Staples supply a formula to copy for a CSR company on the rise

Continuing our look at the performance in terms of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) for different well known businesses, my latest profile for CSR companies focuses on the world’s largest office products company Staples, Inc. As we’ve established previously the impact of large organizations can be very encouraging with a well-rounded and focused approach to CSR. Staples, Inc are rather remarkable not only in the size of the organization but the rapid growth which has seen them in just 24 years expand from a single location in Massachusetts to open office supply stores in over 2,000 locations in 26 different countries. Moreover the entire organization now employs in excess of 90,000 people.

This week Staples have released their overview of the CSR work they have accomplished within the fields of community involvement, ethics, diversity and environment. The layers of detail within their website is very user-friendly and informative, but most importantly explains that the company has made a substantial and lasting commitment to CSR in their actions. They’ve even given the report its own name which CEO Ron Sargent explains;

“Through our commitment to corporate responsibility, what we call Staples Soul, we have become a better employer, neighbor and business leader. Our goal is to not only meet the expectations of our customers, associates, shareholders and communities we serve, but to work toward being a model for others to follow.”

With the company’s rapid expansion in an era where CSR has become a fundamental expectation of a business for many, Staples have been able to ramp up their commitment to responsibility in tandem with the overall growth of the company to provide many tangible results. Some of the highlights of the report are outlined below also much more is contained within the overview.

In the community they have donated over $32 million worldwide in 2008/9 via monetary and proclamations to nonprofit organizations throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. They’ve also developed programs to allow thousands of associates around the world to become more active in the company’s community programs and volunteer time to assist nonprofit groups of all types.

Internally the company has focused greatly on diversity and ethics launching a series of diversity education programs to reinforce successful practices and ideas within the company. They’ve also added a senior manager of corporate supplier diversity to develop internal processes that reflect their targets. They’ve reinforce their own internal commitment to ethics by adding a corporate governance outreach program, expanded the Staples code of ethics and done more to improve training and consistent results throughout the organization.

Also as a large retailer the company have put great emphasis on environmental responsibility, and lead the way in promoting and selling products and specific catalogs that demonstrate the environmental features of the products that they sell. It also collected and recycled over 55 million ink/toner cartridges and over 7,000,000 pounds of electronic waste in the United States. For energy conservation it to your program resulted in a reduction of 12% of energy use in its retail stores over a three-year period and an ongoing action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions companywide has also shown good results. Office supplies most certainly include paper products, Staples have partnered with Dogwood Alliance in forming Carbon Canopy. The initiative is focused on partnering with suppliers and conservation groups to protect forests, reduce or eliminate climate changing practices and source paper and wood products as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Recycled product sales also have shown rapid growth with the support and promotion of the company.

Very encouraging results overall and if you have time I do recommend that you have a look at the full report for the Staples, Inc. CSR results as linked here.