Green thinking 2014 us by OPI

Office Products International

GREEN THINKING 2014

p17 Big Interview with Office Depot p32 Lighting up with LED

OPI GREEN THINKING 2014 WWW.OPI.NET

Editor’s Comment

Editorial Editor Andy Braithwaite +33 4 32 62 71 07 andy.braithwaite@opi.net Features & Production Editor Heike Dieckmann +44 (0)20 7841 2950 heike.dieckmann@opi.net News Editor Michelle Sturman +44 (0)20 7841 2942 michelle.sturman@opi.net

Sales and Marketing VP – Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa Ewan Dickson +44 (0)20 7841 2954 ewan.dickson@opi.net VP – North America and UK Chris Turness +44 (0)20 7841 2953 chris.turness@opi.net Digital Manager India Pride +44 (0)20 7841 2959 india.pride@opi.net

Events Events Manager Lisa Haywood +44 (0)20 7841 2945 lisa.haywood@opi.net

Production and Finance Operations Manager Nicky Coulson Designer Charlotte Gerhardt +44 (0)20 7841 2943 charlotte.gerhardt@opi.net Production Assistant Jack Francis +44 (0)20 7841 2950 jack.francis@opi.net Accountant Dotun Olaniyan +44 (0)20 7841 2956 dotun.olaniyan@opi.net

Publishers CEO Steve Hilleard +44 (0)20 7841 2940 steve.hilleard@opi.net

Welcome to our 2014 Green Thinking supplement which once again champions some of the star performers in the business supplies industry in terms of their environmental, sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives. You may notice a slightly different look about this year’s issue – that’s because we’ve tried to play our own small part by mostly using the new Ryman Eco font that was introduced earlier this year. Described as the ‘world’s most sustainable font’, Ryman Eco claims to use an average 33% less ink than a suite of standard fonts. If you want to try this font at home or in the office to see if it really does cut down on your ink consumption, just As paper (and ink) usage drops due type ‘Ryman Eco font’ into to the digitisation of the workplace, your favourite search engine and you’ll be able to find a B2B resellers are looking for new download link. But don’t plan categories to exploit on being able to print in bold! As paper (and ink) usage drops due to the digitisation of the workplace, B2B resellers are looking for new categories to exploit, and facilities management is certainly one of those. Here, too, a focus on the environment can bring its rewards and we have two interesting articles – on LED lighting (page 32) and green jan/san ( page 36) – that highlight the opportunities that are out there for progressive resellers.

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Director Janet Bell +44 (0)20 7841 2941 janet.bell@opi.net

Andy

OPI is printed in the UK by

The carrier sheet is printed on Satimat Silk paper, which is produced on pulp manufactured wood obtained from recognised responsible forests and at an FSC® certified mill. It is polywrapped in recycleable plastic that will biodegrade within six months.

CONTENTS CBP0009242909111341

No part of this magazine may be reproduced, copied, stored in an electronic retrieval system or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with provision of the copyright designs and patents act of 1988. Stringent efforts have been made by Office Products International to ensure accuracy. However, due principally to the fact that data cannot always be verified, it is possible that some errors or omissions may occur. Office Products International cannot accept responsibility for such errors or omissions. Office Products International accepts no responsibility for comments made by contributing authors or interviewees that may offend. Office Products International Ltd (OPI), Diamond House, 36-38 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8EB, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7841 2950 Fax: +44 (0)20 7841 2951

5...News

32...LED Lighting

10...SOfEA Update

36...Green Jan/san

12...Closed Loop

40...Logistics & Delivery

17...Big Interview

44...Final Green Word

25...Paper Round-up

48...Directory

@opinews

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News Ecover creates waves in recycling Ecover has launched a washing-up bottle that includes 10% of its recycled plastic recovered from the sea. The new Ecover ocean bottle is in line with the company’s 2013 pledge to introduce new types of recycled plastic in its packaging. The ocean plastic is collected by existing fishing boats fitted with new technology, and under the Waste Free Oceans’ ‘catch of the day’ project provides fishermen with the ability to earn extra revenue for collecting it. Aiming to increase its use of ocean plastic from one tonne this year to three tonnes in 2015, Ecover CEO Philip Malmberg hopes to have set a precedent for other manufacturers to follow. He does, however, acknowledge that the ocean bottle is just one small step towards solving the ocean plastic problem. “We need to create a wider network of fishermen, recycling facilities and manufacturers to make this happen, as well as exploit existing supply chains to make it as easy as possible for manufacturers to use ocean plastic,” said Malmberg.

Office Depot rewards green purchasing For the seventh consecutive year, Office Depot has recognised its contract customers for environmentally friendly and diverse purchases through its Leadership in Greener Purchasing awards. The awards are designed to reward the companyʼs business customers that proactively seek products

with environmental attributes, including those that are recycled, remanufactured, non-toxic or energy efficient. They also include products that attained eco-labels such as FSC, Greenguard and GreenSeal. The reseller takes into account broad-based green purchasing programmes and the awards are based mainly on the percentage of a customerʼs spend on green products. 2014 winners include UPS, the State of Florida, Banco Santander, Sklar Furnishings and the City of Chicago, the latter being declared Depotʼs number one green purchaser in the public sector.

ERPC promotes responsible shredding The European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) warns to ‘think before you shred’ as it’s not always beneficial for the recycling process. The reason, explained the ERPC, is that shredding shortens paper fibres making them less valuable for the recycling process. The ERPC has produced a poster to push the point home illustrating what should and shouldn’t be shredded. For example, only shred sensitive documents such as medical records, tax forms and credit card statements. Everything else, including books, magazines, office paper and cards, should be put straight into the recycling bin.

Canon Australia’s recycling ‘out of this world’ Canon Australia – in conjunction with Planet Ark, Close the Loop, retailers and customers – has recycled a total of six million printer cartridges across the country, the equivalent of 1,718 tonnes of waste. Printer cartridges, which can take up to 1,000 years to break down, contain valuable materials including ferrous metal, stainless steel, aluminium, ink and plastic, all of which can be recycled. Canon Oceania Managing Director Taz Nakamasu said: “Canon Oceania is proud to be a founding member of the Cartridges for Planet Ark Program which was founded over ten years ago and is as a model for our region. This milestone shows the commitment of our customers and partners to reducing their own environmental impact.” In efforts to further reduce the impact that cartridges have on the environment, Canon partner Close the Loop has developed TonerPave, a new tarmac product made with refined toner powder extracted from recycled toner cartridges.

Tullis Russell celebrates employees Paper and board producer Tullis Russell recently celebrated its Employee Ownership Day 2014 with a series of activities and fundraising events. The company now has over 740 employee owners across three international sites and past Chairman David Erdal, who was the architect of employee ownership at Tullis Russell, attended the day at the Markinch mill in Scotland. Tullis Russell Group CEO Chris Parr said the Employee Ownership Day was a good opportunity to get staff together and celebrate. “We are Scotland’s longestestablished, and largest employee-owned business. Our structure facilitates independent decision making, allowing us to focus on the long term without the short-term pressures often imposed by external shareholders,” he added.

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News Staples makes the Dow Jones Sustainability Index – again

Staples has been included in the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the eleventh consecutive year. The DJSI review follows a best-in-class approach and includes companies across all industries that outperform their peers in numerous sustainability metrics. Staples VP Environmental Affairs Mark Buckley said: “We’re honoured to have been selected as an index component again. At Staples, we believe that by focusing on the sustainability of our operations, product offerings and services we can make a positive impact and bring about change.” Staples’ recent sustainability accomplishments include: • A new technology trade-in programme in the US that lets customers cash in and recycle online or in-store. • An expanded Staples Rewards ink and toner recycling programme online in the US. • Achieving Energy Star building certification at more than 600 of its US facilities. • Global sales of products with more advanced environmental features of more than $3.25 billion in 2013. • Gaining ISO 14001 certification in China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the UK, bringing the total number of facilities with certified environmental management systems to 107.

Lyreco and Durable launch new product for charity A collaborative project involving trainees from Lyreco and Durable has resulted in a new product with a charitable appeal. The project was initiated in November 2013 and challenged trainees from both companies to modify an existing Durable product to create a new product that referenced the two companiesʼ social projects in Africa – Lyreco for Education, which supports children in Togo and Club Madamfo Ghana, which aims to improve the quality of life for Ghanaians. The result is the Swing Clip Africa folder made from recycled materials in three different patterns representing African animals – the leopard, giraffe and zebra. Available from Lyreco as a three-pack, revenue from the folder will be split between the two social projects.

