Environmental performance

We are committed to improving our environmental performance in accordance with government policy. We manage environmental impacts through a number of policies and administrative controls.

Office energy use

We lease all office buildings, so do not have control over the energy efficiency of fixtures and fittings. However, wherever possible, we reduce energy consumption through the use of:

• automated essential lighting and heating/cooling outside of hours
• information communications technology equipment power management features.

Travel and transport

We encourage staff to use videoconferencing and teleconferencing technologies as effective alternatives to air travel and the use of fleet vehicles and hire cars. Staff must demonstrate a genuine business need to travel and seek delegate approval before making a booking.

As at 30 June 2016, we leased 192 vehicles via sgfleet under the Department of Finance fleet service contract. Fleet vehicles are provided where there is a job-specific need, including property managers and development managers, or as a pool car for an office. The number and type of fleet vehicles is reviewed periodically to ensure genuine business need.

Resource efficiency and waste

We adopt a number of practices to assist in minimising the disposal of waste to landfill.

Each of our offices use recycling systems, including general paper, secure paper, cardboard, plastics, toner cartridges, mobile phones and other equipment. In 2015–16 we also donated excess office furniture and equipment to community groups following refurbishment of our head office.

In the office, staff use dual monitors to reduce paper consumption. Where printing is needed, the default setting is two-sided printing in grayscale. Selected staff and our Board are also provided mobile technology devices, such as tablets and smart phones, to enable work to be completed in the field and reduce the number of printed documents, particularly for meetings.

As noted in Section 2 of this report and the information technology systems and digital communication subsection in Section 3 of this report, in 2015–16 we continued to increase the number of transactions that clients, customers, contractors, prospective purchasers and staff can complete online and enhanced our communications activities to reduce reliance on printed documentation and traditional media.

Property portfolio

We are committed to designing and constructing environmentally sustainable properties and communities.

Purpose 2 in Section 2 of this report provides more information about how we create a sustainable property portfolio.

How we make socially responsible decisions

Social responsibility is increasingly at the centre of our business operations in accordance with ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility 2010.

We strive to be innovative and ethical in decision-making by balancing social and environmental considerations with the interests of our stakeholders, and being accountable for all impacts that our decisions and activities have on society and the environment.

We are focusing attention on activities in the following categories:

• Better business
  
  Optimising our business operations to meet ongoing social and responsibility objectives.
  
  Providing opportunities for us to grow as individuals and as a business by becoming involved in local communities.
  
  
• Smart housing
  
  Implementing key design changes that reduce negative environmental impacts and foster good community growth.
  
  
• Lean logistics
  
  Seeking innovative solutions to address the regular relocation of ADF members and families, as well as the building and maintenance of our housing across Australia.
  
  
• Enhanced communities
  
  Focusing on good urban design and empowered members for healthy, happy and resilient communities.
  
  
• Supported members
  
  Promoting initiatives that support ADF members and their families beyond the provision of housing, and that recognise the contribution of the ADF to Australian society.

Our corporate social responsibility statement is available on our website.

Jeff Caddies Park at our Bluewattle development in Townsville, QLD.