The Green Team: keeping a focus on sustainability

The Boffa Miskell Green Team was established as part of the company’s commitment to grow awareness around sustainability.

After achieving Toitū carbonreduce certification last year (previously named CEMARS®), individual offices continue to undertake staff-driven initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment and support the company culture around sustainable practices.

“An enthusiastic group of people from across all seven offices meet regularly to recommend strategies to reduce our carbon emissions and environmental impact, and educate staff on ways to do the same at work and at home,” says Stacey Day, business services manager for the Christchurch office.

Stacey helped coordinate the company’s progress toward attaining Toitū carbonreduce certification, and now leads the Green Team.

The group has progressed various initiatives including encouraging the use of public transport and/or carbon-neutral vehicle services. The Wellington office uses a local carbon-neutral taxi service, when needed. Additionally, staff have used Yoogo EVs in Christchurch, Mevo in Wellington and Loop in Hamilton rather than taxis or fleet vehicles. These changes have led to a reduction in petrol/diesel emissions and a cost-saving, too.

Relatively simple changes in day-to-day administrative processes have had a big impact. The IT team encourages double-sided printing where possible and ensured all office printers default to this setting — and there’s been a great reduction in paper used. Over the past few months, a paperless process for leave approvals, work projection and invoicing has been implemented. These changes also reduce paper and ink consumption.

“Continuing education on what does and doesn’t go into the various recycling and compost bins, and small change-big impact ideas are all part of what the Green Team does,” says Stacey. “It’s part of our staff orientation in all offices.”

“We’re continuing to work through suggestions made via ‘BoffaBuzz’ — our internal system for sourcing and implementing innovative ideas from our staff.”

The Green Team has also instigated:

• A switch to cardboard courier packs in South Island offices.
• Bicycle delivery of Wellington office coffee beans.
• A weekly compost collection in the Auckland office leading to a significant reduction in waste going to landfill.
• A Boffa Bingo competition in Christchurch office, which included some practical challenges around sustainability.

“Also upcoming — and though it’s not a Green Team initiative, we are obviously keen to see it happen — one of our fleet vehicles in Christchurch will be replaced with an electric vehicle and we also have a hybrid coming to Wellington,” says Stacey.

As more fleet vehicles come up for renewal, EVs and hybrids will be considered as a preferred option, whenever practical.