5 Environmental Report (continued)

Materials Used

Publications

The Ministry produced 181 different reports, brochures, booklets, cards, etc. in 2005–2006. This is a six percent reduction in the overall number of publications from the previous year (193 in 2004–2005). The paper content of printed publications was 26 tonnes (or 101 kg per full-time equivalent staff member). This is an 80 percent increase in weight from 2004–2005 (14 tonnes for 193 items).

The increase in the weight of publications reflects the large print runs of a number of key publications aimed at a national audience. The Ministry continues to limit the initial print runs of major publications to the minimum required (of the 181 publications, 17 were reprints). In addition, the number of web-based or email-only publications continues to increase and numbered 67 this year (compared to 53 in 2004–2005, a 26 percent increase).

An estimated 99 percent of publications by weight were chlorine-free (98 percent in 2004–2005). Ninety-three percent of paper content by weight was recycled content, a 43 percent increase from 2004–2005 (65 percent). Of the publications with no recycled content, only one used paper that did not come from sustainably managed forests.

Office paper

During the 2005–2006 period, the Ministry increased the total use of A4 copier and headed paper by 23 percent to 8.7 tonnes (7.06 tonnes in 2004–2005). This reflects an 11.2 percent increase to 14 reams per FTE (12 reams per FTE in 2004–2005). The Ministry continues to work to reduce the amount of office paper used through paper saving measures such as setting the default for computers to print duplex rather than single-sided.

During the 2005–2006 year, 97 percent of office paper reams used contained recycled content. Of these, 78 percent had 100 percent recycled content (compared to 97 percent in 2004–2005) and 19 percent had 50 percent recycled content. One hundred percent of paper was chlorine free (97 percent in 2004–2005).

Stationery data

The Ministry has a policy of using 100 percent recycled and chlorine-free stationery. In 2005–2006, 305 kg of compliment slips, business cards, headed paper and stickers were used. This weight does not include envelopes. Stationery use was not calculated in previous years so there are no comparable figures.

Procurement

The Ministry has incorporated sustainable procurement policies into its cleaning contracts and purchasing.

Table 1: Benchmarking our performance: Publications, paper and stationery

	2005/06	2004/05	2003/04	2002/03
Weight of publications per staff member (kg)	101 kg	62 kg	53 kg	41 kg
Reams of copier paper per staff member (number)	14	12.3	13.1	18.8
Weight of stationery used per staff member (kg)	1.2	-	-	-

Key targets and commitments	Progress at 30 June 2006
Review target for reams of paper used per staff person for the next few years.	Revised commitment: Review reduction targets for office paper use. Continue to encourage reduction in the number of reams of paper used per staff member.
Continue to produce more of our publications as web or email only publications.	Achieved: A 26 percent increase in the number of web-based or email only publications has been achieved since 2004–2005.
New target: Continue to monitor the use of stationery, including envelopes.	-

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Report of the Ministry for the Environment for the year ended 30 June 2006