Green Thinking 2014

OfficeMax Grand & Toy pilots K-Cup recycling OfficeMax Grand & Toy recently launched Canada’s ﬁrst Keurig K-Cup packs recycling programme. Recognising the need to implement a recycling programme for Keurig K-Cup packs – one of OfficeMax Grand & Toy’s most popular coffee products – the reseller has partnered with TerraCycle to launch a pilot programme in southern Ontario. The recycling system is available in three sizes and when the box is full, customers send it directly to TerraCycle for processing. The cost includes recycling and prepaid shipping labels. If the pilot is successful, the programme will be rolled out nationally. OfficeMax Grand & Toy Sustainability Manager Serguei Tchertok said that the company embraced environmental responsibility across all facets of its business. He added that the programme was launched based on stakeholder feedback that identified waste and recycling as the most important sustainability issues.

Double A relaunches Evolve brand

Thai paper manufacturer Double A has resumed production of the environmental paper brand Evolve at its Alizay mill in France. Double A bought the former M-real (now Metsä Board) mill in early 2013 and has been producing its own brands there for the past year or so. Now, three years after M-real stopped production of its Evolve 100% recovered paper, Double A confirmed that production of the brand had restarted in July. The company says the relaunch of Evolve confirms its environmental position and enhances its range of premium brands. The mill, with a total paper capacity of 300,000 tonnes per year, produced 100,000 tonnes in the first 12 months since re-opening and employs 150 people. Double A Senior EVP Thirawit Leetavorn Thirawit Leetavorn said: “The Alizay mill acquisition in January 2013 has enabled us to reinforce Double A’s standing in Europe [and] this success confirms our development strategy in France and Europe, which are key markets for Double A’s growth.”

News Staples Canada goes for ‘bullfrog’ power

Extending its commitment to renewable energy, Staples Canada has expanded its Bullfrog Power partnership to four copy and print production centre locations. The additional production centre locations will significantly reduce the environmental impact of its most energy-intensive copy and print jobs, the company said. Staplesʼ support of renewable energy is resulting in the reduction of more than 1,800 tonnes of CO 2 emissions, the equivalent of the electricity-related carbon emissions of just over 1,000 Canadian homes. Through this partnership, Bullfrog Power injects clean, renewable electricity onto the grid to match the amount of energy these facilities use. Staples Canada VP of Merchandising and chair of the Staples Canada Environmental Committee Pete Gibel commented: “Our Staples Canada and Staples Advantage head offices as well as ten Staples stores nationwide have been ʻbullfrogpoweredʼ with 100% clean, pollution-free energy since April 2013, and weʼre thrilled to be expanding our commitment to clean, renewable electricity.” Other notable green initiatives from Staples Canada during Q2 2014 include: • 28,403 kgs of batteries diverted from landfills • 710,134 ink cartridges collected • 1,137 tonnes of electronics collected • 5,926 writing instruments collected • 6,097 tonnes of CO 2 emission reductions

Faber-Castell awarded environmental prize At the 30th annual meeting of the German Working Group for Environmental Management Association (BAUM), Faber-Castell CEO Count Anton Wolfgang Graf von Faber-Castell was awarded the BAUM Environmental Prize for his Count Anton Wolfgang life’s work. Graf von Faber-Castell The award is presented to those who “overcome the conflict between the economy and ecology”. Judged by an eightmember jury, Faber-Castell was recognised for its long-term sustainability management in the entire production chain, but in particular for the eco-forests used in the company’s pencil production. Faber-Castell is consistently carbon neutral, achieved as its own forests absorb more than 900,000 tonnes of CO2, which is more than its factories emit.

Kimberly-Clark and Greenpeace celebrate five years A partnership between Kimberly-Clark and Greenpeace to protect forests worldwide has reached the five-year milestone. Over the years, the collaboration has benefited both sides. For Kimberly-Clark, the work with Greenpeace and other stakeholders such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has provided important insights into ways to improve the sustainability of its products and its supply chain. The companyʼs Senior Director of Sustainability Lisa Morden said the collaborative partnership has helped the company to continuously improve. “Kimberly-Clark and Greenpeace may seem like unlikely allies, but opening a dialogue showed us that we have shared values and that a partnership could help us accelerate our progress towards common goals,” she commented. For Greenpeace, the relationship has made a significant contribution to responsible forest management globally and reduced pressure on the worldʼs most vulnerable forests. Greenpeace Canada Forest Campaign Coordinator Richard Brooks said: “The unique relationship has also helped smooth the way for conversations with other corporations where supply chains remain controversial or require changes. It has enriched Greenpeaceʼs approach and has been an example of the value of cooperation versus confrontation.”

Consumers will pay more for green and CSR The latest Nielsen Global Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility revealed that 55% of online consumers across 60 countries will pay more for products and services by companies that are seen to be committed to positive social and environmental impact. This is strongest in Asia-Paciﬁc (64%), followed by Latin America (63%), the Middle East/Africa (63%), North America (42%) and then Europe (40%). More than half of global respondents (52%) said they have purchased at least one product or service in the past six months from a socially responsible company, with respondents in Latin America (65%), Asia-Paciﬁc (59%) and Middle East/Africa (59%) exceeding the global average. Four in ten respondents in

Green Thinking 2014

North America and Europe said they had made a sustainable purchase in the past six months. Some 52% of global respondents in Nielsen’s survey said their purchase decisions are partly dependent on the packaging – they check the labelling first before buying to ensure the brand is committed to positive social and environmental impact. Millennials (aged 21-34) appear particularly interested. Among global respondents that are responsive to sustainability actions, half are millennials. They also represent 51% of those who will pay extra for sustainable products and of those who check the packaging for sustainable labelling.

SOfEA Update

The time for action SOfEA appoints first Director as it moves into implementation phase

uropean trade association SOfEA (Sustainable Office European Association) is planning to unveil its first product assessment framework at the beginning of February 2015 after making significant progress over the past few months. The aim of the association – which was officially established in March this year – is to create a pan-European environmental and social performance evaluation and rating system for office products that will be used by resellers and manufacturers – and recognised by end users – across the continent. It developed out of a project started by French trade association UFIPA about three years ago, but now has an identity of its own after a busy 12 months following a September 2013 meeting in Frankfurt (see Green Thinking 2013, page 10). SOfEA formally got the green light for its creation at a well-attended January 2014 meeting that coincided with Paperworld in Frankfurt. It was officially registered in Brussels, Belgium, two months later with 25 founding members. In June, the association's first board of directors was selected, comprising 15 members, with Groupe Hamelin CEO Stéphane Hamelin elected as President, and Dieter Seger (Stabilo) and Matthias Schumacher (tesa) each taking on the role of Vice President. Fellowes' Johan Brondijk is the association's treasurer.

Making progress

The same month, it was decided that Christophe Girardier, a consultant working for UFIPA who had done much of the work to get the SOfEA concept off the ground, would no longer be involved in the project. Girardier, however, is still working with UFIPA in relation to the EU's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) pilot project, for which UFIPA has been chosen to represent the stationery products category. The PEF is something that SOfEA will continue to monitor closely – a number of companies are members of both SOfEA and UFIPA – and bestpractice aspects of the PEF will be incorporated into the final SOfEA solution. Since June, SOfEA has made progress on a number of fronts as the association moves from theory and discussion to taking concrete action. Pilot groups have been established for three product categories – writing instruments, notebooks and pads, and filing. Notebooks

Green Thinking 2014

SOfEAʼs board at a recent meeting in Brussels

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have been selected as a dummy product and tests are being carried out; work is underway with consulting firm INERIS to establish an independent scientific committee, and the product rating system is being re-evaluated. The association has also appointed its first fulltime employee. Anita Singh is leaving her role as Environmental and Social Compliance Manager at Office Depot Europe to become the first Director of SOfEA. Based in Brussels, Singh will officially start at SOfEA on 1 December. She is very familiar with the project, having been Office Depot's representative on the SOfEA board. The first target is to bring everything together to be able to present the first product framework at a meeting at Paperworld in Frankfurt on 2 February 2015. Other product categories will then be added in stages, beginning early next year, each with a working group responsible for drawing up the framework. The aim is to have all 30 product groups completed by the end of 2018. Singh hopes the presentation of the first product framework – evidence that SOfEA is moving forward in a positive manner – will encourage more industry players to become actively involved. SOfEA's founding members include just seven resellers – ADVEO, Antalis, Bruneau, Bureau Vallée, Majuscule, Office Depot and Staples – with many others opting to monitor progress from the sidelines. Having the SOfEA evaluation system recognised by the European Union would also be a big boost, and this is something Singh will also be working Anita Singh: SOfEAʼs Director from 1 December towards. ¥

SOfEA will present its first product assessment framework at a meeting during Paperworld in Frankfurt

Closed Loop Update

The loop of love ove

he concept of closed loop paper – where paper is collected from a customer's premises, recycled and then turned into new office paper – is nothing new. Office2office's (o2o) Banner division has been successfully growing its Closed Loop-branded service in the UK public sector for several years and was recently recognised for this when it picked up a Stationers' 2014 Innovation Excellence award (see picture below). A relatively new entrant into the closed loop market is wholesaler Spicers, which introduced the 5 Star Remarkable Loop programme to its Brilliant Partner dealers in January. The service has recently been rebranded to 5 Star Loop following the financial difficulties at eco-firm Remarkable that saw it placed into administration at the end of July. Spicers is now working with The Shredding Alliance and the service has not been affected.

