EPA Recognizes Framingham-Based Staples

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Staples for outstanding achievement in the design, manufacture, promotion, and use of Safer Choice products.

Staples won the award for meeting EPA’s Safer Choice Standard, which includes stringent human and environmental health criteria. The award reaffirms Staples’ commitment to sustainable business practices.

The Safer Choice Program, formerly known as the Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Product Labeling Program, was developed in 1997 and draws upon chemical and environmental expertise from across EPA. Safer Choice uses the technical tools and expertise of EPA’s New Chemicals Program to evaluate the environmental and human health impacts of every chemical ingredient in a product, allowing only the safest ingredients in labeled products. The Safer Choice labeled products will help customers identify and select products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance.

“Staples is committed to offering products that are safer to human and environmental health,” said Roger McFadden, vice president and senior scientist at Staples, in a press release. “EPA’s Safer Choice award illustrates our commitment to customers to provide products designed with safer chemicals.”

With a long standing commitment to sustainable business practices, Staples has made significant investments over the years to source and sell environmentally preferable products, offer recycling and other green services, maximize energy efficiency and renewable energy use, and eliminate waste. Staples’ Sustainable Earth by Staples™ Safer Choice labeled (formerly EPA DfE-labeled) cleaning products are third-party certified to validate their environmental attributes. From innovative, environmentally preferable safer products to carbon and energy initiatives, Staples is committed to offering safer and more sustainable products to help both businesses as well as consumers maintain a clean, safe and healthy workplace and environment.

“EPA congratulates Staples for winning the 2015 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in a statement. “This award recognizes leadership and accomplishment in developing and promoting safer chemicals and products. Staples has shown that by making innovation in chemical sustainability an important part of their organization, they can prosper while making healthier products and services available for home, work, and recreation.”

Headquartered in Framingham, Staples operates in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.