Office products reseller OfficeMax’s commitment to the environment has been recognised by the Landcare Research Enviro-Mark programme.
The company is one of only 11 local companies to be awarded diamond certification – the highest level of recognition.
The Enviro-Mark NZ programme aims to help businesses reduce their environmental impact and recognises their achievement via certification. To gain diamond status OfficeMax had to achieve a total of five Enviro-Mark levels, which included bronze, silver, gold and platinum through an independent third party auditor.
OfficeMax had to develop an internal environmental management system.
This system covered everything from reducing electricity and fuel consumption through to recycling packaging waste.
Managing director Kevin Obern says getting to the highest level took considerable investment but the result is worth it.
“When we reduce our energy consumption we reduce the associated costs – so the environmental benefits from fewer emissions and the business benefits from a reduction in overheads.
“It is our hope that when customers, staff, suppliers and everyone we have contact with see OfficeMax’s commitment to the environment that they consider if they could also make a positive impact on the environment,” he says.