Environment

Staples’ environmental initiatives help us operate our business in a more sustainable manner, from product sourcing to our internal operations to the recycling services we offer our customers. Staples focuses on four major cornerstones that we believe are critical to achieving this overarching goal:

1. Environmentally preferable products
2. Recycling
3. Energy and climate
4. Environmental education

Environmentally Preferable Products

By the end of 2005, Staples was offering more than 2,800 different office products incorporating recycled content, including many Staples® brand products. Beyond recycled content, we’re pursuing opportunities to develop Staples® brand products with “green” raw materials, including wood from certified sustainable forests, agricultural wastes, and lower impact bio–based alternatives. Learn more.

Recycling

From collecting used ink and toner cartridges, personal electronics, and rechargeable batteries from our customers to recycling cardboard, paper, electronics, and various other items across our facilities, Staples believes in the value of recycling.

Energy & Climate

Our investments in energy conservation and renewable energy reflect our commitment to reducing the impacts of our energy use on the environment, particularly related to climate change.

Environmental Education

Through our partnerships with organizations focused on environmental education, we’re working to educate associates, consumers and businesses about how they can make a difference for the environment.

• Environmentally Preferable Products
• Recycling
• Energy & Climate
• Environmental Education
• Staples Soul Main

• Environmental Paper Procurement Policy (PDF)
• Environment Section - 2005 Corporate Responsibility Report (PDF)
• 2005 Corporate Responsibility Report (PDF)