Ramping up

Spicers Business Development Director Simon Wallis is responsible for the 5 Star Loop programme and is pleased with the start the project has made, although he admits that it was not really appropriate to push the initiative while the wholesaler was experiencing its servicing issues. However, he does have some major Spicers dealers on board and is now looking to ramp up the service as part of Spicers' 'bounce back' plan. "It's a learning curve and takes customers into a completely different world," says Wallis. "It's often a different contact with the customer too. Rather

The Banner Business Services team and partners with the Stationersʼ 2014 Innovation Excellence award for its Closed Loop paper recycling service

Green Thinking 2014

Spicers is set to expand its Loop initiative in early 2015

5 Star Loop in a nutshell • Branded bins are put in a customerʼs premises. • The customer puts waste paper into the provided bins. • When the reseller makes a delivery to the customer, full sacks of waste paper are collected. • The reseller takes the sacks back to its warehouse. • When Spicers makes an overnight delivery to the reseller, the sacks are collected.

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Some dealers are actually leading with this proposition

• The sacks go through the Spicers network to its central distribution centre in Birmingham. • The waste paper is passed to The Shredding Alliance, which then sorts and bales the paper and sends it to manufacturer Steinbeis in Germany. • Spicers buys 100% recycled paper in a 5 Star Loop wrap from Steinbeis and sells it back to the reseller.

than the buyer, it's the person responsible for a firm's environmental policy." Spicers has been working shoulder to shoulder with manufacturing partner Steinbeis to educate and train dealers' sales reps on how to sell the Loop service. The wholesaler has also created a set of marketing tools – including a two-anda-half-minute video, a brochure and an ecocalculator – which help reps communicate the concept and the process. "Some dealers are actually leading with this proposition," reveals Wallis. "They're telling prospects that they'll collect their waste paper free – which is something that businesses are often paying someone else to do – and then steam in and say, 'If we're collecting your paper, then with the same delivery we may as well deliver your stationery’." At a time when dealers are being encouraged to go stockless and use third-party delivery, closed loop is something that is aimed squarely at the still considerable number of resellers that do have their own vans and warehousing facilities – in fact it makes these assets more productive. Wallis believes the concept has a great deal of potential in the UK, where more than 90% of copier paper is still virgin fibre-sourced, and he says he wouldn't be surprised to see more large contract stationers enter the market. With Banner set to be merged with Vasanta as this publication goes to press, there could also be more opportunities for closed loop solutions from VOW-aligned dealers. ¥

Sponsored Article / tesa & Lyreco

Stamp of approval With its recent DIN CERTCO certification, tesa has set another milestone on the road to greater sustainability and consumer responsibility. In tandem with its reseller partners – one of them being Lyreco – it adds up to an overall convincing sustainability strategy

reen talking and greenwashing are not always a million miles apart, so any voluntarilyimplemented – and strictly audited – process by manufacturers is an achievement that not only benefits the ultimate end consumer, but also relationships with their reseller partners. The office products industry – like many others – is awash with claims about environmental credentials. Eco-

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more geared towards the DIY segment (see image bottom left).

Ongoing commitment

Having received this brand new certification, this is not the end of the road in terms of tesa’s commitment to sustainability, however. Falk Butterwegge, tesa’s Head of Office Supply, Stationery & Online, International Sales Consumer &

A control audit…will make sure that all the procedures are being applied correctly

labelling and certifications can back some of these claims up, but for recycled plastic materials, for example, there hasn’t been an independent certification available until recently. That has changed. In April of this year, tesa became the first manufacturer of adhesives tapes to be awarded with the DIN CERTCO certification seal ‘DINcertified recycled content’ for two of its product groups aimed squarely at the office products market – the tesafilm eco & clear® and tesapack eco & strong® (see image top right). Two other tesa products – the tesa extra Power® ECO REPAIR and tesa® Masking Tape ECO PREMIUM – have had a similar certification for over a year now, but are

Green Thinking 2014

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Craftsmen, explains: “A control audit, which in the future will take place once a year, will make sure that all the procedures are being applied correctly. It will determine if the content of recycled materials and the labelling of the product continue to meet all the certification requirements.” And the DIN CERTCO certification, issued by a subsidiary of the TÜV Rheinland Group (Association for Technical Inspection, organised regionally and nationwide) and the German Institute for Standardisation, is by no means just a national, homegrown seal that just carries weight in tesa’s home country of Germany.

“Due to the strict test criteria and the assessment by recognised experts, the DIN CERTCO certification enjoys a high national and international acceptance,” Butterwegge points out. “As such,” he adds, “consumers are offered valuable guidance for the selection of a professional and environmentallyfriendly adhesive tape.“ Geographically speaking, Central Europe and the Nordic countries particularly appreciate and recognise the added value of certified eco products, according to Butterwegge.

Broad appeal

The tape category is also a product segment that appeals equally to the B2C as well as the B2B sector. In fact, Butterwegge particularly highlights the B2B segment: “More and more public institutions and global companies require sustainable products. Hence, independent sustainable certifications are of interest especially for B2B resellers as they can underline their ecological competence by offering real green products.” For manufacturers to partner with operators that have a similarly strong sustainability policy is clearly a bonus in getting the message out to a broad and wide-ranging audience. Lyreco is one of tesa’s longstanding partners that has long supported the sustainable approach of the manufacturer. Indeed, the listing of tesa’s ecoLogo assortment at Lyreco has become a significant share of the reseller’s business.

Sponsored Article / tesa & Lyreco OPI spoke to Nasser Kahil, Lyreco’s Group Quality, Security & Sustainability Director, about what tesa’s DIN CERTCO certification means for their joint relationship and for the cause of environmentally preferable products (EPP) at large. OPI: How important is tesa’s DIN CERTCO certification in your opinion? In fact, what kind of sustainability claims do you get from your manufacturer partners and where does tesa stand in the overall picture? Nasser Kahil: With its eco DIN CERTCO certification, tesa’s approach is quite unique as it gives confidence about the

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tesa’s approach could definitely be used for all the product categories where there is no relevant Ecolabel and as a distributor, we hope that other suppliers will follow in the company’s footsteps, as this will simplify our overall green products assessment process and increase the level of trust of our customers. OPI: How does the DIN CERTCO certification fit into Lyreco’s own sustainability programme? NK: As part of Lyreco’s ‘Eco Future’ sustainability strategy, we have ten commitments we would like to cover

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With its certification, tesa goes one step further in its EPP journey and this goes hand in hand with the way we would like to work with our suppliers

product’s environmental credentials that are often primarily declared by the manufacturer. There are currently two types of environmental claims that we get from suppliers about their products: •

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The ‘certified claim’ that is based on a defined Ecolabel, such as FSC, the EU Flower, etc. These include independent audits. We do, however, not have a relevant and wideranging Ecolabel for all the product categories. The ‘self claim’ which is directly made by the manufacturer without the involvement of a third party to confirm 100% accuracy of the data.

