Office Depot, who in 2004 became the first company in the office products industry to set annual quantified environmental performance objectives, surpassed its 2004 target by 50% and has increased usage of PCW content in its Canadian advertising inserts by nearly 400% since 2003.
Two years ago, Office Depot tested the feasibility of using environmentally preferable paper (made primarily with fiber certified as being sourced from responsibly managed forests, or made from PCW recycled material) in its Canadian advertising inserts. The pilot's success enabled Office Depot to set an industry-leading goal and create a specific timeline for achieving tangible, measurable and reportable results in 2004.
"Last year, every one of Office Depot's Canadian marketing inserts was printed on 75% PCW recycled content paper, the maximum possible with this particular paper stock," said Tyler Elm, director of environmental affairs for Office Depot. "While many companies have policies promoting the use of environmentally preferable paper, Office Depot continues to lead by example and honor its public commitments in ways that produce tangible, measurable results."
Environmental Defense estimates that by exceeding its 2004 target and increasing the average post-consumer recycled content of its Canadian advertising inserts to 75%, Office Depot and its suppliers:
- Conserved 23,600 typical trees (more than 3,400 tons of wood) -- equivalent to the amount of wood required to make over 980 tons of copy paper
- Saved nearly 19 billion BTUs of total energy -- equivalent to the amount of residential energy used annually by more than 180 households
- Prevented nearly 2,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalents) -- equivalent to the amount released annually by more than 435 cars
- Eliminated more than 925 tons of solid waste -- equivalent to the trash generated by nearly 440 households in one year
- Prevented more than 4 million gallons of wastewater - equivalent to the amount released or discharged annually by more than 40 households
