Environmental plans help OfficeMax strike diamond

Environmental initiatives help OfficeMax strike diamond

OfficeMax’s ongoing commitment to the conservation, protection and enhancement of the environment has been officially recognised by the Landcare Research Enviro-Mark programme.

OfficeMax is the first office products company and one of only eleven companies in New Zealand to be awarded the Enviro-Mark NZ Diamond certification - the highest level of recognition for their continuing commitment to environmental sustainability.

OfficeMax green initiatives are not only limited to their internal practices - their entire head office site was built minimising its effect on the environment and meets Green Star 4 ratings. OfficeMax also carry and sell products that incorporate exceptionally high environmental credentials.

The Enviro-Mark NZ programme aims to help business reduce their environmental impact and recognises their achievement via certification. To gain diamond status OfficeMax had to achieve a total of 5 Enviro-Mark levels bronze, silver, gold, platinum and then diamond through an independent third party auditor.

The decision to join the Landcare Research Enviro-Mark programme was an easy one. However, getting to the highest level has taken considerable investment but the result is worth it according to Kevin Obern, Managing Director of OfficeMax New Zealand.

“Looking after the environment for today and the next generation is not only the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do, he says.

“For example, when we reduce our energy consumption we reduce the associated costs – so the environment benefits from fewer emissions and the business benefits from a reduction in overheads.

“It is our hope that when customers, staff, suppliers and everyone we have contact with see OfficeMax’s commitment to the environment that they consider if they could also make a positive impact on the environment,” says Mr Obern.

The diamond certificate was achieved after OfficeMax developed an internal Environmental Management System (EMS) within the Enviro-Mark framework.

The internal EMS programme covers everything from reducing electricity and fuel consumption to recycling packaging and kitchen waste. Each programme is internally audited monthly to ensure its effectiveness and another positive by-product of the EMS is that employees now know how to reduce their impact on the environment at home.

After volunteers from each OfficeMax site were appointed to champion the internal EMS programme, they began its implementation with the full support of OfficeMax’s Human Resource Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director.

“It is essential the executive team support the programme to show our employees how committed OfficeMax is to the environment. We are determined to support what the champions are trying to achieve across the entire business,” says Mr Obern.

Achieving the environmental targets is a challenge due to the size of the OfficeMax operation. Procedures, training and programmes need to be consistent and completed on time across all sites nationwide – requiring constant communication with head office.

“We are continually improving our environmental programmes and business practices. By obtaining diamond certification it gives us the confidence to know we are achieving what we set out to do and actively make a difference” says Mr Obern.

Mr. Obern stresses that while he is passionate about the environment, this award could not have been achieved without OfficeMax staff wanting to make a difference.

“I think it’s fair to say that OfficeMax employees have a sense of responsibility towards the environment, so much so that we have included environmental messages into our communication and business practices,” he says.

OfficeMax New Zealand – yellow company with the green feel

Situated at Auckland’s Highbrook Industrial Park, the head office and distribution centre is a Green Star 4 standard or better building. Its construction created an improved environmental position and incorporated sustainable attributes including:

• Use of permanent materials
• Low energy equipment
• Use of solar gain and efficient air conditioning
• Use of natural light in office and warehouse areas to reduce power consumption
• Recycled floor covering
• Office desks/tables emit low formadehyde, FSC timber content, aluminium leg frames
• Steel pedestals enable future recycling
• Steel cupboards have recycled tambour fronts
• Venting in printer/copier areas extracts potential toxins
• AAA rated plumbing fittings
• Office/Warehouse recycling initiatives
• Warehouse Management system selects most appropriate box size by order
• Voice pick eliminates paper documentation
• High levels of electronic trading
• Dunnage product is recyclable
• Zone divert ensures fast track of consignments
• Proximity to major distribution provider

OfficeMax also builds on its commitment to sustainable environmental practices and include stocking paper products from environmentally sustainable sources.

In addition, all OfficeMax branded copy paper supplied by Mondi South Africa carries FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Chain of Custody certification. OfficeMax also offers recycled papers from 30% to 100% Recycled Content which are manufactured using a Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) method.

OfficeMax is actively working toward developing good environmental practices within their organisation to enable consumers to make environmentally preferable purchasing decisions and already sell over 300 products with exceptionally high environmental credentials.

About OfficeMax
OfficeMax is one of the top three office products companies in the world, employing 41,000 people worldwide including 800 in New Zealand. A key global player, OfficeMax New Zealand prides itself on its local focus.

OfficeMax prides itself on the depth of industry knowledge possessed by its workforce and confidently boasts the most skilled personnel in the office products industry.

About OfficeMax’s Environmental Management System
Enviro-Mark Diamond certification has been achieved by implementing the EMS in OfficeMax’s Morningside sales office, Christchurch Distribution Centre, Auckland Head Office & Distribution Centre and Wellington Distribution Centre.

• Each site meets or exceeds compliance with all applicable environmental legislation and regulations
• Champions in each site set, monitor and review objectives and targets to continually improve and review environmental performance
• Staff act to minimise consumption of resources and reuse or recycle to minimise waste where practical
• Ensure that procurement activities take into account environmental impacts for supplies and services sourced within New Zealand and overseas
• Encourages all employees to participate in efforts to protect and improve the environment
• Provides training to all employees to ensure they have appropriate knowledge on how to reduce their impact on the environment
• A complete fleet replacement for our Account Managers with a car that has the lowest emissions ratings in its class for a standard engine
• A comprehensive program to reduce electricity consumption – in the first site where this was rolled out, there was a 26% year on year reduction.
• A program to collect and donate used polypropylene strapping to local weaving groups.

ENDS

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