Staples Canada Releases 2014 Sustainability Goals and Q1 Achievements

Battery and ink cartridge recycling top priorities for 2014

TORONTO, June 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Staples Canada announced today its 2014 sustainability goals and Q1 achievements. The retailer plans to grow key programs such as battery and ink cartridge recycling while focusing on expanding its eco-responsible product assortment and identifying packaging reduction opportunities.   

"We've made a lot of progress in 2013 and achieved many of our sustainability goals," said Pete Gibel, vice president of merchandising at Staples Canada and Chair of the Staples Canada Environmental Committee. "We have set some aggressive goals as we continue to challenge our customers and ourselves to have a positive impact on the environment in 2014."

Diverting 100,000 Kilograms of Batteries from Landfills in 2014
Staples Canada partners with Call2Recycle to collect and recycle batteries (re-chargeable and alkaline) in every Staples store. The retailer has set a goal of collecting 100,000 kg of batteries in 2014. In Q1 2014 alone, 30,295 kg of batteries were collected and diverted.

20 Million Cartridges by Earth Day 2016
Staples Canada gives customers the option to drop off used ink and toner cartridges at every store location.  The retailer surpassed its goal of collecting 5 million ink cartridges between Earth Day 2012 and Earth Day 2014. This year, Staples set a goal to collect 20 million cartridges by Earth Day 2016. In Q1 2014, 684,685 cartridges were collected, an 8.8% increase over Q4 2013.

Schools across the country are encouraged to order a free ink cartridge recycling bin through the Staples Canada School Recycling program to help collect and divert 100,000 cartridges by Earth Day 2015. The top 10 schools will receive Staples gift cards. For more information, visit staples.ca/environment or canadaschoolrecycling.ca.

3,600 Metric Tons of Electronics to be Diverted in 2014
Staples Canada, alongside its national partner, eCycle Solutions, collects electronics in almost 260 retail locations, with nine locations added in 2013. Staples Canada has set a goal of collecting 3,600 metric tons of electronics in 2014, with 821.10 metric tons collected in Q1 alone.

Collecting 70,000 Writing Instruments
Working with its exclusive partners, TerraCycle and Newell Rubbermaid, Staples Canada takes back used writing instruments such as pens, pencils, markers and highlighters. In 2014, Staples expects the program to grow considerably and hopes to collect 70,000 units. In Q1 2014, Staples collected 8,553 units.

Product Assortment and Packaging Reduction a Focus for 2014
Staples continues to carry and add a wide range of eco-responsible products both in-store and online.  Product assortment focus areas include storage boxes and paper products made from recycled content. Staples has also added a new calculator to its Sustainable Earth product assortment , which features a 100% recycled material casing manufactured from recycled ink and toner cartridges.  Business cards made from recycled materials are now available at Staples Copy and Print Centres, and post cards made from recycled materials will be added this year.  The retailer is also focused on looking to identify opportunities to reduce packaging. For example, the company is transitioning away from plastic packaging for Staples surge protectors.  Reinforcing the importance of providing innovative and eco-responsible products, Staples awarded Step Forward 80% Wheat Straw Copy Paper the 2013 Eco Product of the Year at the Staples Canada Vendor Awards in April.

Driver Take Back Program Gains Momentum
Through the Driver Take Back program, Staples delivery drivers collect used batteries, electronics and ink cartridges from customers when delivering orders. The program is currently active in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. In Q1 2014, the Driver Take Back Program helped collect and divert 16,624.5 kg of electronics, 102,140 cartridges and 467.7 kg of batteries.

Emissions Reduced by 3,572 Metric Tons of CO² in Q1 2014
Staples Canada continues to monitor energy consumption and actively works to conserve energy across the business by reducing overall energy costs and diversifying energy sources. In the first two months of 2014 alone, Staples was able to reduce emissions by 3,572 metric tons of CO², the equivalent to 35 residential homes.

For their energy and environmental sustainability efforts, Staples Canada received a Retail Council of Canada 2014 Excellence in Retailing Award. The Excellence in Retailing Awards recognize the Canadian retail industry's top achievers in a variety of categories and were presented as part of STORE 2014 — Canada's Retail Conference.

Staples Ranks Among the Top Foreign Corporate Citizens of Canada
Corporate Knights, a media, research and investment advisory company recognized as the gold standard in corporate sustainability analysis has ranked Staples among the 2014 Top Foreign Corporate Citizens of Canada. The Top Foreign Corporate Citizens represent corporations with substantial operations (over $1b in revenue in Canada) who are leading the way in corporate citizenship and have their main headquarters in another country. The parent corporations must also have qualified for Corporate Knights' 2014 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World shortlist. Staples Inc. is the only North American retailer to rank in the Global 100, and one of only two retailers globally.

About Staples 
Staples makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it's in-store, online or on mobile devices. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Copy and Print services. Headquartered outside of Boston in the United States with offices in Toronto, Canada, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com and www.staples.ca. 

SOURCE: Staples Canada Inc.

Madalina Secareanu, [email protected], Staples Canada, 905 737 1147 ex. 2714