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FedEx Kinko's Goes Greener Behind the Counter
FedEx Kinko's Goes Greener Behind the Counter
Published 12-03-04
Submitted by FedEx OLD
Moving from 10-percent to 30-percent post-consumer recycled content in the company's highest paper consumption area is expected to raise the company's annual post-consumer recycled content average to an estimated 26.2 percent. This represents a jump of nine percentage points over its 2003 average.
According to life-cycle calculations by Environmental Defense, FedEx Kinko's will annually conserve an estimated[i] 18,850 tons of wood, enough to make copy paper for 402,450 people. This is also equal to conserving 92 billion British thermal units (BTUs) of total energy, or the residential energy used annually by 880 households.
"By increasing the post-consumer recycled content of the paper FedEx Kinko's stocks in its full-service production machines, we've once again moved the needle by implementing leading sustainable business practices," said Steve Grupe, vice president of global sourcing for FedEx Kinko's. "This achievement also serves as a shining example of how establishing progressive purchasing policies and working closely with key suppliers enables a company like FedEx Kinko's to pursue a more sustainable future."
FedEx Kinko's worked closely with representatives from International Paper and IP's xpedx paper distribution business throughout the selection process. The final result was a new private-labeled paper that meets FedEx Kinko's operational, quality and environmental parameters.
"FedEx Kinko's commitment to partnering with International Paper provides a model approach to environmentally sustainable procurement," said David Struhs, vice president of environmental affairs at International Paper. "Working together closely enabled FedEx Kinko's and IP to develop a solution that balanced environmental impact, business and financial implications and customer needs."
The new paper moves FedEx Kinko's closer to achieving its goal of a 30-percent post-consumer recycled content average across all paper and packaging. The company established this long-term goal just over a year ago in its Forest-based Products Procurement Policy (March 2003). FedEx Kinko's plans to work with non-profit organizations and other outside stakeholders regarding sustainable forest management practices.
According to Tom Murray, project manager for corporate partnerships at Environmental Defense, "FedEx Kinko's move to higher post-consumer recycled content, under its Forest-based Products Procurement Policy, will decrease wood use; reduce the amount of total energy, chemicals and water consumed during paper manufacturing; and reduce solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions. We encourage FedEx Kinko's and other industry leaders to continue to aggressively pursue opportunities to increase recycled content use and improve forest product procurement."
"As a participant in the Paper Working Group, a project of Metafore, FedEx Kinko's is one of 11 leading North American businesses working together to make environmentally preferable paper more available and affordable," said Kristin Bonner, project manager for the Paper Working Group (PWG). "Metafore is glad to see FedEx Kinko's continuing its leadership in responsible paper purchasing. By increasing the post-consumer recycled content in its copy paper and sourcing from well-managed forests, FedEx Kinko's has taken another step toward buying and using paper in a more sustainable manner."
"We commend FedEx Kinko's for its commitment to environmentally ethical forest products," said Gregory Hile, implementation coordinator at Rainforest Action Network. "Rainforest Action Network has enjoyed working with FedEx Kinko's to support its company-wide policies to purchase and sell paper and packaging from sustainably-managed, independently-audited, non-endangered forests. Today's announcement marks a significant benchmark in a vital aspect of its Forest-based Products Procurement Policy. We look forward to continuing our work with FedEx Kinko's to lead the retail paper sector in the implementation of forest protection policies and encourage other wood and paper buyers to do the same."
FedEx Kinko's and the Environment
FedEx recognizes that effective environmental management is one of its most important corporate priorities. FedEx is committed to respecting and protecting the environment through outstanding environmental performance and efficiency in the conduct of its operations.
In addition to FedEx Kinko's initiative to increase the amount of post-consumer recycled paper used, FedEx has shown leadership in many other environmental initiatives, including being the first company to make a long-term commitment to develop low-emission, hybrid electric delivery trucks.
FedEx also recently announced that it will construct California's largest corporate solar electric system atop its hub at Oakland International Airport.
FedEx Kinko's history includes a long-standing dedication to protecting the environment. The company established its Environmental Vision Statement in 1997. In 2003, it adopted its Global Commitment, which sets standards for incorporating sustainable business practices that generate economic, social and environmental value today and for future generations. One of those standards is the FedEx Kinko's Forest-based Products Procurement Policy.
Other FedEx Kinko's initiatives include continuous improvement in energy conservation, buying 10 percent of the company's electrical energy from renewable energy sources, using and promoting the sale of recycled products, and minimizing and recycling waste - including the expansion of non-resource-intensive product offerings such as FedEx Kinko's DocStore, other online file submittal services and videoconferencing.
About FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Services
FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Services is the world's leading provider of document solutions and business services. Its global network of more than 20,000 team members and 1,200 digitally-connected locations offers access to technology for color printing, finishing and presentation services, Internet access videoconferencing, outsourcing, managed services, Web-based printing, document management solutions and the full range of FedEx day-definite ground shipping and time-definite global express shipping services. Dallas-based FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Services has locations in 10 countries. For more information, please visit fedexkinkos.com. Products, services and hours vary by location.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $26 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 240,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit www.fedex.com.
[i] Estimates were made using the April 2003 update to the Paper Task Force Model
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information regarding sustainability
initiatives at FedEx Kinko's or to obtain a copy of the company's
Forest-Based Product Procurement Policy, contact FedEx Kinko's public
relations using the contact information below.
