Officeworks unveils latest people and planet achievements
Officeworks, Australia’s leading retailer for technology, art supplies, furniture, stationery and education resources, has launched its FY24 People and Planet Positive Report. This report highlights the retailer’s achievements in meeting its 18 sustainability targets, underscoring its commitment to supporting team members and communities, respecting human rights, driving meaningful climate action, advancing a circular economy, and empowering customers to make sustainable choices.
Officeworks Chief Financial Officer Brendan Hargreaves said, “At Officeworks, we've been committed to making a positive impact on people and the planet for 30 years, and this mission continues to drive our ongoing business performance. One key example is our People and Planet Positive range, which has resonated strongly with our customers. Since 2020, this range, designed to support communities and reduce our environmental footprint has seen impressive year-on-year growth of 10 per cent generating around $100M in sales in FY24.”
Officeworks’ People & Planet plan has made remarkable strides in creating positive change across a wide range of areas and saved the business money, Hargreaves adds, “Through our energy efficiency initiatives and our onsite solar, we have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions and saved 4 per cent in energy costs. We will continue to roll out our solar PV program, which is now in forty-three stores, generating more of our own energy.”
Additionally, Officeworks’ iconic Bring it Back program located at the front of Officeworks stores has helped customers recycle over 11,000 tonnes of unwanted products since 2020, and in turn-built customer loyalty.
Officeworks Head of Sustainability Fiona Lawrie said, “Since 2017 our Bring it Back program has recycled 11,000 tonnes of customer waste, from pens and markers to ink and toner and computer accessories. Additionally, we have recently begun rolling out People and Planet Positive Pop-Up Days to support the communities where we operate by helping them recycle difficult-to-recycle household items such as tech items and batteries. Accepted products include computers, video equipment, game consoles, cameras, printers, hard drives, phones, ink and toner cartridges, and more. At a recent Pop-Up Day held at our Taren Point NSW store, we recycled nearly one tonne of waste. We will roll out Pop Ups in stores across the country in 2025 to help our customers recycle.”
Since 2017, Officeworks has partnered with Greening Australia to plant two plants for every one used, based on the weight of paper products customers purchase. This initiative reflects Officeworks ongoing commitment to restoring Australia’s landscapes, and this year celebrated planting 1.5 million plants and restoring 1,990 hectares of land on behalf of its customers.
CEO of Greening Australia Heather Campbell said: “Our long-standing partnership with Officeworks has created tangible impact for the environment and local communities across Australia over the past seven years and will continue to do so for many years to come. The Restoring Australia program is a brilliant example of organisations coming together to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises with meaningful, on-ground action.”
For more than a decade, Officeworks has partnered with both The Smith Family and the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation to support young people’s education.
This year, Officeworks has well and truly surpassed its goal to support 30,000 Australian students in need by 2025, having assisted 60,000 students since 2020 through its various appeals.
The Smith Family CEO, Doug Taylor said: “This is just another demonstration of Officeworks’ incredible commitment to making a difference to people in their local communities, something we see them do every year. Last year, Officeworks’ Back to School Appeal raised more than $1.3 million, creating opportunities for 2,000 students to receive educational support through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program. Through our partnership, Officeworks has raised more than $9.3 million for The Smith Family via its Back-to-School Appeal – enough to support more than 14,000 students on Learning for Life for an entire year.”
Kicking off FY25 plans strongly, Officeworks has successfully reached its 100 per cent renewable electricity target by finalising new energy agreements, set to take effect from 1 January 2025. Officeworks’ is also contributing to a low carbon future by using less electricity through investments in LED lighting upgrades, building energy management systems (BEMS), rooftop solar PV systems and rolling out battery systems.
Officeworks National Support Office at Chadstone Place has recently achieved Australia’s first zero carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute, setting a new global benchmark for environmentally conscious development. By retrofitting rather than rebuilding, Officeworks and its landlord Vicinity has made an 85 per cent embodied carbon saving, electrified and future proofed the asset and created a workplace that reflects the Officeworks team values.
Further key highlights from the FY2024 report include:
People
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Recorded our safest year to date, with the Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) reducing to 5.1 in FY2024
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Through the generosity of the community, Officeworks raised and contributed more than $5.3 million to local communities
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Supported 17,059 Australian students who needed it most, with more than 60,000 students helped since the launch of our People and Planet Positive Plan in FY2020
Planet
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Reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 49.1 per cent since 2018 and a 7.7 per cent reduction in FY2024
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Planted 1.5 million plants across more than 1,990 hectares of land through our Restoring Australia Program since its inception in 2017, with over 55,000 trees planted on behalf of our customers in the last financial year
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Repaired, repurposed and recycled more than 11,880 tonnes of unwanted products through programs such as our Bring it Back program and tech trade in program
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As of 30th June 2024, Officeworks packaging components were 75 per cent recyclable
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83 per cent of Officeworks paper and wood products are FSC certified or recycled
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Grew the People and Planet Positive range to more than 2,400 products, helping customers make more sustainable purchase.
To view the Officeworks People & Planet Positive report, visit the Officeworks website.