It’s sometimes easy to say that a product has environmental credentials, such as being recyclable or containing recycled contents, but there are strict prerequisites – named qualifications in ISO standards, for example – to prove such claims are valid. With tesa’s DIN CERTCO certification, we feel secure in the knowledge that all the information has been duly and deeply checked. I had the opportunity to analyse the processes and requirements that are behind the DIN CERTCO certification; it is built on a strong and in-depth system in terms of production processes, testing criteria and audit methods.

with our continuous improvement approach. The first commitment is Environmental Protection, ie to ‘develop and strengthen our environmentally preferable products and services’. With its certification, tesa goes one step further in its EPP journey and this goes hand in hand with the way we would like to work with our suppliers, especially our Eco Future partners. OPI: Do you use the tesa certification in your own marketing efforts? NK: To be honest, we still need to work on that – in close collaboration with tesa. Most probably, this will be done as

part of our 2015 catalogue. As this certification is a new one, we will have to take special care in ensuring that the information is well understood by the customer. OPI: How would you describe your relationship with tesa overall? NK: Since 2012, we’ve had regular meetings, all focused on sustainability topics. It’s always a great opportunity to review the latest developments in our companies, share best practice and discuss new sustainability initiatives occurring in the industry. And of course, we also talk about possible new programmes we could launch and promote together. That said, our relationship is not limited to discussing and exploring EPP, as we also cover other sustainability issues including carbon footprint, waste management or social compliancy aspects. Here also, our approach is in line with Lyreco’s Eco Future sustainability strategy, as one of our economical success commitments is to ‘work with our suppliers through a sustainability programme and assessment’. For more information, visit www. lyreco.com and www.tesa.com

From left: Lyrecoʼs Nasser Kahil and tesaʼs Falk Butterwegge

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Category Focus / Paper

Chasing the

OPI asks leading pulp and paper manufacturers for an update on their environmental best practices within the industry

by Michelle Sturman

michelle.sturman@opi.net

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“Paper consumers are discovering that a very clear sustainable consumption solution for standard office paper is to choose lower basis weights…”

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here has been significant movement in terms of environmental policies in the past year or so particularly in Europe with the introduction of the European Timber Regulation (EUTR), the recent ‘Towards the Circular Economy’ series of measures introduced by the European Commission for a zero-waste economy and an updated EU climate and energy framework covering 2020-2030 which maps out a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a growth in renewable energy sources. As an industry that is frequently under fire for its environmental impact, pulp and paper manufacturers seem to be trying extremely hard and making great strides towards reducing the environmental impact on forests, manufacturing emissions and waste, as well as increasing the amount of certified and recycled paper available in the market. Dogwood Alliance Director Corporate Engagement Andrew Goldberg says the office products industry has continued to make progress on the path of continuous environmental improvement as it relates to its sourcing and sales of paper. He adds that there is also a continued focus on working with suppliers in the paper industry to increase certified paper and ensure that the paper is coming from the best practices in the woods. “This is a good thing and I think the pulp and paper industry has really begun to respond,” he says.

The challenges of sustainability While many pulp and paper manufacturers are making headway, there is still a broad range of

challenges facing the industry. Some of these include securing access to sustainable fibre, minimising manufacturing emissions such as CO2, the conservation of forests and responsible sourcing of raw materials as well as reducing water consumption. Many pulp and paper producers have taken positive steps towards educating clients and the public with some joining associations such as the Dogwood Alliance, Greenpeace and the WWF, as well as ensuring that the end paper product is Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, complies with the EUTR and the Lacey Act (a US law that includes a ban on the illegal trade of timber and paper) and is awarded with the EUEcolabel, for example. “The FSC remains the gold standard in certification: the only system recognised by the world’s leading ENGOs to address environmental issues such as the protection of high conservation value forests, limits on clear-cuts, limiting the use of chemicals in forest management and ending the practice of converting natural forests to tree plantations,” says Goldberg. Domtar, for example, recently celebrated the sale of its five millionth tonne of FSC-certified paper – a first for the US market. “This was made possible by the company’s offering of the EarthChoice product line and a broadening of the marketing message to ensure customers have access to the paper lifecycle information as well as sustainability data through fact sheets, FAQs, white papers, videos and quizzes,” says Domtar Sustainability Communications Manager Daniel Persica. Joining conservation groups and engaging with the scientific community is a vital part of a manufacturer’s ability to ensure they stay on

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Category Focus / Paper the correct environmental path and it makes business sense. “Identifying and understanding our sustainability material issues enables us to be part of the solution, which in turn secures the future prospects of our business and our communities,” says Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper Marketing and Sales Director Johannes Klump. To this end, he says, the company actively engages with ENGOs and the scientific community at a global, regional and local level, including WWF International, The Forest Dialogue, The HCV Resource Network and many others. Working this way, as of 2013, Mondi has 100% of leased, owned and managed forests that are FSC certified, and last year it planted 36 million seedlings; its biomass energy increased to 61%, and 65% of the wood it procured was certified FSC or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

Innovation can be sustainable As already demonstrated by Domtar, educating customers and end users is imperative for the industry in touting its environmental impact. Making it as easy as possible to understand the green credentials of paper is vital for the future of the industry as it battles against the rise of digital technology and struggles to get back to pre-recession levels of recycled paper. Paper merchant Antalis is playing an active role in supporting its customers in their own commitment to green paper and printing. Over the past year, it has been active in developing its Green Connection Initiative with the main objective of supporting companies in efforts to integrate paper into their CSR policies. Central to this is the Antalis Green Star System (GSS) which allows customers to make informed, responsible choices. “The GSS attributes a number of stars to each paper product according to its environmental credentials ranking the paper from zero to five stars. Even those unfamiliar with the growing number of ecological certifications can easily

WWF update OPI asked Emmanuelle Neyroumande, Pulp and Paper Global Manager at WWF International, for an update on the paper industry. OPI: Have there been any major developments over the past 12 months? Emmanuelle Neyroumande: The paper industry is going through a shift with reduction of production in OECD countries whereas emerging countries such as China see a continued growth. While this is going in the direction of a more balanced use of resources – and thus positive in the long run – some companies under financial constraints have started to cut their investments in sustainability, while in developing markets environmental performance is still at the start. For now, we still see general progress towards better environmental performance both in pledges and results. The question is whether this trend will continue under the current economic circumstances. The short-term concerns should not supersede the long-term aim of sustainable and responsbile business. OPI: What are the main issues with paper production/consumption? EN: For sourcing, the main issue is still the conversion of natural forests to plantations, particularly as several new pulp mills are planned in highly threatened areas. In manufacturing, the use of old mills is still polluting air and water. On the consumption side, we still see wasteful consumption in developed countries as well as low recovery rates of waste paper in emerging markets. Existing and new pulp and paper mills need to plan their sourcing so that it does not threaten natural forests or forests with High Conservation Values (as defined on www.hcvnetwork. org). Mills must also reduce energy use, GHG and water emissions as well

understand this simple star-rated system and identify the most environmentally friendly product that suits their specific requirements,” Antalis UK Environment Manager Matthew Botfield told OPI. Finding answers to the issue of sustainability in the consumption of office paper isn’t always easy, however, according to Grupo Portucel Soporcel Marketing Director Hermano Mendonça, who adds that a growing demand for innovation within these products is not all related to their recycled content. He says that a key challenge is to seek for more rational solutions that should

Calhoun mill in Tennessee

Green Thinking 2014

Category Focus / Paper as waste to landfill. Finally, the paper industry has a role to play in raising awareness of the value of paper to consumers – that it needs to be used responsibly and recycled after use. Companies can also participate further in paper recovery systems. OPI: Is there any new legislation that impacts the industry? EN: The EUTR aimed at eliminating illegally sourced timber products on the EU market is going to be revised soon. WWF advocates that printed books and brochures enter its scope. This will generate a level playing field in the print world, as well as trigger change in the Chinese industry and hopefully a drive to sustainable sourcing since most of these products entering Europe come from China. OPI: How effective is the FSC? EN: The FSC recently conducted its sixth general assembly, which I attended. Here, along with 500 other participants representing 80 countries – from diverse interest groups, including NGOs, industry, trade unions and representatives of indigenous groups – I experienced what grassroots democracy is. This is unique to FSC and is at the core of its credibility. Scientific studies conducted in different parts of the world show that FSC is indeed making a difference on the ground and in the lives of the peoples depending on the forest. However, much needs to be done to ensure that FSC certification can continue to grow. The paper industry has been a key driver of FSC certification until now and has also

“ ”

“Often the environmental impacts of digital alternatives to paper are simply not known”

helped raise awareness amongst consumers. It is important that this effort is maintained to ensure that more forests are better managed. OPI: What are WWF's main objectives for the paper industry? EN: WWF’s objectives are threefold: increasing FSC-certified fibre and recycled fibre input, increasing transparency of the pulp and paper industry in terms of global environmental performance, and better consumption and recovery of paper. We estimate the total recycled and FSC virgin fibre input in 2013 to be around 60% for all paper and board products globally. OPI: An update on the WWF Environmental Company Paper Index (EPCI)? EN: The EPCI is a key tool to enhance transparency in the paper sector. The next rating is planned for autumn 2015. In 2013 there was 14% of the pulp and paper production worldwide transparently reported. We hope that the 2015 rating will cover a larger number of producers and showcase increased environmental performance Emmanuelle Neyroumande of the sector.

incorporate recovered paper and others with virgin fibre. “Paper consumers are beginning to understand that a virgin fibre for office paper awarded with EU-Ecolobel, for example, is just as ecological and rational as recycled fibre with the same label,” he states. Mendonça says that in Europe, the office paper segment below 80 gsm grew at a CAGR of 10.6% between 2005 and 2013 and Infotrends forecasts that this segment will grow annually between 2011 and 2016. “Paper consumers are discovering that a very clear sustainable consumption solution for standard office papers is to choose lower basis weights, which is also seen as a viable alternative to this environmental consciousness,” explains Mendonça. The tree species used by Portucel allows the production of paper with less wood volume and the lower lignin content enables fewer chemicals used for pulping. “The paper is also a highly valuable resource for recycling due to the high content of virgin fibre and thicker fibre cell wall of Eucalyptus globulus,” adds Mendonça. Thanks to improved processing technologies and efficiency increases, Resolute Forest Products uses 50% less wood fibre in two of the most recent additions to its Align paper range.

