4 Trends in Document Shredding & Destruction

Document shredding and destruction is a constant requirement for businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes, but there are a number of shredding trends currently influencing the industry. These trends might have an impact on your own shredding requirements, as well as how those secure destruction goals are met.

Some of the most important paper shredding trends at the moment include increasing automation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), security requirements, and new developments in compliance and certification. Concerns about sustainability are also impacting many different sectors, including document destruction.

Experienced document shredding providers such as Shredall can keep abreast of these new developments in the industry, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date, effective and compliant destruction services.

1. Automation and AI

One of the most important emerging trends in secure shredding is the increased usage and ever-improving effectiveness of automation and AI. These technologies are having a major impact on document shredding, just as they are in many other areas.

One example is the way that sophisticated machines such as cross-cut shredders can now be automated to carry out shredding tasks, increasing efficiency and reducing the potential for human error. Automated robotic systems are able to sort and shred huge volumes of documents with minimal human oversight to ensure that the process runs smoothly. Increased automation also means that sensitive documents are exposed to fewer people.

The emergence of AI-powered shredders, meanwhile, enables documents to be assessed and analysed to optimise the shredding process. Again, this can reduce the potential for human error and data breaches. For businesses that employ shredding services, AI can be used to identify documents that have reached the end of their life cycle, automatically allocating them for secure destruction. For the shredders themselves, AI can also be used with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to form complex predictive maintenance, material recognition and adaptive control systems. Material recognition using computer vision is particularly important for non-paper destruction processes, such as sorting recyclable and non-recyclable components from electronic waste (e-waste).

2. Compliance and certification

Compliance and certification is hugely important within the shredding industry. There are strict rules regarding the way that sensitive information must be stored, handled and ultimately disposed of, and shredding services play a vital part in this process. Compliance and certification helps appropriate data destruction, protecting organisations that use shredding services from legal repercussions and reputational damage. Shredding is also a complex industrial process using advanced machinery and systems to deal with bulk quantities of documents and other materials. Safety and environmental standards must also be met.

The regulations related to the handling and destruction of documents can change over time and the industry has to keep abreast of this changing landscape. EU GDPR and UK GDPR, for example, represented a sea change in the way that data and documents are handled at all stages of their lifecycle. Shredding services not only have to comply with new rules and regulations to ensure data privacy, but must also obtain the relevant industry-specific certifications to meet these requirements and demonstrate their commitment to data privacy and security laws.

3. Improved security

Security is paramount in shredding as the destruction process commonly deals with sensitive or protected documents. High security shredding services not only help prevent data breaches, but also allow you to comply with GDPR and other regulatory requirements related to the handling and disposal of data. Security incorporates a number of different elements, from the collection and handling of documents to who has access to it and the vetting of employees. The vehicles and facilities used have to meet certain security standards and the shredding process itself has to destroy documents properly. Machinery such as cross-cut shredders and micro-shredders can shred documents into tiny, unreadable pieces, thereby offering a higher level of security.

Some companies prefer to employ onsite or mobile shredding services, which involves a dedicated, GPS-tracked shredding van travelling to your premises or appropriate business location to carry out the destruction onsite. This means that the documents never leave your custody and the destruction can be witnessed first-hand.

4. Sustainability

Sustainability has become an increasingly important consideration in many different industries, including shredding and secure destruction. There may be regulatory requirements, and sustainability can be high on the list of priorities for consumers, investors and other stakeholders. And, of course, it’s also important for the planet!

Paper shredding services have increasingly adopted eco-friendly processes such as recycling services, and some are also offering services such as digitising documents to reduce the impact on the environment. Shredall SDS Group’s document scanning services, for example, convert bulky paper documents into a convenient, space-saving electronic archive. Document management software then lets you retrieve files in seconds, and this can be the perfect solution for data that needs to be securely stored rather than completely destroyed.

Outsource your shredding with Shredall SDS Group

Every organisation has a requirement to handle and dispose of documents in a secure way that safeguards its data and meets regulatory obligations. Professional shredding services can help any business achieve these goals, but it’s worth remembering that the secure destruction landscape can change, just like any other industry.

Emerging technologies are changing the way that documents are tracked, handled and allocated throughout entire organisations. AI and automation are also affecting the processes used by shredding companies, allowing for systems that are more secure and efficient. All parties must also make sure that they keep up with changing regulations, which can be specific to different industries. Other considerations such as sustainability can also have a bearing on how documents are destroyed and what happens to them afterwards.

Shredall SDS Group has decades of experience but remains at the forefront of trends in document shredding. We use technology to improve the efficiency of our destruction process, and we are fully compliant and certified. Security is our priority and we also believe in sustainable practices. We're proud that 100% of the paper we shred is recycled, which is important as we can process 320 tonnes of waste paper in a day.

Get in touch today and find out what our document shredding services can do for you.