New Zealand Celsias

Alan Good knows his paper. Having spent most of his working life in the paper and printing industries, he is now a principal of the Stone Paper Company which secured the agency for ROCKSTOCK – a paper made using ground up stone and resin. And with less than 20 percent of the world's original forest cover remaining intact, alternatives are crucial. Good shares his paper pearls of wisdom and tells us why you have to be persistent in the sustainability game. 

Tell us a little more about yourself...

I have been associated with the paper and printing industries in New Zealand for most of my working life following. I completed a five year apprenticeship and won a NZ Printing Federation Scholarship to study at the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts — including a study of paper making in Tasmania and Victoria. Since then I’ve held a variety of positions ranging from Litho Offset Machinist, Printing Sales, Sales Manager to a Director of a Print Broking Business.

In 2009 I experienced an epiphany when I came across a unique new paper product which delivered on a whole suite of environmental values, which I knew many of my paper customers were looking for. It’s a paper that is not made from trees — that’s a massive ecological benefit for a start. It’s made from ground up stone and resin; it uses a fraction of the energy compared with wood fibre paper; it doesn’t consume or pollute freshwater; its waterproof, tear proof and prints beautifully.

With my business partner Rob Fenwick, who’s no slouch when it comes to environmental matters, we secured the New Zealand agency and branded the product ROCKSTOCK for the New Zealand market. We appointed Spicers as our distributors and have been preparing for a market launch.

What's the best part about practicing sustainability at work?

There are an increasing number of commercial customers demanding sustainability values in their supply chain. Rockstock is filling this gap in the paper sector for many end users.

And the worst?

Walking with a hip that needs replacing instead of using the car.

What's the strongest motivation to invest in sustainability in your workplace?

Cost savings. In the longer term I predict Rockstock and stone paper generally will be the lowest cost producer because it uses less energy and no water. In the meantime customers are using it because of its sustainability values and high quality.

Dear John Key, can you please...

Reinstate the plan to ensure Government, its agencies and departments, show leadership in the sustainability cause. G3 was a great idea to ensure sustainability values are part of the Government’s purchasing chain. Lets reinstate it!

In the next 12 months 120 Billion tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) will be released due to deforestation globally. 

Of the trees harvested globally for industrial uses, Nearly half goes to pulp and paper production. U.S. Paper producers alone consume 1 Billion trees – or 12,430 Sq. Miles of Forests EVERY YEAR, while producing 735 pounds of paper for every American. 

Less than 20 percent of the world's original forest cover remains intact, and much of what does remain is already threatened by commercial logging.*
 
* Statistics from The Paper Chase by Jim Motavalli, Editor of E - The Environmental Magazine 

If I didn't need to work I'd be…

Probably having a holiday in Europe and visiting family and building an eco house.

My dirty eco-sin is that I...

Drive a larger car (but only for the space it provides)

My pearl of wisdom to pioneers in the sustainability space is...

To never give up and to talk to as many influential people as you can to gain knowledge and learn from their ideas, on what we should be doing to make improvements in sustainability and the environment.

In ten years’ time I want to be...

Healthy and have the satisfaction of knowing that we have helped make a difference to our environment. I’d also like to have had the experience of modifying or building an eco home.