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Materials Used
Publications
The Ministry produced 114 new publications and reprinted 27 publications in 2006/07. This is a 22 per cent decrease in total publications from 2005/06 (164 new publications and 17 reprints). The total paper content of printed publications weighed 11 tonnes, a 57 per cent decrease from 2005/06 (26 tonnes). Per full-time equivalent staff member (FTE), paper content of publications weighed 41kg, a 61 per cent decrease from 2005/06 (104kg per FTE).
Nineteen per cent of the Ministry’s total publications were reprints in 2006/07, up from nine per cent in 2005/06. The Ministry continues to limit the initial print runs of major publications to the minimum required. Thirty-five per cent of new publications were web-based.
An estimated 95 per cent of paper used in Ministry publications was chlorine-free in 2006/07, down from 99 per cent in 2005/06. By weight, 78 per cent of paper used in Ministry publications was recycled, down from 93 per cent in 2005/06.
The result for 2006/07 (78 per cent) shows that the Ministry is increasingly opting to use recycled paper stocks where possible (60 per cent in 2003/04; 65 per cent in 2004/05). The unusually high result for 2005/06 (93 per cent) resulted from unusually large print runs of several key publications which were printed on 100 per cent recycled paper stock. These made up the bulk of the publications weight in the 2005/06 year. Where possible the Ministry continues to use paper that is chlorine-free and contains recycled content.
Office paper3
The Ministry used 10.3 tonnes of A4 copier paper in 2006/07, an 18 per cent increase from 2005/06 (8.7 tonnes of copier paper). Per FTE the Ministry used 15.3 reams of copier paper, an eight per cent increase from 2005/06 (14.2 reams per FTE). This increase is despite Ministry initiatives to provide some staff with 19 inch computer screens to facilitate on-screen reading of large documents.
The increase in office paper results from the development of several very large publications in the Ministry, such as the state of the environment report Environment New Zealand 2007. Publications such as this require copies of chapters to be printed for review by many people to ensure accuracy. The Ministry continues to work to reduce office paper use through paper saving measures such as defaulting computers to printing duplex rather than single-sided.
Over 99 per cent of office paper reams used in 2006/07 contained recycled content, up from 97 per cent in 2005/06. Of these, 79 per cent had 100 per cent recycled content and 20 per cent had 50 per cent recycled content. Over 99 per cent of paper was chlorine free, the same as in 2005/06.
Stationery data3
The Ministry used 868kg of compliment slips, business cards and headed paper in 2006/07, a 169 per cent increase from 2005/06 (323kg of compliment slips, business cards and headed paper). Per FTE the Ministry used 3.2kg of compliment slips, business cards and headed paper, a 147 per cent increase from 2005/06 (1.3kg of compliment slips, business cards and headed paper per FTE). Recycled content was used in 100 per cent of compliment slips, business cards and headed paper in both years.
The increase in stationery use results from increased stakeholder engagement activity by the Ministry in significant work areas such as climate change and the new sustainability work programmes.
Procurement
We have incorporated sustainable procurement clauses into our cleaning contracts and practice sustainable procurement across the Ministry. For example, we only purchase sanitary paper that meets the Environmental Choice New Zealand standard for recycled paper products or is made from pulp (100 per cent recycled). All Ministry cleaning products meet the relevant Environmental Choice New Zealand specifications and where possible, all new appliances are required to have a four Energy Star rating or better. The Ministry has recently agreed to a Govt3 Action Plan which will help further improve procurement practices in the Ministry.
Table 1: Benchmarking our performance: Publications, paper and stationery
|
2006/07 |
2005/06 |
2004/05 |
2003/04 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Weight of publications per FTE (kg) |
41 |
104 |
62 |
56 |
|
Reams of copier paper per FTE (number) |
15.3 |
14.2 |
12.3 |
14.0 |
|
Weight of stationery used per FTE (kg) |
3.2 |
1.3 |
– |
– |
| Key targets and commitments | Progress at 30 June 2007 | |||
| Review reduction targets for office paper use. Continue to encourage reduction in the number of reams of paper used per FTE. | Ongoing: Work under way. | |||
| Continue to produce more of our publications as web or email-only publications. | Ongoing: The percentage of web-only publications flattened off in 2006/07. This may suggest we have reached our maximum proportion of web-only publications. | |||
| Continue to monitor the use of stationery, including envelopes, and take action to reduce this. | Ongoing: Continue to monitor our stationery usage throughout 2007/08, with a view to identifying specific reasons for the increases, and taking action to reduce this. | |||
New target: Continue to monitor the use of chlorine-free and recycled paper in publications throughout 2007/08. Whenever possible, publications will be printed on paper that is at least 60 per cent recycled. |
N/A (new target). | |||
3 Note that the Wellington office data is derived from usage estimates (based on volumes of office paper and stationery ordered), while the Auckland and Christchurch offices record actual usage of office paper and stationery.
