Office Depot launches Green Business Challenge

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot is launching the 2011 Green Business Challenge in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI) and elected officials from across the United States.



The Green Business Challenge program seeks to engage local property managers and tenants in a friendly competition to save energy, reduce waste and water consumption, procure greener products, and implement other sustainable activities within their companies. It was initially piloted in 2010 as the City of Chicago "Green Office Challenge" and organized by the Chicago Department of Environment and ICLEI USA. Office Depot was the primary underwriter of the challenge in Chicago and directly supported key aspects of the initial program development.



As the Presenting Sponsor of the 2011 Green Business Challenge, Office Depot will provide the core funding for a national rollout of the program, producing “Green Business Challenge Implementation Packs,” which will be given to the cities of Austin, Bellevue and Chula Vista. These packs include direct funding and technical support, as well as products and services designed to help local governments manage the Green Business Challenge. In addition, Office Depot will provide participating cities and businesses with greener purchase training.



"Most corporate environmental efforts focus primarily on the supply chain or internal operations, but very few focus on shifting the marketplace," said Yalmaz Siddiqui, director of environmental strategy for Office Depot. "ICLEI USA's Green Business Challenge provides a simple step-by-step approach for businesses of all sizes to go greener. Office Depot is excited to be the presenting sponsor of the Green Business Challenge because we know that encouraging the business community to go greener can have a transformational impact all the way up the supply chain."