By now, you've seen it on e-mails passed on from clients and vendors and maybe even have it in your own signature line. The message reads: "Save trees. Print only when necessary." This environmental trend began in March when the environmental website TreeHugger.com encouraged readers to add the plea to their e-mail signatures. Ever since, the statement has been integrated into e-mails in corporate America--even at media giant News Corp.

But not everyone agrees the "think before you print" message will make any difference. "I don't think clients need to be addressed in that manner during their workday," said Rob Guglielmetti, a lighting designer, blogger and environmentalist. "They don't need to hear a personal message about the environment. It has more of a place in a personal e-mail than a business e-mail." Michael Graham Richard of TreeHugger.com says the note isn't meant to offend anyone. "The intent is not to be preachy--just to offer a tip on how to save paper," he said.