Our nationwide reach is one of our great strengths. We adhere to the SBC Freight Efficiency Guidelines. These seek to shift freight choices from a lowest transportation cost model to mutually beneficial outcomes. These guidelines enable us to lead conversations and include sustainability as a core objective.
Reducing fuel consumption
OfficeMax mobile sales staff and managers visit hundreds of our customers every day. To help reduce their fuel consumption, we educate our team on best practice driving behaviour. GPS tools installed in our fleet vehicles helps us monitor behaviour and safety. This tool also allows us to alert our fleet drivers in case of emergencies or natural disasters, and helps us ensure their safety.
Filling the void
Void fill is the packaging material that keeps products safe from physical damage during transportation and delivery. Damaged stock that is returned, and then re-delivered to customers produces additional carbon emissions, resulting in more fuel and packaging. As such, suitable void fill is an important element in OfficeMax's environmental planning.
We have noticed an increasing desire from our customers and employees to find a new void fill solution that avoids any type of plastic material. To address this, we are exploring options for void fill that makes use of the latest technology in packaging solutions.
Going electric
In 2018, OfficeMax introduced four electric vehicles (EVs) that are engaged for short runs within the Auckland region. A popular choice with drivers and our broader stakeholder community, they are being used by OfficeMax as proof of concept and we are now looking into other options for electrification, including for warehouse heavy machinery.
There are a number of benefits to using EVs. These include a reduction in carbon emissions by around 80% and, rather than using imported oil, these vehicles are filled with locally produced, 80% renewable electricity.
Many of our vehicles are driven over long ranges unsuitable for electrification so, where possible, we replace and upgrade our petrol-powered vehicles to more fuel-efficient models.
See our
2018 Sustainability Report for more information
To reduce our carbon footprint, we're putting on smaller shoes
OfficeMax measured its first carbon footprint for the 2016 year. Our 2018 carbon footprint was 1,703 tonnes of CO2e. Our ten year plan is to achieve a 20% reduction.
Fuel consumption by company owned vehicles is the main hotspot within the OfficeMax business with a carbon footprint of 38% of total emissions. Other focus areas are electricity at 30%, waste at 12% and air travel (9%).