April 7, 2008 - FedEx Kinko’s and Staples are making significant progress in their paper purchasing, while OfficeMax has been doing the least to back up its green spin with concrete actions, according to a new report from ForestEthics and Dogwood Alliance. The environmental groups took out a full-page ad in USA Today last week highlighting the latest edition of their "Green Grades" report card on paper sourcing policies in office products industry.

“While no office supply company is perfect, Staples and FedEx Kinko’s are making real progress and lead the sector overall,” says Daniel Hall of ForestEthics. The two companies have been the industry’s most responsive in shifting their paper sourcing from endangered forests to more sustainable sources, Hall says.

Last month, Staples stopped sourcing from Asia Pulp & Paper, an Indonesian paper manufacturer widely criticized for its deforestation practices, and has since committed to sourcing the majority of its paper from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) by 2010. FedEx Kinko’s has shifted its paper purchases away from sensitive caribou habitat in British Columbia.

The “Green Grades” report also notes that Office Depot and Corporate Express are making strides in some areas, including responsible paper sourcing and bringing more FSC products to market. The report identifies OfficeMax as the industry’s clear laggard, with the company’s procurement policy lacking strong endangered forest protection measures or a preference for FSC-certified products.

“Green Grades” evaluates companies on five categories crucial to forest protection: post-consumer recycled content, sustainable forest management, endangered forest protection, chain-of-custody certification; and preservation of native forests. Download it here (PDF).