DELRAY BEACH, FL - Office Depot's EnviroCopy house brand recycled paper today was certified by Green Seal, a non-profit organization that establishes standards for environmentally preferable products, as containing 35% post consumer recycled content. (EnviroCopy's 35% post-consumer recycled content is higher than required by the U.S. government and most state procurement programs.)

Green Seal's certification was based on a rigorous evaluation process, including a site visit to the mill where the paper is fabricated. The evaluation of EnviroCopy is the first demonstration of Office Depot's recently announced initiative to increase the auditing and verification of the company's paper products. Office Depot is the first major retailer to have a house brand certified by Green Seal, and the company is now eligible to use Green Seal's certification mark.

"We are pleased to receive this certification from Green Seal as it is not only the latest example of our industry-leading commitment to the environment, but clearly illustrates our ability to offer our customers the most environmentally preferable products on the market," said Bruce Nelson, Chairman and CEO of Office Depot. "As the world's leading reseller of recycled paper, we will continue to promote the benefits of using products made from recycled content through all channels of our operation."

In an effort to encourage customers to try recycled paper, for example, Office Depot recently converted its more than 870 Copy & Print Centers (CPCs) to use EnviroCopy 35% PCR content paper as the default type for black and white copies in all high-speed and self-service copy machines.

Additionally, the company extended its ink and toner recycling program through March 1, 2004. The program, which began in January 2003 in more than 800 Office Depot locations throughout North America, offers customers the opportunity to receive one free ream of Office Depot's EnviroCopy 35% PCR content paper when they return used ink and toner cartridges to participating stores. Over the last eight months, more than one million cartridges have been recycled.

"This certification," said Arthur Weissman, Ph.D., President and CEO of Green Seal, "represents a major step forward by the office products industry. Office Depot has taken a leadership position in environmental products retailing by earning third-party certification of its high recycled-content copy paper."

According to Weissman, Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups, and governments at all levels to "green" the production and purchasing chain. Among the tools Green Seal uses are product certification; purchasing guidance, including product recommendations; special projects and evaluations of products and purchasing; and policy recommendations. Thus, purchasers may use Green Seal's assistance in a variety of forms - certified or recommended products; manuals on best practices and product criteria; environmental specifications and standards for products; and evaluations of specific cases or situations.

Weissman noted that Green Seal bases its work on thorough, state-of-the-art scientific evaluations using internationally accepted methodologies.

"Product evaluations are conducted using a life-cycle approach to ensure that all significant environmental impacts of a product are considered, from raw materials extraction through manufacturing to use and disposal," said Mark Petruzzi, Vice President of Certification for Green Seal. "Wherever possible, Green Seal standards cite international test methods for evaluating product performance or environmental attributes such as toxicity. Green Seal's procedures also conform to international standards for ecolabeling."

"Consumers hear lots of conflicting information about the environmental attributes of products," added Andrew L. Shapiro of GreenOrder, Inc., an environmental consulting firm that managed the Green Seal certification process. "The Green Seal certification makes it easier to select products that minimize waste and conserve resources. Office Depot's EnviroCopy is an excellent example. What most people don't know is that for every million reams of EnviroCopy sold, 21,000 trees are conserved and 14.7 billion BTUs of energy are saved compared to virgin paper."

About Green Seal
Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization that strives to achieve a healthier and cleaner environment by identifying and promoting products and services that cause less toxic pollution and waste, conserve resources and habitats, and minimize global warming and ozone depletion. Green Seal has no financial interest in the products that it certifies or recommends nor in any manufacturer or company. Green Seal's evaluations are based on state-of-the-art science and information using internationally recognized methods and procedures. Thus, Green Seal provides credible, objective, and unbiased information whose only purpose is to direct the purchaser to environmentally responsible products and services.

About Office Depot
With annual sales of nearly $13 billion, no one sells more office supplies to more customers in more countries than Office Depot. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, FL, the company conducts business in 22 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide.

Office Depot is an industry leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. The company is the world's number two online retailer - on target to generate $2.5B in sales for FY'03. In North America, Office Depot has more than 870 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 24 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and 13 regional call centers.

The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

Additional press information can be found at: mediarelations.officedepot.com.

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of nearly $15 billion, and employs approximately 50,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 42 countries. Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites.

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