In Aotearoa New Zealand, we send an estimated 12.59 million tonnes of waste to landfill every year[1]. That’s the same weight as 68,610 Boeing 747 planes.
This is an astounding figure, but thankfully local businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of protecting our beautiful country, with many taking steps to reducing waste and making necessary carbon reductions.
It may be surprising to most that traditional copy paper wrappers are coated in plastic, which means they cannot be recycled with the rest of your paper recycling. One of our goals in the OfficeMax 2020 to 2025 Sustainability Strategy is to drive a low carbon, circular economy, which is why we introduced a Plastic Free Copy Paper Wrap as one of many small changes to help create a climate resilient and waste free future.
We were the first to introduce this Plastic Free Copy Paper Wrap in 2020, and we are proud to say we are still the only business who offers this plastic free alternative in New Zealand.
Since the launch of the Plastic Free Copy Paper Wrap, Kiwis who have ordered this copy paper from us have prevented 35,962 kilograms of plastic going into landfill – almost 36 tonnes in just three years[2].
Incredible, isn’t it. That such a small change can make such a big impact? Understanding the impact of purchasing decisions can be the first step towards change; and reducing our environmental footprint can be as simple as changing the office copy paper you print on.
Bigger picture, Aotearoa New Zealand is phasing out problem plastics in our country, with more single-use plastic products being banned or phased out from 1 July 2023, including produce bags, straws, cutlery and more.
Check out our range of plastic free copy paper here.