Natural Environment

Packaging and Delivery

OfficeMax packages and ships products in a manner that supports our commitment to quality. We minimize the amount of shipping materials we use, while ensuring that products get to our customers safely and undamaged. Some examples include using re-usable plastic bins and recycled content envelopes instead of boxes, and air bags instead of Styrofoam. We also take back our shipping packaging if the customer doesn’t have their own recycling program.

Our delivery schedule keeps the needs of the customers in mind, but delivery routes are mapped to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize the total number of miles driven. Our drivers also have standard operating procedures regarding truck idling.

Grand & Toy Packing Slip Initiative

Grand & Toy, OfficeMax’s Canadian subsidiary, united its Supply Chain, Logistics, and Retail Sales functions in an effort to reduce paper usage associated with its order delivery activities. In September 2007, the subsidiary launched a Packing Slip initiative in support of its new Sustainability Vision. The initiative halted production of duplicate and/or unnecessary packing slips for all inter-branch or retail product orders from Grand & Toy's main distribution center in Vaughan, Ontario.

Previously, the distribution center had produced approximately 190,000 to 215,000 packing slips per year, at a cost of seven cents per printed page. Eliminating the slips not only curbs paper usage, but also saves $13,000 to $15,000 (Can) per year.