Reducing Paper Waste at SELAE
The Context
SELAE recognises climate change as a pressing global issue and is committed to reducing its environmental footprint. As part of this commitment, the organisation has introduced a range of initiatives to minimise paper use across both its lottery operations and administrative offices.
LOTERĂŤAS Y APUESTAS DEL ESTADO, is a Spanish state lottery and betting operator actively working to minimise its environmental impact through sustainable measures in its processes and services.
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The Challenge
The lottery industry relies heavily on paper, from game tickets to promotional materials and internal documentation. SELAE faced the dual challenge of lowering its paper consumption in its primary lottery offerings while also improving sustainability practices in office operations. The WLA ProjectRED survey highlighted SELAE as a standout example of leadership in sustainable paper use.
The Approach
SELAE adopted a comprehensive strategy to address paper consumption across multiple fronts:
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Sustainable Sourcing for Lottery Products
SELAE is committed to using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper for its lottery tickets and receipts. This placed SELAE among just 7 of the 15 lotteries surveyed in the ProjectRED report that use FSC or PEFC-certified paper for tickets completed by players.
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Digital Product Delivery
To further reduce reliance on printed slips, SELAE developed "LoterĂasPRO", a mobile application that allows players to place bets digitally, offering a paper-free alternative.
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QR Code Technology for Repeat Bets
SELAE also introduced QR code functionality on printed receipts. This enables players to easily repeat bets without needing new paper slips, reducing unnecessary paper use.
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Office Paper Reduction Initiatives
Internally, SELAE took steps to centralise printing infrastructure and reduction in the number of printers, digitise document management, and automate workflow processes to cut back on paper use in administrative settings (via digital transformation).
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Monitoring and Tracking
SELAE actively tracks the volume and type of paper used in its lottery products. This practice is relatively rare in the sector, with only 13 out of 34 lotteries in the ProjectRED survey reporting that they monitor paper usage at this level.
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Outcome
SELAE’s initiatives have resulted in measurable progress and reinforced its role as a sustainability leader in the lottery industry:
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Growth in Digital Ticket Use
The LoterĂasPRO app contributed to a 3.5% year-on-year increase in digital ticket adoption.
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Reduced Paper Ticket Dependence
Use of QR codes for repeat bets increased by 8% from 2022. As a result, the proportion of bets placed using paper tickets dropped from 12.61% in 2022 to 11.56% in 2023.
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Lower Office Paper Consumption
Paper use within SELAE’s administrative offices declined by 3.14% in 2023.
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Industry Recognition
SELAE’s ongoing use of certified sustainable paper and its commitment to tracking and reducing paper consumption position it as a sector leader in environmentally responsible practices.
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What other lotteries do
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