Paper use

The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol says it's optional to include emissions from the consumption of materials like paper in your footprint. The thinking is that this could lead to double counting: the producer and the supplier would both count these emissions, so it's overkill for the consumer to do so as well.

We understand that logic, but we use a lot of paper. And we have the ability to reduce the amount we consume. So we've included our emissions from paper consumption in our footprint, and we actively work to reduce the amount of paper we use.

When calculating our emissions from paper, we focus on the paper we use in the office, to communicate with members, and from advertising. (In geek speak, these are 'scope 3' emissions).

What are we doing to reduce paper use?

• 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) paper
  In 2005, we converted to 100 per cent post-consumer waste copy paper, saving 3,000 adult trees. In 2006, we began to print our member statements on 100 per cent PCW as well.
• Double-sided printing
  We set our printers to print on both sides of the page.
• Opt-out of statements
  We offer members the option to not receive statements by mail unless they hold a product, (like a line of credit), where we are legally required to do so
• Online banking
  We continue to upgrade our online banking functionality so that there's less paper to push to process members' banking transactions.

How are we doing?

Since 2007, we've increased the percentage of paper we use that has recycled content from 66% to 89%.