Published 06-02-04
Submitted by Office Depot, Inc.
"Office Depot offers the industry's most comprehensive lineup of paper products," noted Alex Weatherall, Vice President of Merchandising for Office Depot. "However, the feedback we've received from our customers indicates that they don't always know the difference between paper types or which particular paper is the best fit for their needs. To that end, we've taken a fresh look at our branded paper and made specific improvements in packaging, quality, item assortment and environmental stance - changes that will provide a more consistent and customer-centric shopping experience in all of our channels."
Weatherall noted that Office Depot's enhanced branded offerings, which will be available through all Office Depot channels by the end of June, consist of the following papers: Premium White Copy Paper, Premium EnviroCopyTM Recycled Copy Paper, Platinum Super White Copy Paper, Premium Multipurpose Paper, Premium Inkjet Paper, Premium Laser Paper, Platinum Color Inkjet Paper, Platinum Color Laser Paper and Platinum Color Copy Paper.
New Packaging
According to Weatherall, the enhanced package design more accurately reflects recent quality advancements and test results, improves the image of Office Depot branded products and better positions Office Depot as a national brand equivalent.
"The updated packaging features a richer version of the existing color palette and has a new quadrant design that highlights the product image, the Office Depot logo and the features and benefits that facilitate the buying process," Weatherall said. "It provides a consistent look and feel across all SKUs and helps customers make purchasing decisions by clearly noting step-up features and including a comparison chart on the back of each ream."
Improved Brightness and Smoothness
The company also improved the brightness of several of its branded papers, including EnviroCopy Recycled Copy Paper, which contains an industry-leading 35% post consumer waste (PCW) recycled content, and Multipurpose Paper, which is now available for the first time in a 10-ream case. Additionally, Office Depot increased the smoothness on many of its products.
Increased Recycled Content
However, perhaps the most noteworthy changes in the Office Depot lineup concern environmental performance:
"In 2003, Office Depot declared its commitment to enhance the environmental performance of its paper by increasing the number of products containing PCW recycled fiber as well as the amount of PCW recycled content in those products," said Tyler Elm, Director of Environmental Affairs for Office Depot. "The introduction of our new branded paper lineup is the latest demonstration of the company's ability to lead by example and honor public commitments in ways that produce tangible, measurable results."
Of particular note to Elm is the fact that Office Depot is the first reseller to include PCW recycled content fiber in its standard copy paper - paper that is ideal for every day, high-volume copy and printing. Compared to standard copy paper, Office Depot's new elemental chlorine free, 10% PCW content Premium White Copy Paper:
"EnviroCopy is also the first house brand paper certified by Green Seal, a nonprofit organization that establishes standards for environmentally preferable products," Elm said, in noting that EnviroCopy paper exceeds U.S. government and most state environmental standards.
Based on 2003 sales data, Elm forecasts that the annual environmental benefits associated with the sale and use of the new Office Depot brand papers will more than double.
According to Elm, compared with the use of standard copy paper, the estimated annual environmental benefits of Office Depot recycled content papers include the:
For example, to put these benefits into perspective:
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 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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