Annual Report 2007: Part one - Working to achieve Government priorities
Sustainability
The government is committed to enhancing the sustainability of the government sector. Inland Revenue was one of the first government agencies to be chosen to move towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2012. We are working with the Ministry for the Environment to develop sustainability principles and practices and plan for carbon neutrality.
Sustainable principles and practices
This year, we made significant progress towards sustainable business practice. We replaced most of our vehicle fleet with more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient cars, set up recycling facilities to reduce our landfill waste, moved to a "just in time" ordering system for paper products, and started a programme of energy audits of our main buildings.
Our audits at sites where we have set up recycling, showed a 35% reduction in landfill waste from 39kg to 25kg per person.
Our commitment to developing sustainability practices was recognised when we won three Govt3 Awards in December 2006 for leadership, transport, and staff engagement.
Planning for carbon neutrality
As one of the six lead agencies for the Carbon Neutral Public Sector Programme we will have our carbon neutral plans in place by early 2008. Where we cannot reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to zero, the Ministry for the Environment will coordinate the offsetting of the six lead carbon neutral agencies centrally, through a mixed portfolio of both native regeneration and exotic afforestation.
Over the coming year we will focus on activities to reduce our carbon footprint. Some are already under way, including:
- a trial of a comprehensive video conference initiative, with plans to implement it early in 2008
- looking at more efficient options for business travel and commuting
- recycling food waste to reduce our waste to landfill and emissions
- improving our management of energy consumption.
Date published: 23 Oct 2007
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