Purchasing and Consumption survey
Introduction
Much of the impact on the environment, can be avoided by consuming less
resources.
Based on our current resource and energy use, Australians are currently among the
highest consumers in the world.
By asking the following questions before making a purchase can start to reduce our
impact on the planet and its environment:

What have we already got?

Do we need it?

Can we fix it or is it durable?

Is it the most sustainable option and is it manufactured in an environmental
friendly way?

Does it have recycled content and is it able to be recycled?
A purchasing and consumption review looks at how items, both consumables and
durables, are used and managed within schools.
The review identifies a range of issues such as purchasing choices, use of existing
resources and what comes into the school waste/recycling infrastructure.
In the school environment, reducing the consumption of materials can lead to
valuable budget savings both in purchasing and waste removal. Our choices can
lead towards better environmental outcomes.
With more thoughtful use of resources, we can avoid the over consumption of our
natural resources.
Explaining concepts
Waste Hierarchy
Before undertaking the surveys, it is important to take some time to establish the
concepts of consumption and why purchasing is an important consideration.
The following waste hierarchy diagram shows the waste management concepts of
avoidance, reuse, recycling and disposal. At the top of the pyramid, avoiding using
resources occupies the largest part of the hierarchy.
The diagram demonstrates that avoidance is not only what we should consider first
in our practices, but also what we should be doing the most. The hierarchy then
moves down through reuse (the next largest), recycling and down to the point of the
pyramid which is disposal, showing that this is what we should be doing the least of
and where the smallest amount of our resources should end up.
Life Cycle of a Product
Investigating the life of a product enables students to gain an understanding of the
energy, raw materials and time embedded in the item , whether it is an apple, a
piece of plastic or a sheet of paper. Use the life cycle of a product student
worksheet to investigate different products in the school, and to assist in developing
action plans to avoid and reduce.
Surveys
The main areas covered in the Purchasing and Consumption review are:
1. Purchasing paper
Review the school's paper purchases.
2. Paper Use and Recycling Practices
How paper is managed in classrooms, learning areas, staffrooms and offices.
See the survey sheet in this section.
3. Food Packaging
How many items of food packaging arrive in the school each day ?
4. Storeroom Survey
What resources currently exist in the school that can be fixed or utilised?
Paper Reuse and Recycling Practices
The paper reuse and recycling survey can be the first place where schools can make
simple and significant environmental improvements.
This review involves counting the number of reuse and recycle boxes in each room
at your school.
Reuse boxes may have various names and can potentially collect different material.
While mainly used for paper, reuse boxes can be used to collect:

paper used on one side to be used as scribblers, drafting or note taking

scrap paper, magazines, newspaper or cardboard for use in craft or art lessons

other materials such as jars, lids, cartons, bottles for use in art, craft, science
etc.
If recycling is being undertaken in a school, it is quite important to survey the
recycling boxes in school areas. A waste survey could also be conducted to check if
paper is appearing in the waste stream. Boxes should be clearly labelled and have
visible instructions for proper use.
Paper Reuse and Recycling Survey
Room
Is there a Is there a
Number
recycling
reuse
& Building box? Size? box?
Are they labelled?
recycle
reuse
Are there instructions?
recycle
reuse
Suggested
improvements
This survey may involve students entering rooms that are in use. Advance
notification for teachers is suggested or alternatively teachers (not wishing to be
interrupted) may choose to place a sign on the door listing contents or information
required by the survey.
Storeroom Survey
A large variety of items are often found in storerooms - many of which are often
broken or not currently being used.
The purpose of this survey is to communicate to the staff what resources are
available at the school. It also helps to identify different ways to use the items in
storage.
In the survey, it is useful to consider whether any of these items can be fixed and
utilised instead of buying new items. For example, items:
to charity or a
reuse centre.
A storeroom audit involves:
To undertake this task, it is useful to know the location of storage in classrooms and
learning areas. A location map would be helpful but may not be available. Where
access to the rooms involves the use of keys, a teacher, general Assistant or adult
with permission to access these rooms is required.
Packaging Survey for the school community
Survey Date:___________
Reusable
food
container?
Yes
No
Reusable
drink
container?
Yes
No
Canteen?
Yes
Throw
away
items
No Number
What items were brought to school or purchased?
Chip
Lolly
Glad
Poppers
Packets
wrappers wrap
OtherAluminium PET
Muesli
Cans
bottles
Bars etc
Paper Purchasing Survey
Name_______________ School_______________ Date__________
Purpose: To investigate the type of paper purchased for the school. Research: To establish the origin of the
paper and how much is used. It may be easier to hand this to the schools administration before the survey or
hand it to the person directly responsible for the schools paper purchasing. If there are other types of paper not
on the list below please add them on.
Is the product
How much is used How much environmentally
Type of Paper Product each Year? (in
does it cost friendly?
reams or sheets). per year? (recycled content,
unbleached).
White A4
Coloured A4
A3
Other
Pads
Exercise Books
Toilet Paper
Paper Towel
Art Paper
Craft Paper
In which
Who makes
country is it
the product?
made?