“A $105-million investment in manufacturing infrastructure at the Calhoun mill in Tennessee has led to significant advancements in environmental footprint improvements since 2013, including the complete elimination of coal use and a 28,000-tonne annual reduction in GHG production,” Resolute Forest Products told OPI. As evidenced by Portucel and Resolute, all aspects of the pulp and paper lifecycle need to be carefully considered in order to make a positive impact on the environment and sustainability. International Paper (IP), for example, has implemented a delignification project at its Saillat Mill in France, in addition to already reducing air emissions – including GHG – and generating a large portion of the mill’s energy from biomass using wood from local sources. The $26-million delignification project will not only reduce chemical consumption, but will result in lower water emissions by around 30% with a corresponding improvement in water quality. Furthermore, the company has investigated its supply chain logistics and adjusted its transportation loads in Europe in line with legislation. Since an increase in truckload weights in 2010, IP is able to transport the same volume but with 2,000 fewer trucks, resulting in fewer CO2 emissions. Other measures

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Category Focus / Paper

include the use of more environmentally friendly trucks, reducing empty mileage, optimising routes and improving fuel consumption. The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has implemented a number of innovative projects over the past year, including the Two Teams Project, to identify breakthrough technologies to change the pulp and paper

Asia Pulp & Paper update Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has come under fire from all quarters in recent years for its alleged negative impact on the environment. APP European Director Lee Henderson gave OPI an update on where the company is now positioned in terms of its environmental and sustainability efforts. "In the past year or so APPʼs focus remains the ongoing implementation and development of its Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) which, when introduced in February 2013, committed the business to an immediate end to all natural forest clearance in its supply chain. The journey so far has been challenging; implementing a system of this type across 2.6 million hectares across of the largest archipelagos on earth has certainly been complicated. Since the introduction of the FCP, all assessments are now close to completion and the results will be part of APP's integrated sustainable forest management plans, currently under development. How APP operates publicly is of paramount importance we will continue to be fully transparent as we deliver against the commitments of the FCP. We will also include an independently commissioned audit by the Rainforest Alliance. The company has undertaken High Carbon Stock and High Conservation Value Assessments within its concession areas in order to understand and protect and preserve these values within our supply chain. A related initiative underway and launched in April 2014 is the companyʼs

Green Thinking 2014

manufacturing and to allow for a low carbon economy. This has resulted in eight patentable concepts and has been identified as highly pioneering work in the sector and by the European Commission (visit http://twoteam. unfoldthefuture.eu). However, CEPI does recognise that although paper production and consumption are undergoing significant structural changes, which makes the industry’s commitment to sustainability difficult to manage, the confederation’s Sustainability Director Jori Ringman says that they are also struggling with people’s unjustified preoccupations, such as believing paper is a worse alternative to digital media and similar 'ill-founded' claims. “Often the environmental impacts of the digital alternative to paper are simply not known. It is not sure that printing an email, for example, has more impact compared to the host of servers and equipment needed for transmitting and storing emails.” For the full Q&A interviews with leading paper manufacturers, please visit the Sustainability/ Green section on opi.net. ¥

commitment to support the conservation and restoration of one million hectares of priority landscapes in Indonesia. This is a landscape-level approach to forest restoration and conservation; the sustainability of the entire landscape must be taken into account and we are currently working in consultation with a range of stakeholders Lee Henderson to both develop plans and attract other partners that are operating in the landscapes concerned. The FCP, while critical to our business, is only part of our wider Sustainability Roadmap-Vision 2020. It covers 11 impact areas including emissions, water management and solid waste. In September this year, APP was asked to be a signatory of the New York Declaration on Forests at the United Nations Climate Summit. Our involvement in this and the recognition from the UN shows how far APP has come in short period of time and reinforces the positive reception of our forest conservation policy globally."

Vendor Profile / Schneider Schreibgeräte

i g n w i e t r Th on the wall

Since September of this year, Schneider Schreibgeräte has been offering its Slider series of writing instruments as a climate-neutral option, becoming the sector’s first brand to do so. OPI spoke to Schneider to find out more about its latest sustainability efforts… OPI: What prompted Schneider to offer the Slider series of pens as a climateneutral product range? Christian Schneider: Schneider Schreibgeräte has taken the concept of sustainability very seriously for many years now, with environmental responsibilities firmly anchored in the company’s CSR policy. Since 1998, we have been following professional environmental policies in line with the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), a management instrument developed by the European Commission for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance. EMAS is the strictest environmental management system in the world. We’ve had this certification renewed on a regular basis since that time, with the environmental declarations demonstrating continual improvements in environmental performance. Offering a climate-neutral range was the natural next step for us, so we began working with ClimatePartner to become even more active in climate protection. We wanted to integrate our sustainability focus directly with the product itself, thereby

Green Thinking 2014

making our policies and beliefs that much more tangible for our customers. OPI: Can you tell me a bit more about ClimatePartner? CS: Of course. ClimatePartner is a leading business solutions provider in the area of climate protection, supporting companies from all fields. The company is a pioneer in integrative climate protection software and enables its clients to carry out efficient carbon management. In conjunction with ClimatePartner, Schneider has been calculating and logging the carbon footprint for our entire company.

Calculating the carbon footprint provides an array of other advantages, too. Analysing the data gives an overview of all business divisions and enables us to identify where there is the potential for reduction in terms of energy consumption, resource use and carbon emissions. For example, we learned that 75% of our carbon footprint, ie the vast majority of emissions, comes from the raw materials Schneider purchases. Our objective is to reduce that percentage and the level of emissions. That means the next step will be to intensively expand our environmental management to also include suppliers, ensuring complete consistency throughout the entire value chain.

OPI: What have you learned from that process so far and what’s been the outcome? CS: The corporate carbon footprint discloses how much CO2 is generated by all of our activities. That footprint is then used as the foundation for developing concepts to reduce carbon emissions.

OPI: How can you realistically bring that percentage number – and the amount of emissions – down substantially? CS: Well, we cannot really reduce the amount of raw material we use per se, but we can analyse which type of raw materials produce the most emissions. Knowing that, we can then see if we can substitute that specific material with another, for example.

Vendor Profile / Schneider Schreibgeräte OPI: Does that mean you are supporting a carbon offset project outside of your own company and away from your site? CS: That’s correct. We are supporting an internationally recognised and certified project in North Rhine-Westphalia whereby emissions can be reduced with a transition to energy-efficient and/or regenerative boilers and furnaces.

We also aim to reduce supply sources and avoid long transportation journeys. Schneider has always chosen and preferred suppliers with their own environmental management policies, but the next step will be to specifically ask our suppliers to offer climate-neutral products to us. The intent is to motivate them to become an active participant of our environmental efforts. As such, we would become the driving force behind expanding our philosophy to protect the environment to others all along the supply chain. OPI: Where is the connection between the entire company’s carbon footprint and your decision to make the Slider series climate neutral? CS: Just like the corporate carbon footprint is used to reveal avoidable emissions throughout the company, the product carbon footprint quantifies the degree to which carbon emissions are generated by individual products. Thus the product carbon footprint that was identified for the Slider series provides Schneider with the opportunity to reduce these emissions. There will always be emissions that cannot be avoided, of course, so in collaboration with ClimatePartner Schneider has offset the exact volume of emissions generated by the Slider series by supporting an internationally recognised and certified carbon offset project. The process makes it possible to make a product completely climate neutral. And since greenhouse gases disperse evenly throughout the atmosphere, it is irrelevant whether CO2 is saved at the site where it is emitted or elsewhere.

The calculation of a product’s carbon footprint and the offsetting of emissions is possible for all products we produce. However, offsetting these emissions comes at a price and everybody should contribute to paying that price. As I mentioned before, we know that 75% of our carbon emissions come from our suppliers. We cannot offset the emissions of all the raw materials we use, but we expect our suppliers to offer solutions to reduce those emissions caused by their products. They have to contribute and take responsibility. If they do, that will already have a big knock-on effect. So back to your question, it would be great and I’m sure there will come a time when our customers want to buy all of our products climate neutral. In theory, we could offer any product as a climate neutral option now, but it is of course somewhat dependent on customer demand and the ultimate cost associated with making that happen.

