{"id":6795,"date":"2026-01-12T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paperstone.co.uk\/News\/?p=6795"},"modified":"2026-01-06T11:56:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T11:56:50","slug":"paper-shredding-what-you-need-to-know-and-why-it-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paperstone.co.uk\/News\/articles\/paper-shredding-what-you-need-to-know-and-why-it-matters","title":{"rendered":"Paper shredding: what you need to know and why it matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Let\u2019s face it, with GDPR ever present, hybrid working, and piles of paperwork cluttering up desks – shredding documents isn\u2019t just about keeping things tidy. It\u2019s about protecting privacy. However, not all shredders are created equal, and knowing which type of shredder is right for you can be pretty confusing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why knowing the difference between a strip-cut, cross-cut, and micro-cut shredder is key. Smart habits for secure shredding are just as important as the machine you use.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Someone<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the difference? Strip-cut vs cross-cut vs micro-cut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Leitz<\/a>, shredders differ mostly by how they cut paper – which affects how easy (or impossible!) it is to rebuild shredded documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strip-cut shredding<\/strong>: The most basic, and probably most common option \u2013 paper is sliced into long vertical strips (imagine spaghetti). It\u2019s usually the cheapest and often the fastest to shred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cross-cut shredding<\/strong>: the paper is cut diagonally by two sets of blades, slicing each sheet into hundreds of little rectangular pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micro-cut shredding<\/strong>: This is the best kind of shredding, and most secure. Micro-cut shredders cut the paper into tiny confetti sized pieces (if you have a see-through bin, it\u2019s like watching a snow globe each time you shred!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shredder Type<\/strong><\/td>Pros<\/strong><\/td>Cons<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
Strip-cut<\/td>Quick to shred.
Cheaper option.
Convenient for occasional use.<\/td>		Very low security (P-1 \/ P-2 level).
Strips could be put back together.
Not suitable for sensitive data.<\/td><\/tr>
Cross-cut<\/td>More secure than strip-cut.
Meets minimum GDPR compliance for most businesses (P-4 level).
More difficult to put documents back together.
Smaller pieces mean bin hold more.<\/td>		Not the best option for very confidential documents like financial or legal files.<\/td><\/tr>
Micro-cut<\/td>Highest level of security (P-5 \/ P-6 level).
Extremely difficult to put documents back together.
Tiny, almost unreadable pieces.
Great for highly sensitive data.
Bins fill more slowly due to compact waste.<\/td>		Shredding takes longer.
The machine works harder due to finer cut.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tips for even more secure shredding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Secure shredding isn\u2019t just about having a fancy micro-cut shredder – it\u2019s also about how you use it, and how often. Here are some tips to keep you even more secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Danny<\/figure>
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