News Archive

The first hint that something exciting was happening in Facilities Management was when they cancelled deliveries of UWAnews .

The whole section, with 185 FTE staff, are now ‘paper-minimalist' and all staff are now going to read UWAnews online, as one of many paper-reducing options.

"We say we are paper-minimalist," said FM Director Clint Walker. "Paperless is an aspiration which could be difficult to achieve.  But we can certainly make a big difference with our actions."

All senior managers and associate directors have been supplied with iPads. "They are the people who spend a lot of time in meetings," Mr Walker said. "They will now have all their minutes and agendas delivered electronically.'

Linking their iPads to a data projector has further enabled paper-free meetings.

"I've been to meetings where reports of 50 or 60 pages have been printed by each person and they have hardly looked at them," he said. "Then they have ended up in the recycling bin.

"Recycling is great, but avoidance is better!"

The initiative of Sustainable Development Projects, a section within FM, also extends to information and documents for other FM staff members. "Where possible, they will be circulated via email attachments," Mr Walker said.

"We have also adopted a totally digital system for all our drawings. Plans and specifications will all be reviewed online. A lot of our tendering and procurement is also being done online now, which also saves a lot of paper."

Mr Walker said that with many FM employees working out in the field, including grounds, maintenance, construction, cleaning and security staff and tradespeople, meant his section already probably used less paper than some other areas in the University.

Helen Whitbread, Associate Director, Sustainable Development Projects, said FM was not the only section of the University making an effort to reduce paper use.

"Adoption of technology is racing through the university sector, and we are just one of many departments which are part of that change. iPads, especially with separate easy-to-use keyboards, are creating a revolution," she said. "I understand that they are even on primary school book lists."

Last year, FM ordered 598 reams of paper.  So far this year, they have ordered just 100, so it look as as though their campaign is working.

FM plans to keep paper purchase and use figures over the next 12 months to support their move to an (almost) paper-free office.