Paper
use - Auckland
Regional Council
Summary
Council is currently undertaking a trial of 100% recycled paper in order to determine its compatibility with existing hardware.
Key drivers
The recently released Walk the Talk strategy has encouraged a review of council practices.
Project detail
The majority of Auckland Regional Council's printing and photocopying needs were served using a paper containing 60% recycled pulp and 40% sustainable forest pulp. Since February 2004, 100% recycled paper (100% chlorine free bleached paper containing 100% recycled pulp) has been used for all internal photocopying needs.
Auckland Regional Council's internal copy centre undertook a three-month trial to evaluate a range of recycled and non-recycled paper types.
Evaluation criteria included:
- Cost
- Paper quality
- Fibre sources and composition
- Whiteness
- Whitening agent
- Moisture content
- Opacity
- Compatibility with all hardware
Key challenges
Suppliers have been highly supportive and cooperative during the project, however, they are reluctant to supply paper in small quantities and require long lead times (3 months) prior to delivery, a minimum 3 month supply period, and a 3 month notice period to cancel supply.
The 100% recycled paper is also more expensive than the previous paper and it remains difficult to justify this expense as it is difficult to assess the life cycle impacts of paper types and provide environmental improvement data.
Operational difficulties (specifically paper jamming) have also been reported with the use of the paper.
Outcomes of Project
The trial began in February 2004 and has now been ongoing for the last 5 months.
Following the initial 3-month trial period, staff feedback and comments were invited. Of the 200 or so replies (45% response rate), approximately 86% of staff supported the use of 100% recycled paper in principle, although a higher incidence of photocopier jamming was reported and there is a common belief that the paper is less than 80gsm weight.
While the project is ongoing Auckland Regional Council is investigating methods to evaluate the total cost-benefit of various paper types, including compliance with the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust's draft specification 'Office Papers/Printer Papers' EC-26-04. Council believes that this will improve confidence that the additional expenditure is justified.
