Nationwide Building Society is implementing technology to replace printed statements to reduce the environmental impact of its business.

The system, from document technology vendor Macro 4, will offer Nationwide credit card customers the option to receive their account information online.

The building society estimates that if all customers take up the offer, 40 million sheets of paper will be saved in one year.

'Nationwide is committed to reducing the impact the Society has on the environment,' said Jeremy Wood, divisional director at Nationwide.

'We have been using recycled paper on all our marketing literature and monthly statements for over three years so electronic statements are a natural step for us. With the help of our customers opting to view their statements online, we can take another step to improve our environment,' he said.

The Macro 4 technology has previously provided online access to over 200 million documents in Nationwide's branches, call centres and administrative offices. 

By extending this paperless access to  customers, Nationwide hopes to lower customer service costs and expands its capability to save paper from being wasted.