The local roll out of OfficeMax’s global social responsibility programmes in New Zealand has helped the company receive worldwide recognition with inclusion in The Ethisphere Institute’s list of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2012.

The selection process involves a thorough review of a company’s code of ethics, litigation, regulatory infraction histories; investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; and activities designed to improve corporate citizenship.  Nominations are put forward by senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.

Country Manager for OfficeMax New Zealand, Dean Butchers, said it was an honour to receive recognition for the internal practices of the organisation.

“Nominations were reviewed from more than 36 industries in more than 100 countries and we were the only office product supplier on the list.  This further recognises OfficeMax’s global efforts in sourcing sustainable products, social accountability supplier auditing and community initiatives,’ Mr Butchers said.

“We are striving to achieve the highest levels of integrity within all of our business practices and we are always looking out for ways to raise the benchmark - particularly with how we interact with the environment and with our local communities,” he said.

The Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.

The award was attributed to OfficeMax globally – including OfficeMax New Zealand – whose head office is based in the US.  All OfficeMax branches, including those in New Zealand, develop a strong supplier and corporate sustainability framework that aligns to the global vision.

OfficeMax New Zealand’s corporate social responsibility programmes include:

A Day Made Better - launched in 2011 the programme recognises and rewards exceptional primary and intermediate school teachers across New Zealand with the donation of school, office and technology supplies; and

Max e Grants - is a joint partnership with Barnardos Australia children’s charity. Max e Grants provides up to $5,000 per underprivileged child or group as an educational grant.

Over the past number of years, OfficeMax New Zealand has developed a number of sustainability initiatives including:

For the past four years OfficeMax New Zealand has achieved Enviro-Mark® certification (Enviro-Mark® Diamond certification since 2009).  Enviro-Mark® is an independently audited evaluation of an organisation’s environmental management performance;

It is a member of the Packaging Council of New Zealand and a voluntary participant in the Packaging Product Stewardship Scheme, which aims to reduce waste to landfill and increase diversion of packaging materials from landfill by recycling or composting; and

In 2011 OfficeMax was also granted ISO 14001 certification which assesses our environmental impact across a range of issues covering land, sea and air.  OfficeMax New Zealand was awarded this qualification due to our environmental management systems for the acquisition, warehousing, distribution and retail of office supplies over various sites throughout New Zealand meeting ISO’s standards.