Staples Canada Collects and Diverts Record 100,000 Kilograms of Batteries between January and August 2015
Staples Canada has released its latest Q2 sustainability update and recent environmental achievements. Highlights include collecting and diverting a record 100,000 kilograms of batteries between January and August 2015.
“Our commitment to sustainable business practices and customer solutions continues to grow,” said Pete Gibel, senior vice president of merchandising at Staples Canada and Chair of the Staples Canada Environmental Committee. “We are reducing our collective impact on the environment.”
Highlights of Staples recent achievements in collection and recycling:
100,000 kilograms of batteries collected between January and August 2015
Staples Canada partners with Call2Recycle to collect and recycle batteries (rechargeable and alkaline) in every Staples store. Between January and August 2015, 100,000 kg of batteries have been collected and diverted. In Q2 alone, 33,258 kg of batteries were collected in-store.
Ink cartridge collection continues to be strong
Staples Canada gives customers the option to drop off used ink and toner cartridges at every store location. In Q2, 975,941 ink cartridges were collected - an increase of 37.4% over Q2 2014. This year, Staples has set out to collect 3 million ink cartridges.
Eco-conscious schools across the country are encouraged to order a free recycling bin through the Staples Canada School Recycling program to help collect and divert ink and toner cartridges from landfills. For more information, visit staples.ca/environment or canadaschoolrecycling.ca.
1,108,513 kilograms of electronics collected
Staples Canada, alongside its national partner, eCycle Solutions, collects electronics at 278 Staples locations. In Q2, 1,108,513 kg of electronics were collected and recycled - a 19.1% increase over the Q1 2015 collection total of 930,475 kg. Staples hopes to collect 4,000,000 kg of electronics by the end of 2015.
28,878 writing instruments collected
Working with its exclusive partners, TerraCycle and Newell Rubbermaid, Staples Canada accepts used writing instruments such as pens, pencils, markers and highlighters for recycling. In Q2, 28,878 writing instruments were collected and diverted. This is a 487.3% increase over Q2 2014 collections. In 2015, Staples plans to collect 100,000 units.
115,207 ink cartridges collected through the Driver Take Back Program
Through the Driver Take Back program, Staples delivery drivers collect used batteries, electronics and ink cartridges from customers when delivering orders. The program is active in certain areas of British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. In Q2, 115,207 ink cartridges, 78.5 kg of batteries and 19,393.5 kg of electronics were collected and diverted.
Eco-responsible options offered during the back-to-school season
During the back-to-school season, Staples continued to offer a selection of litterless lunch products enabling students to have a wide variety of eco-responsible choices including water bottles, hot and cold food storage containers and lunch bags.
Staples, through its partnership with ACCO and ME to WE, continues to offer a range of eco-responsible and sustainably-made products, with every purchase of a ME to WE product providing a gift to a child in a Free The Children community overseas. Since the partnership launched in summer 2014, Staples says the program has provided children in communities overseas with 41,000 healthy meals, 75,000 school supply kits, 33,000 opportunities to access clean water and 16,000 preventative health care treatments.
For more information about ME to WE and the partnership with Staples, please visit staples.ca/metowe.
Staples Canada’s Director of Environment named to Canada’s Clean5
Leigh Pearson, director of facilities, environment and procurement at Staples Canada has been named to the 2016 Clean50. Canada’s Clean50 Awards are announced annually by Delta Management Group and the Clean50 organization to recognize those 50 individuals or small teams, from 16 different categories, who have done the most to advance the cause of sustainability and clean capitalism in Canada over the past 2 years.
