Packaging
Corporate Express Reduces Packaging and Carbon Emissions With Launch of New Box Sizes
Friday 04. July 2008 - Corporate Express Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporate Express NV (Euronext: CXP and NYSE: CXP) and one of the world's largest business-to-business suppliers of essential business supplies and services, announced today that the Company is introducing two new box sizes into its delivery operations.
In addition to the current small, medium and large boxes and biodegradable jiffy bags for smaller orders, Corporate Express is adding two corrugated board boxes that are the same height as the current small and medium boxes, but half of the base size.
As part of the Company’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact, Corporate Express enlisted the help of Enviros, a specialist environmental consultancy, to review the carbon footprint of its delivery boxes and the packaging available. The review included the option of reusable tote boxes, liners and additional smaller cardboard boxes. Following this review, Corporate Express has decided the best option is to introduce a set of two smaller, cardboard boxes, with half the base size of the existing boxes.
“Looking at Corporate Express’ distribution model, we suggested the smaller boxes option,” said Peter Aggett, Technical Director of Enviros. “The benefits of using an additional two smaller boxes include savings in volume of goods shipped, a reduction in CO2e emissions and a reduction in corrugated board disposed by customers and the ability of Corporate Express to use the smaller boxes through all distribution channels.”
“These two new boxes are branded the same as the current boxes, made from 100% recycled materials and are fully recyclable,” said Don Baston, Logistics Director for Corporate Express. “The new box sizes help us reduce packaging, without having to cut boxes and recycle the extra packaging waste. The new sizes also reduce the cube fill of our delivery vehicles, allowing us to fit more boxes onto each vehicle.”
The new boxes will be used for orders that are too big to go out in a bag, and too small for the previous smallest box with the larger base. According to Enviros (based on Corporate Express’ average usage), Corporate Express expects these new boxes to reduce the volume of cardboard shipped to our customers by 6,300 m3 (148 tonnes) per annum. This is expected to deliver a reduction in CO2e emissions of 208 tonnes per annum.
The boxes will be made from 100% recycled materials and plastic film will not be used to seal the contents inside. In addition, Corporate Express has changed the board used in their other boxes to include 100% recycled material. The board has the same strength in transit as the old boxes.