TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Staples Canada released today its third quarter sustainability update and environmental achievements. Highlights of the report include record growth for several in-store recycling programs, including the battery, ink and toner, and writing instrument initiatives.

"Our environmental and sustainability initiatives are an important part of our company values," said Leigh Pearson, director of facilities, environment and procurement at Staples Canada. "Our in-store programs continue to grow and thrive, with our battery initiative recycling more units than ever before. We are proud of our achievements to date and continue to find ways to help the environment and communities that we're in."

Staples Canada's battery recycling program collected another 44,004.7 kg in its third quarter – an increase of 12.4 per cent over the same period in 2015 (39,158.1 kg). The company is on track to have another record-breaking year in battery collections (154.1 MT collected in fiscal 2015; 132.3 MT collected in fiscal 2016 to the end of October).

Now in its 5th year, Staples' TerraCycle Green Brigade program for writing instruments had its second highest collecting quarter to date during the third quarter, with 69,151 units collected, an 89.1 per cent increase over collections during the same period in 2015 (36,577 units).

Staples also continues to be a leading choice among Canadian households for recycling ink, toner and electronics, 690,638 ink cartridges were collected during the third quarter 2016 – a 9.9 per cent increase from the third quarter 2015 (628,699 cartridges). In the electronics category, 992,007.8 kg were collected at Staples stores during the third quarter in 2016.

Staples Canada continues to monitor energy consumption and actively works to conserve energy across its business by reducing overall energy costs and diversifying energy sources. During its fiscal third quarter in 2016, the company reduced emissions by over 1,615 metric tons of CO2, which is equivalent to the annual energy use of 171 residential homes, or the carbon sequestered by 1,529 acres of forests in one year.

Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it's in-store, online, on mobile devices, or through the company's innovative buy online, pick up in store option. Staples offers more products than ever, such as technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Copy and Print services. Consistently ranked as one of Canada's top ten companies in Marketing Magazine's Marketing/Leger Corporate Reputation Survey, Staples/Bureau en Gros is dedicated to offering customers the highest level of service. Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros also is invested in a number of corporate giving programs that actively support environmental, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives in Canadian communities from coast to coast. Visit www.staples.ca for more information, or visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Staples Canada Inc.