OPI: What other added value does the climate-neutral Slider series offer your customers? CS: Many consumers ask for and prefer sustainable products. Specialist dealers can use the Slider series to expand their product line and reach new target groups. Since the pricing of the Slider series will not change, it will also be easy for consumers to make the decision to go with sustainable products – there is no excuse for not using them. Today, there are many companies directly involved in environmental protection that are looking to implement a climate protection and ‘green office’ OPI: On the strategy. sustainability With the front and to climate-neutral conclude, in our Slider series, last edition of Schneider Green Thinking is offering a year ago, we a building reported on block, thereby the free e-bike contributing to scheme that improvement in your employees environmental can use. How performance. is that project Moreover, our Schneider CEO Christian Schneider with his electric car progressing now? commercial customers can use the Slider series to CS: The e-bike scheme and our whole transportation policy – a key component establish a competitive advantage using of the environmental footprint discussion the low environmental impact of these – are progressing well. We now have products. around 54 active cyclists using our free e-bikes to get to work instead of driving OPI: Why did you choose the Slider series a car. There is also a free company bus, as your first climate-neutral range? meaning emissions are being further CS: The Slider is our most popular reduced during the commute to work. product series internationally and has Since May, we’ve also had an electric experienced the biggest growth in sales car available in our fleet for shorter over the past two years. We have run business trips. Whenever feasible, many promotions, roadshows, etc, and however, rail has always been the wanted to give this range another USP. mandatory form of transportation for business trips at Schneider. OPI: Do you foresee other ranges to follow in the climate-neutral footsteps? OPI: That about wraps it up – thank you. CS: The fact that we offer the Slider series as climate neutral should be seen For more information, visit www. as an initiative to highlight the emissions schneiderpen.com/we-care ¥ caused by consumer goods.

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LED Lighting

Getting the

by Michelle Sturman

michelle.sturman@opi.net

cross the world, similar legislation has or is being signed into law that effectively phases out the use of incandescent light bulbs as they no longer meet the stringent criteria for efficiency. Nordic reseller Wulff’s LED Operations Managing Director Petri Kautonen says that, while LED lighting has been gaining popularity with consumers over the past decade, it is only during the

“

Updated legislation, austerity measures and the increasing awareness of environmental issues have created a tipping point for LED lighting lighting products). This translates into fewer lamps being manufactured and therefore less packaging and a reduction in transportation needs. Unlike traditional incandescent lighting, LED lights contain no mercury, which means at the end of life there are no toxic substances leeching into waterways harming the environment. LED bulbs last on average 50,000 hours –

”

“Using LEDs, the spectral quality and the continuous change of colour temperature in natural daylight can be translated into the ofﬁce for increased welfare and a higher ability to concentrate”

past couple of years that institutional property owners have started showing an interest in LED lighting renovations. “Demand is being fuelled by the current energy prices, environmental issues and values, and partly by legislation on these matters,” he notes.

Lighting up

Numerous studies have shown that LED lights are the ‘greenest’ lighting solution as the overall environmental impact is reduced over time due to a longer product lifetime (see also ‘Lifecycle assessment of energy and environmental impacts of LED

Green Thinking 2014

much longer than any other bulb on the market – and fade gradually, therefore requiring minimal servicing, which is particularly beneficial for spaces or buildings that may be relatively inaccessible, further reducing the carbon footprint as well as maintenance costs. LEDs consume considerably less power than other lights, thus reducing CO2 consumption dramatically. “Energy savings of up to 80% are quite common when switching between incandescent lights and

LEDs,” says 3M Corporate Services Business Development Manager Mark Wollner. “ We can show businesses unbelievable energy savings with an ROI of typically less than one year.” As LEDs are manufactured as solidstate components, there is no glass to break, making them more robust than other lamps – particularly useful in buildings or areas where there is a risk of repeatedly damaging light fixtures. ‘Smart lighting’ is another area that is growing as it utilises intelligent light control systems to control energy consumption based on movement, colour, temperature and occupancy. In offices where there are motion sensors to control lighting, for example, LED lights are perfect as they can be dimmed or frequently switched on and off without

LED Lighting any loss of lifespan. Similarly, LEDs in use in environments with extremes of temperature are a great solution as they turn on instantly while maintaining performance. Most commonly, industrial, commercial and public buildings are deploying smart lighting systems, but it is expected that more non-commercial applications will be requested as prices drop and the internet of things becomes more of a reality and widespread. The integration of smart lighting solutions with wireless technology is expected to push this market and LEDs are increasingly being used for such technology solutions due to their energy efficiency. Samsung, for example, has recently showcased a Bluetooth-enabled smart LED light bulb that enables users to control their lighting directly from any smart device.

Human centric lighting

New research into lighting and the impact on human behaviour, and in particular on productivity in the work environment, further encourages the deployment of LED lighting. The health and wellness benefits of colour-tunable lighting are known as Human Centric Lighting (HCL), which primarily deals with the ability to dim and ‘tune’ light colour. It has been known for many years that light affects circadian rhythms in humans which regulate the internal body clock and can affect mood. A study by Lighting Europe and the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association undertaken last year found that HCL can “improve concentration, safety and efficiency in workplace or educational environments. It can support healing processes and prevention of chronic disease among persons with irregular daily routines or in elderly care.” Kaut-Bullinger’s lighting solutions partner, Kiteo, focuses on Human Centric Lighting, for example. “The use of LEDs in offices is developing fast alongside the new possibilities and features in this type of lighting, such as the adjustability of light colour according to human well-being,” says Miriam Döhner, Sales Manager at Kiteo. “Since sunlight is vital for health and well-being, any artificial lighting solution should match the characteristics of sunlight as closely

Eight things you should know about LEDs 1.

2. 3. 4.

6. 7.

An LED is a type of solid-state lighting that uses a semiconductor to convert electricity into light. Todayʼs LED bulbs can be 6-7 times more energy-efficient than conventional incandescent lights and cut energy use by more than 80%. Good-quality LED bulbs can have a useful life of 25,000 hours or more – they can last more than 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs use energy far more efficiently with little wasted heat. LEDs are used in a wide range of applications because of their unique characteristics, which include compact size, ease of maintenance, resistance to breakage, and the ability to focus the light in a single direction instead of being omnidirectional. LEDs contain no mercury, and a recent US Energy Department study determined that LEDs have a much smaller environmental impact than incandescent bulbs. They also have an edge over compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) thatʼs expected to grow over the next few years as LED technology continues its steady improvement. Since the US Energy Department started funding solid-state lighting R&D in 2000, these projects have received 58 patents. Nick Holonyak invented the first visible-spectrum LED while working for GE in 1962. Between 2011 and 2012, global sales of LED replacement bulbs increased by 22% while the cost of a 60-watt equivalent LED bulb fell by nearly 40%. By 2030, it's estimated that LEDs will account for 75% of all lighting sales. In 2012, about 49 million LEDs were installed in the US saving about $675 million in annual energy costs. Switching entirely to LED lights over the next 20 years could save the US $250 billion in energy costs, reduce electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50% and avoid 1,800 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

Source: www.Energy.gov

as possible. Using LEDs, the spectral quality and the continuous change of colour temperature in natural daylight can be translated into the office for increased welfare and a higher ability to concentrate,” she adds. As opposed to traditional lighting that relies on a unidirectional distribution of light, HCL uses a combination of multiple directions, illuminance and colour temperatures. “Employee performance can be increased sustainably. Studies report performance improvements of up to 30%, coupled with greater motivation and therefore more productivity,” says Döhner. LED lighting is definitely up and coming in all sectors of the market as prices are beginning to slowly drop and there is plenty of scope for business – an estimated 300 million incandescent bulbs need to be replaced in the US alone. In the UK, research by Ama Research estimated the LED lighting industry to be worth around £330 million ($530 million) last

year, with a high forecast of growth in vertical sectors such as leisure, health and education. “The buzz surrounding LEDs is certainly warranted due to the benefits they can provide to end users. For manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors they also deliver some lucrative opportunities compared to traditional lighting,” says Marcus Brodin, Commercial Director of Future Energy Solutions. However, he adds, there is a plethora of poor quality products that

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LED Lighting has infiltrated the UK market, with bold claims that can’t be backed up, making it difficult for buyers who might be embarking on a project for the first time. “My advice is to research thoroughly, buy smart and buy well,” he warns.

