May I ask all those readers who want their Guardian stapled (How the humble stapler came to one reader’s aid, 28 May) to consider the ecological effects of ther preference. The Guardian comes on weekdays in three sections, one part only using two staples. Given a circulation (ABC) of 142,318, the Guardian already thus uses 284,636 staples Monday to Friday. Each one is roughly 3cm long. So for every weekday the Guardian itself uses over 8.5km of steel. I don’t have a set of scales to weigh anything less than a quarter of an ounce, but that’s a hefty reel of steel every day. Bet you it’s Chinese, too, and most will end up as rust.
So, green-thinking Guardian readers: join the campaign to banish the staple and help save the planet. Take responsibilty for your pages, grasp the sides fully and say no to staples. You know it makes sense.
John Loader
Leyburn, North Yorkshire
