 Nov. 14, 2008 - Office Depot racked up $1.6 billion in green product sales last year, according to the company's latest sustainability report.
The company contributes its Green Book catalog and its "Greener Office" marketing platform as helping to drive substantial sales growth. The catalog features all environmentally friendly products the company sells for the greener office. The company estimates that sales of products represented in The Green Book grew by over 10% with contract customers in 2007 – from $660 million to $730 million.
The company also reports building its online customer base through green solutions offered on its websites. Office Depot UK has developed an online carbon calculator that helps calculate the carbon reduction and other green benefits of recycled content papers. While Office Depot US, Canada, and Mexico continue to invest in user-oriented online tools to help customers identify greener products.
"As part of our strategic move to become a solution provider rather than just a seller of products, Office Depot started piloting a range of technology services in 2007," the company says in its report. "This includes computer repairs, wireless network installation, and software and television installation. These solutions help "dematerialize" our revenue sources and reduce our environmental impact."
Another service the company highlights as a cusotmer solution is its Tech Recycling Service which Office Depot expanded to outlets across the US last year.
Other milestones highlighted on the report include:
- 2,229 charities were assisted by the Office Depot Foundation with $27,185,900 was given through both cash and in-kind donations in 2007.
- Office Depot purchased recycled copy paper containing an average of 32% post-consumer recycled content for internal use.
- The company reports a 9.6% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with US transportation, and close to 50% of materials recycled, rather than sent to a landfill in North America.
To view Office Depot’s 2007 sustainability report, "Taking Care of Business, People and the Planet", click here. |