Early adopters

Globally, business and industrial markets have been the early adopters of LED lighting which, 3M’s Wollner says, presents endless opportunities for the commercial side of the lighting business. “Anyone who is presently using an incandescent bulb must now find another product to fit in that socket. Just in the US alone, there are 3.3 billion A19 light bulb sockets,” he adds. And there are already some traditional office products dealers conducting business in this market. “We are seeing the beginning of a new trend towards LED lighting that independent office supply dealers should

capitalise on now in order to maximise their market opportunities in the future. In my opinion, over the next 3-5 years everyone will be switching to LED

“

Green Thinking 2014

”

“The largest obstacle to overcome is that lighting buyers would not traditionally look to ofﬁce suppliers for their product”

lighting technology,” says Independent Stationers (IS) National Account Business Development Manager and Sustainability Strategist Scott Zintz. Earlier this year IS entered into a partnership with Trans-Lux which provides its members with a full service LED lighting solution to integrate into their own facilities, and to offer to their customer base. Backed by IS, Rosa’s Office Plus in the US recently ventured into the LED market after the dealer group introduced the opportunity. “Today, we have two separate LED vendors supporting our efforts to use and sell LED lighting,” says Rosa Office Plus CEO John Hauptstueck. Hauptstueck adds that there are a number of reasons why the LED market is gaining ground: a reduction in price, recent legislation regarding the manufacture of fluorescent lamps, incentives from utility companies to move to LED, and the environmental benefits due to a reduction in energy consumption and carbon footprint. He says that as the company takes on the role of a full solutions provider, it

Lifecycle assessment of energy and environmental impacts of LED lighting products A survey undertaken by the US Department of Energy studied the materials and energy resources used by LEDs to accurately gauge the full energy and environmental impact over their entire lifecycle. The study found that the lifecycle energy consumption of LEDs and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) was comparable, using around one quarter of the energy of traditional incandescent lamps. However, an LED light had a considerably lower environmental impact than an incandescent, and slightly lower than a CFL. An LED lamp was found to be less harmful to the environment than a CFL except on hazardous

looks at everything its clients need help resolving. In the case of lighting, most of Rosa’s clients are still using fluorescent lighting.

waste landfill due to its aluminium heat sink. The report did state that the heat sink found on LED lamps is expected to decrease in size, with recycling efforts further improving its environmental impact. Overall, the LED light projected to be available in 2017 performed the best; its environmental impact is expected to be around 50% lower than a 2012 LED lamp and around 70% lower than a CFL. The full report can be downloaded from www. ssl.energy.gov/tech_reports.html Source: US Department of Energy

Upon advice from IS, Hauptstueck is now using Rosa’s as a showroom for LED lighting. “We doubled our warehouse lumen output and our retail store looks cleaner, brighter and colourful. We have had clients ask if we remodelled or repainted. When we share with them how easy the conversion was to LED they ask us to come and provide an example in their operations,” he says. Hauptsteuck adds that demonstrating LED lighting in his own business was key for proving the technology and the company is gaining leads on a daily basis. “Plus, we can tout our energy savings with confidence.” In Europe, Wulff is working in partnership with Finland-based LED lighting solutions company Ecotale Oy. Says Wulff’s Kautonen: “It seems that the LED industry requires very little technical understanding from resellers. We operate with Ecotale Oy which offers its contract resellers extensive training and technical support. The business model is capital light: in project sales, it is not necessary to invest funds into maintaining a large stock.” IS’s Zintz encourages dealers to think of LED lighting as a natural product extension for those already expanding into the facilities and cleaning supply arenas. “You’re already speaking to the decision makers and there is no reason it shouldn’t be a cross-selling opportunity, especially as many newer LED products are plug and play and office supply resellers can take advantage of current directbuy relationships and be competitively priced on lighting products.” He adds: “The largest obstacle to overcome is that lighting buyers would not traditionally look to office suppliers for their product. I have been on dozens of sales calls presenting LED lighting on behalf of IS dealers and most of these customers are excited to combine their orders for facilities products, office products and LED lighting.” ¥

Green Jan/san

Green and clean As businesses become more eco-aware, the jan/san sector is playing its part by making products designed to keep the workspace clean while minimising their environmental impact by David Holes

s the ‘greening’ of the office gathers pace, many businesses and industries are either voluntarily changing or being forced to change their practices and this is influencing the range of jan/san products they produce or sell. Every day, vast quantities of chemicals and other cleaning substances are being used to keep offices and workplaces sanitary. Ensuring that these products are safe, have minimal impact on the environment and are manufactured in a sustainable manner is seen as increasingly vital by many players in the supply chain.

Green solutions

Ralph Bianculli Jr, VP at Paradigm Products, the manufacturer of the Emerald Brand Green Collection, says

Green Thinking 2014

the company is experiencing a strong demand for green solutions: “I use the term ‘solutions’ because, while there are many green products, there’s a shortage of true solutions”, he explains. “We’ve found that 86% of large companies have at least one employee focused full-time on sustainability, and the UN Global Compact Accenture study reported that 93% of CEOs see it as important to the future success of their business.

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sound manufacturing process. “We invest millions of euros each year in sustainability by reducing water usage and only using pulp from FSC-certified [Forest Stewardship Council] wood,” says Marketing Assistant Viviane Gueli. “We’re increasing our use of solar energy and are constantly looking to reduce our CO2 emissions – the battle against climate change is what we see as the ‘new green’. Our KraftTech line is a

”

I use the term ʻsolutionsʼ because, while there are many green products, thereʼs a shortage of true solutions

Sustainability is not a trend, it’s here to stay and what we’ve seen to date in terms of demand is just the tip of the iceberg.” Sofidel in Italy is one of the leading European manufacturers of paper for hygienic use and a keen exponent of the need for an environmentally-

great example of a sustainable product – 100% recycled, strong, powerful and sold at an honest price. Our BioTech toilet paper is another that’s shaking up the hygiene world.” In the US, Kimberly-Clark Professional is also a jan/san

Green Jan/san

manufacturer that values its green credentials and North America Sustainability Marketing Leader Iris Schumacher is proud of its track record: “We practiced sustainable forestry before the term was popular. We were the first company in North America to seek FSC chain-of-custody certification, the gold standard of responsible forestry. We’re now looking to use alternative non-tree fibres to further conserve natural resources.”

responsibility to minimise the footprint of our paper making. Every employee understands this fact and undergoes environmental training when hired. Soundview uses 190,000 tonnes of recycled fibre to make our products that would otherwise go to landfill, plus we focus on reducing energy, water and chemical use and transport logistics to reduce carbon emissions.” Paradigm’s Bianculli says demand from end users for green products in the hygiene area is getting stronger by the day and believes a mix of three factors is causing this: “Firstly, the millennial generation is hitting decision-making levels. Secondly, there are governmental pressures and mandates for the private sector to reduce its carbon footprint and report these reductions. Lastly, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming a more important and influential factor for shareholders.” And this demand from the ultimate end users filters through to the reseller community. As Paul Wonnacott, Managing Director of Vectair Systems, puts it: “Our distributors are now demanding strong environmental credentials of their manufacturers to match their own CSR programmes. Customers want to identify products that are both green and healthy. “We see ourselves as technological leaders in the hygiene world and want to create the greenest and most sustainable products on the market. For example, our V-Air SOLID air freshener is completely free from any propellants, solvents, HFCs and completely VOC exempt, making it one of the safest you can buy.” Kasia Holland, Account Manager at Kleinmann, tells a similar tale, saying: “The majority of our customers are

Driving the green agenda Noel Huebner, Director of Marketing – Alternate Channels at Soundview Paper Products in New Jersey, says sustainability lies at the very heart of its philosophy. “Paper manufacturing is among the most resource-intensive industrial activities, consuming vast amounts of fibre, energy, water and chemicals. People rarely recycle the Marcal towel and tissue paper we produce which makes it largely a single-use product. As such we have a

Kasia Holland

environmentally aware and demand products that are both environmentally safe and effective. We’ve made a number of changes to achieve this, including switching from alcohol-based cleaning chemicals to water-based solutions. We also use solvent-free inks on our labels and all our packaging is made from 100% recycled material and is 100% recyclable too.” Regulatory standards like REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) are also leading to more rigorous classification of substances, prompting companies to reassess their products and processes says Holland, adding: “Many industries simply must replace outdated technologies to achieve higher environmental standards if they want to ensure their products can be sold in lucrative markets such as Europe.”

