Office Depot encouraging US businesses in additional cities nationwide to 'go green' through expansion of national Green Business Challenge in partnership with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA

Cindy Allen

BOCA RATON, Florida , May 1, 2014 (press release) – Four New Cities Receive Funding to Launch Friendly Competitions to Encourage Environmental Sustainability among Local Businesses

Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office products, services, and solutions formed by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, today announced it is encouraging businesses in additional cities nationwide to ‘go green’ through expansion of the national Green Business Challenge in partnership with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA.

Recipients of the Office Depot Green Business Challenge grant are Cupertino, Calif.; Houston; Lexington, Ky.; and West Palm Beach, Fla. The cities were selected after a national call for applications.

Each city will receive an implementation grant package comprised of funding, technical support from ICLEI and in-kind donations to launch a Green Business Challenge in their community to help local businesses and employees improve sustainability in the workplace. Through Green Business Challenges, local government leaders will host a friendly competition among local businesses to measurably reduce their energy, water waste, and carbon footprint, and switch to environmentally preferable products. Actions taken by businesses will be tracked and measured on an innovative software platform, GreenPSF, originally used by the City of Chicago.

“Since we helped launch the first Green Business Challenge with ICLEI and the City of Chicago in 2008, the program has grown into a powerful national movement,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, Senior Director of Environmental and Supplier Diversity Strategy for Office Depot. “The success and expansion of Green Business Challenge shows that by working together the public and private sector can create a very meaningful positive change towards environmental sustainability.”

“ICLEI is once again proud to partner with Office Depot to bring Green Business Challenge to four new cities who have been valuable ICLEI members,” said Michael Schmitz, ICLEI USA Executive Director. “This year’s winners truly represent the diversity of our membership.”

Since Office Depot’s national sponsorship of Green Business Challenge started in 2009, businesses in over 18 communities have participated. In Chicago alone, 150 participants in the Chicago Green Office Challenge in 2011 saved a collective $17.5 million in energy costs, reduced energy use by 124 million kilowatt hours, kept more than 85,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and diverted 43 percent of their waste from landfills.

For more information regarding Office Depot, Inc.’s environmental strategy, visit www.officedepot.com/environment.

About ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA

ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability is the world's leading association of cities and local governments dedicated to sustainability, with more than 1,000 local government members in 84 countries. ICLEI USA’s mission is to build, serve and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability. As the only global organization helping cities and counties of all sizes achieve sustainability and climate planning goals, ICLEI provides tools and resources, delivers innovative programming, and fosters a robust network of local governments across the U.S. who are committed to sharing solutions and scaling local sustainability efforts. To learn more about Green Business Challenge, visit www.icleiusa.org/greenbusinesschallenge.

About Office Depot, Inc.

Formed by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services, and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office, home, school, or car.

Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to help customers work better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, furniture, and school essentials.

The company has combined pro forma annual sales of approximately $17 billion, employs over 60,000 associates, and serves consumers and businesses in 57 countries with more than 2,200 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations, joint ventures, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company’s portfolio of leading brands includes Office Depot, OfficeMax, OfficeMax Grand & Toy, Viking, Ativa, TUL, Foray, and DiVOGA.

Office Depot, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found at: http://news.officedepot.com.

Additional information about the recently completed merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax can be found at http://officedepotmaxmerger.com.

Contacts

Office Depot, Inc.
Nicole Miller, 630-864-6069
NicoleMiller@OfficeMax.com
or
Office Depot, Inc.
Melissa Perlman, 561-310-9921
Melissa.Perlman@officedepot.com

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