is particularly helpful to businesses such as accountants, financial organisations or public services providers, as they are more likely to process a larger amount of secure data on a regular basis. It is UK law to protect customer information, as well as the reputation damage and financial consequences of a data breach.

#5 Paper shredding encourages sustainability

As well as security, paper shredding also has a positive environmental impact. It encourages sustainability by making recycling easier – in fact, it’s often part of an outsourced shredding service already. Here at Shred-on-Site, we shred all of our customers’ waste to enable them to rest assured that we are helping them to be as green as possible.

To find out more about shredding services for your company, give Shred-on-Site a call today on 0800 181 4106 for a free quote.

Author: Mark Coombes, Follow me on Google+

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