How many times have you received that message? Worse, are you being charged for a paper statement? Does this bother you as much as it does me? How many people believe the company sending them this message is really interested in saving a tree? Is an email statement really better for the environment?

I ask a lot of questions. So did a recent survey of 3,000 Americans done by InfoTrends. Interestingly, it was an online survey, so the participants were internet-savvy. What were some of the major findings of this survey?

• 31 million households have no internet access. The disadvantaged and elderly are disproportionally represented in this group.
• 89 percent of respondents believe a shift away from paper will hurt the disadvantaged and elderly.
• 69 percent believe companies should not be able to force people from paper.
• 84 percent believe switching to an e-statement is not better for the environment.
• 79 percent believe discarded electronic equipment is more harmful to the environment than paper.

What do young people (under age 25) think?

• 62 percent prefer paper format for bills and statements.
• 63 percent are concerned they will be charged for paper statements.
• 60 percent believe government should intervene to prevent charging or forcing consumers to receive e-statements.
• 81 percent believe the government should take action to protect the elderly and disadvantaged from being forced away from paper.

These are overwhelming results in favor of paper, and they apply across all age groups. Americans know that all these greenwashing claims are false and self-serving, and they don’t like them. Going paperless should be an option and not a dictate, especially from a government agency. When will companies and government agencies figure this out?