Northern Co-operative Meat Co Ltd

Posted: 18.02.09  |  Created by: Do Something

At a glance

• the Northern Co-operative Meat Co Ltd (NCMC) is recognised in Australia and globally as an industry leader in red meat processing
• while the high use of paper has an obvious carbon footprint implication, the financial costs for the business are significant and impact at several different points
• Redmap is part of that strategy providing us with the tools to achieve our waste reduction and document access goals
• the next Redmap implementation was for our personnel record keeping. The success in this area led several managers to ask for Redmap technology to be installed in their department
• this “sure, but steady” approach, proved successful and we are now well on track to start reducing our paper, toner and printing supplies.

Company Profile

The Northern Co-operative Meat Co Ltd (NCMC) is recognised in Australia and globally as an industry leader in red meat processing. Now in our 75th year of trading, we are proud to be an integral part of the New South Wales Northern Rivers community.

As a Co-operative we recognise and embrace our responsibility not only to our members and our employees, but also to the community at large. We are committed to playing an active role in the wellbeing of our community.

The challenge

The NCMC recognises the business and community value in achieving responsible environmental goals in such areas as:

• carbon reduction via the greenhouse challenge
• water use management
• waste reduction, especially high quality bleached printing paper.

With over 1500 members, 1000 employees and high transaction rates in our business, the use of paper has dramatically increased in recent times.

While the high use of paper has an obvious carbon footprint implication, the financial costs for the business are significant and impact at several different points including:

• purchasing of paper, printing equipment and printing consumables
• document storage and retrieval
• employee time used to copy, file and process the increased paper.

‘Paper-Less’ strategy

Our investment in Redmap provides us with the tools to achieve our waste reduction and document access goals. Every employee had to recognise the importance of reducing the use of paper and play their part by using the tools effectively.

Paper-Less’ solution

We have been implementing Redmap progressively since 2007. Initially we ran a pilot project to archive our executive correspondence. We used this experience to profile the product to the company and obtain buy-in from a cross section of the management group.

The next Redmap implementation was for our personnel record keeping. The success in this area led to several managers asking that their department be next to have Redmap technology installed.

‘Paper-Less’ results

This “sure, but steady” approach, has proved successful and we are now well on track to start reducing our paper, toner and printing supplies.

The greatest challenge is to change the thinking of every co-operative member and employee because it is the decisions made continually by every person that will determine the final outcome of this project.

The value of this project lies in formally:

• recognising the problem
• quantifying the problem
• stimulating discussion
• generating ideas and enthusiasm to reduce paper usage
• setting reduction targets that can be monitored
• ensuring regular communication continues throughout the process.

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