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Office Depot To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With A Different Take On “Green”
Office Depot To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With A Different Take On “Green”
Published 03-15-04
Submitted by Office Depot, Inc.
Office Depot, (NYSE: ODP), one of the world’s leading sellers of office supplies, is taking a completely different approach to the holiday festivities. The company is launching a series of environmental initiatives designed to help customers and employees understand that it’s not just about “wearing green,” but “being green.”
“We viewed St. Patrick’s Day as an excellent opportunity to speak with our stakeholders about the importance of the environment,” said Tyler Elm, Director of Environmental Affairs at Office Depot. “As a result, we developed a comprehensive list of integrated activities that will generate awareness of environmental issues, encourage recycling and showcase the vast array of products made from recycled content.”
Office Depot’s environmental tie-ins include:
Newspaper Advertising
In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Office Depot is running a full-page advertisement in the company’s top 30 North American markets that:
- Highlights special offers from leading manufacturers on products containing recycled content;
- Offers tips for making a home or office more environmentally friendly;
- Provides a series of “Did You Knows” concerning the environmental impact of everyday activities;
- Debunks common myths and misperceptions about what it means to be “green”; and
- Outlines the company’s most recent environmental accomplishments.
Office Depot’s March 14 insert, which was included in more than 350 local newspapers, continues the environmental theme with a special offer for a free case of Office Depot’s premium recycled copy paper – a value of $25.78 before mail-in rebate.
Web Promotion and Enhanced Internet Site
To communicate its environmental message online, Office Depot created a special “Save Some Green” promotion on the company’s E-Commerce web site http://www.officedepot.com. The promotion, which runs until March 20, the first day of spring, includes offers on several environmentally preferable products from some of the industry’s leading manufacturers – such as Earthwise hanging files, Smead file folders, Mead 5 Star notebooks and filler paper, Marcal/Sunrise paper towels, Primesource C-Fold towels, Office Depot brand remanufactured ink and toner cartridges and others.
Office Depot is also enhancing its web site at http://www.community.officedepot.com/environment.asp with new environmental content. Site features include an overview of Office Depot’s environmental policies and guidelines as well as recycling tips, lists of environmentally preferable products, links to press materials and other useful facts and figures.
In-Store Activities
On St. Patrick’s Day, Office Depot retail customers will find:
- A collateral piece that communicates the benefits of “being green” as well as illustrates the company’s position on environmental issues;
- A new environmental signage package, including stanchions, shelf aisle violators and price add-ons that clearly identify the attributes of the company’s “green” products;
- Green balloons with an environmental logo, which call out the best-selling products containing recycled content;
- Environmental footage and messages displayed on in-store computer monitors; and
- Seed packet bag stuffers containing an environmental message.
As a way to spread its “green” message in a grass-roots manner, Office Depot is participating in local community parades. For example, the company’s presence in the Delray Beach parade (located near Office Depot’s corporate headquarters) on March 13 included:
- Outfitting an Office Depot delivery truck with green ribbons, tinsel, shamrocks and leprechauns;
- Distributing flyers (made from recycled paper) containing special discounts on environmentally preferable products; and
- Handing out green Sharpie markers, stress balls and koozies.
Office Depot announced the extension of its highly successful ink and toner recycling program, which offers customers the opportunity to receive one free ream of Office Depot’s EnviroCopy 35% post-consumer waste paper when they return used ink and toner cartridges to participating stores. In 2003, Office Depot collected more than 4.5 million cartridges.
Employee Activities
Office Depot employees entering the company’s corporate campus on St. Patrick’s Day will be greeted by a host of environmentally themed messages, products and activities, including:
- Door clings, which will be posted on the entrances of each building;
- Posters and collateral pieces, which will be available in the reception areas;
- Environmental videos, which will run on hallway TV sets (and also in store break rooms);
- Seed packets, insulated mugs and coasters;
- A Jeans Day sticker fundraising program, which will benefit Sandoway House Nature Center, a Delray Beach-based environmental organization;
- A St. Patrick’s Day-themed menu; and
- An updated Intranet site, which highlights recent environmental initiatives.
Editor’s Note:
Office Depot is hosting a press teleconference on March 22 at 3:00 p.m. EST to announce updates to the company’s environmental policies as well as new initiatives. Members of the media interested in participating may call in to 800-314-7867. Additional press information is available at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/environment.
About Office Depot
With annual sales of more than $12 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 23 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide.
Office Depot is a 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 – generating $2.6B in sales for FY’03. In North America, Office Depot has 900 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 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: http://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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