For many of our customers, and for most organisations in the UK, a significant amount of business-related environmental impact comes from the supply chain. This means most of the impact is indirect, rather than direct, hence why consideration for the products being purchased is so crucial.
To help contextualise the potential impact of our Green Leaf-Marked products, we’re showcasing how we work with key partners, such as Kimberly Clark, to bring more sustainable product options to our customers.
What does Kimberly Clark have to offer?
Kimberly Clark is one of Office Depot’s key facilities partners. Working together, we offer our customers innovative and effective washroom solutions, such as toilet tissue and hygiene systems.
These products cater to almost any industry, from office spaces to educational facilities and specialised healthcare settings. At Office Depot, we currently offer 65 Kimberly Clark products that have been given the official Green Leaf Mark, including products in janitorial categories, such as surface cleaner, alongside washroom essentials, such as toilet roll and paper towels.
In terms of further, company-level sustainability credentials, Kimberly Clark ensures that it does not buy
energy credits and doesn’t rely on carbon offsetting, but rather invests in de-carbonisation instead, with aims to Decarbonise its operations by 2030 (scope 1 and 2). Further goals for the company include a 50% reduction of absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions (from a 2015 base year) by 2030. You can read more about the company’s climate goals and progress here.
Through Kimberly Clark, Office Depot customers can recycle products, such as used tissues and hand-towels, as part of a closed loop programme called RightCycle.
It can help organisations cut waste footprints by up to 25%, alongside increasing a building’s recycling rate by up to 5%.
How can Office Depot and Kimberly Clark help you achieve sustainability goals?
CO2 reduction strategies
When working on projects such as replacement or new washroom systems, the solutions offered under the Office Depot and Kimberly Clark partnership vary depending on the customer’s goals and desired outcomes. The main focus from a sustainability perspective, however, is often to reduce the CO2 generated during the production of the products in use.
A recent customer example has seen a potential 81% reduction on CO2 generated during production (30,879 kg) and 57% reduction in water usage (311,500 litres). This projected saving was calculated simply by switching toilet tissue and hand-towel products.
Reducing waste
Simple switches can often make a great impact. This is partly due to the fact that some ‘cheap’ handtowels, for example, often end up creating more waste and are used up quickly, meaning they’re purchased more frequently. This false economy feeds into both cost and sustainability considerations. When working in the planning phases with customers, value is discussed from both a cost and resource-saving perspective. What’s more, for refits or replacement washroom solutions, old hand-towel and toilet roll dispensers can be removed and recycled.
In terms of further, company-level sustainability credentials, Kimberly Clark ensures that it does not buy
energy credits and doesn’t rely on carbon offsetting, but rather invests in de-carbonisation instead, with aims to Decarbonise its operations by 2030
Easy recycling
Recycling is another key consideration for many. Through Kimberly Clark, Office Depot customers can recycle products, such as used tissues and hand-towels, as part of a closed loop programme called RightCycle, where both hand-towels can be collected directly from each organisation for recycling purposes. This comes at no upfront cost for Office Depot customers, and does not require additional labour, making an impactful recycling programme easier than ever!
The programme has already diverted over 1,500 tonnes of previously hard-to-recycle non-hazardous PPE from landfill and incineration. Recycling handtowels in this way aids a ‘circular economy’ approach.
It can also help organisations cut waste footprints by up to 25%, alongside increasing a building’s recycling rate by up to 5%.