Dispelling myths

On the other side of our beleaguered planet, Jo Oakley, Buyer Kitchen & Cleaning at Officeworks in Australia, points out that it’s not just altruism that’s driving green sales, however: “Businesses are looking for a chance to enhance their green credentials and reduce their reliance on chemicals that are hazardous. This, along with the heated debate about climate change in Australia, is increasing the demand for sustainable and environmentallyfriendly products and we’re responding by expanding our range of green jan/san products.” Soundview’s Huebner reiterates the importance of appreciating the environmental footprint and not just the price. He says: “Some products, especially low-cost imports, are often made from non-sustainable virgin fibre that’s been transported thousands of miles. While these might be well priced, the products’ true environmental cost must be considered.” David Baumgarten, EVP at Baumgartens in Atlanta, Georgia, sums it up succinctly: “Doing nothing is no longer acceptable from a moral standpoint, nor is it acceptable to our shareholders.” (See also ‘The new bottom line’, page 44) The view that’s often perpetuated is that green cleaning products are the poor cousins of ‘proper’ alternatives

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Green Jan/san and this can prevent some companies from adopting them. Kimberly-Clark Professional’s Schumacher accepts that this perception can present a problem, but says it’s a myth that

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efficiency through reduced water and energy use is both beneficial for the environment and the bottom line.” As Bianculli puts it: “The demand is there and growing daily. Everyone is

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Maintaining a sustainable manufacturing strategy doesnʼt mean youʼre adding cost

needs challenging: “People in general sometimes see green cleaning products as less effective and more expensive than their regular counterparts. We are actively working at changing these misconceptions among our customers and dealers.” Bill Balek, Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at cleaning trade association ISSA is in agreement: “The mistaken belief that green products do not perform well or are too expensive continues to present a challenge to their proliferation. However, with today’s advanced technologies, the industry is in fact producing high-performance products which minimise the impact on the environment while promoting human health and safety. They’re also competitive on price and the reality is that most offices that convert to green cleaning actually experience cost savings.” Kimberly-Clark Professional is a good example of a company that has seen green as well as financial benefits. In 2013 it gave its HQ in Roswell, Georgia, a complete green makeover and achieved the highest level of LEED certification from the US Green Building Council, LEED Platinum. The building now uses 30% less water due to lowflowing plumbing systems and 13% less electricity due to sensor-activated lighting. “It was particularly challenging in a 30-year-old building,” says Schumacher, “but we wanted to live our sustainability beliefs and it shows what can be done.” It’s a similar story of potential cost saving from the manufacturing perspective, says Soundview’s Huebner: “Maintaining a sustainable manufacturing strategy doesn’t mean you’re adding cost. Bill Balek Improving

Green Thinking 2014

talking green. The key is to deliver a solution that’s cost-effective, doesn’t compromise on quality and can drive awareness, marketing and measurement tools to a client. If you can achieve those three factors, it’s hard to lose.” Education is seen by many as vital to changing attitudes. ISSA promotes high-performance green cleaning and sustainability through its Cleaning Industry Management Standard – Green Building initiative. This programme started in the US, but has recently been introduced to the UK and ISSA is hoping to expand it throughout Europe and beyond. In addition, the ISSA Green Cleaning University offers a range of ten courses which individuals can take to gain green expertise and work towards the industry title of ISSA Green Cleaning Professional (for more information, visit www.issa.com). Bianculli is also a firm believer in the need to educate the decision makers of the future: “We participate in student seminars at colleges and universities to educate on the importance and growth potential of the environmental movement. We see this as a true ‘grass roots’ development perpetuated by the millennial generation.”

Green futures

So what does the future hold for the green jan/san sector and what challenges does it face? ‘Greenwashing’ or misleadingly claiming that a product is eco-friendly remains a problem that needs tackling in the jan/ san sector, according to Schumacher, meaning that proper certification of truly green products has become more and more important.

V-Air SOLID air freshener She also sees the increasing use of recycled material and non-tree fibres as a growing trend: “Our use of rapidly renewable bamboo and locally-sourced wheat straw to make products that are high quality yet competitive on costs demonstrates this fibre innovation.” Baumgarten agrees, citing its Qi Bamboo range of products as a good example of using alternative sustainable materials. He also notices a shift in the way green products are becoming more mainstream: “The world is burgeoning with new and exciting raw materials made of natural waste. We see a time where the mass market will be selling items made from these in retail long before they’ll be available in the office and school supply channel.” Schumacher predicts that landfill diversion strategies will be another big driver in the future, explaining that these are the efforts to reduce environmental impact from a customer’s facility, through initiatives such as composting, closed-loop programmes and zero waste to landfill goals. The greening of the office is an unstoppable trend and the jan/san sector has an important role to play here. ISSA’s Balek is keen to give credit: “The jan/san industry has stepped up to the plate. It’s developed the necessary platforms and systems to help customers meet their sustainability goals while enhancing the health and sanitary conditions of the built environment.” Manufacturers, distributors and end users of green jan/san products, please take a bow. ¥

Logistics & Delivery

Delivering environmentally friendly logistics Implementing a ‘green’ logistics plan can have a positive impact on both the environment and the bottom line A staple delivery

Staples’ Director of Sustainable Products & Services Jake Swenson discusses the reseller’s green logistics and delivery efforts. OPI: Can you explain Staples’ green delivery/logistics plan in the US? Jake Swenson: Staples currently operates a fleet of 53 Smith all-electric trucks across multiple states including California, Missouri and Ohio. On average, this fleet displaces a total of 106,000 gallons (400,000 litres) of diesel fuel each year, helping us tremendously reduce the overall carbon impact of our delivery fleet. In addition, we’ve worked to limit the top speed of our trucks to 60 mph (90 kph) and implemented idle reduction technologies to drive down fuel consumption for our diesel-powered trucks. As part of the ongoing effort to reduce the impact of our supply chain on the environment, we also offer small order and delivery consolidation programmes to our Staples Advantage customers, and have rolled out Smartsize packaging to more than 75% of our network to date. Since its introduction, Smartsize packaging has helped us improve the amount of products we’re able to pack per box by 2%, allowing us to ship more effectively and efficiently. We also recently began testing Ford propanepowered trucks in Detroit to identify more viable and green alternatives to diesel-powered delivery trucks. Finally, as an EPA SmartWay Partner, we actively seek partnerships with third-party logistics companies and carriers that specialise in efficient operations, and we work with them to expand our ability to implement new cost and fuel-saving strategies. OPI: What impact has all this had on your bottom line? JS: The most notable impact has been the cost savings we have been able to pass on to our customers. We’re proud of the fact that our green delivery service meets customers’ needs at the level of service they have become accustomed to, more cost efficiently and with less packaging. OPI: How important is the sourcing of products? JS: As part of our sustainability programmes, we work to understand the key environmental and social impact areas of the products we source and resell across their lifecycle. Transportation certainly contributes to the overall impact, but we’ve realised that these impacts vary significantly based on product type. To that end, identifying which products have the highest impact is key to helping us make smarter sourcing decisions. OPI: Does same-day/next-day delivery complicate the green delivery process? JS: Understanding each customer’s unique set of needs is essential in the delivery process. While some customers are able to be more flexible with delivery times, others aren’t. Whether its adjusting delivery times, offering next-day or same-day delivery or simply providing accurate shipping details, our job is to meet these varying needs the best we can. ¥

Green Thinking 2014

Dealer group view Scott Zintz, National Account Business Development Manager and Sustainability Strategist, Independent Stationers (IS) I feel that we have been our own worst enemy over the past decade pushing the next-day delivery model. In most cases, next-day delivery is not necessary, but buyers have become so accustomed to it that it is difficult to change. Many customers, especially those more green minded, would welcome less frequent deliveries as they are also striving to promote sustainability. Increasingly, office supply customers are asking their suppliers for greener delivery solutions and independent resellers need to have those solutions. There are fuel-efficient options on the market today including electric, hybrid, bio-fuel and even natural gas-powered delivery vehicles, but they are often expensive and the ROI might not make sense depending on the delivery area being covered and the region of the US in question. Another solution available is to calculate and offset the delivery footprint using verified carbon offsets. IS recently partnered with Terrapass to offset the local delivery footprint for one of our largest customers, and we are in conversation to make this programme available for all our dealers and customers. The green delivery question is being asked in almost every office supply bid that I participate in, so I feel this is a programme that will continue to develop.

Vendor view Matthew Botfield, Environment Manager, Antalis UK Antalis is very conscious of its environmental impact and therefore uses an advanced route planning system and remote tracking software (Isotrak), allowing for real time fleet management and resulting in a reduced RDC footprint. All of our deliveries are as green as possible – we have a modern fleet of delivery vehicles with the best in class for fuel economy. While much of our supply chain is sourced overseas, Antalis insists on trading with companies that have strong environmental credentials. Moreover, many of our products are completely recyclable. We offer a range of delivery options for customers depending on their needs. Sometimes a same-day delivery is the greenest option depending on load fill, but there are other factors that also come into play, such as location, timescale and cost. Whenever possible, we always look at the best option that offers the least environmental impact for our customers.