Officeworks has released its 2024 People and Planet Positive Report, disclosing its progress against its 18 sustainability targets and sharing its focus for the year ahead.

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, has seen year-on-year growth of 10% generating around $100 million in sales in FY24. In addition, our Bring it Back program located at the front of our stores has helped our customers recycle over 11,000 tonnes of unwanted products since 2020, and in turn-built customer loyalty.”

Officeworks’ People & Planet plan has created positive change across a wide range of areas and saved business costs. “Through our energy efficiency initiatives and our onsite solar, we have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions and saved 4% in energy costs. We will continue to roll out our solar PV program, which is now in 43 stores, generating more of our own energy.”

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 year, Officeworks celebrated planting 1.5 million plants and restoring 1,990 hectares of land on behalf of its customers.

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 surpassed its goal to support 30,000 Australian students in need by 2025, having assisted 60,000 students since 2020 through its various appeals.

Kicking off FY25 plans, Officeworks has successfully reached its 100% 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 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 made an 85% embodied carbon saving, electrified and future proofed the asset and created a workplace that reflects team values.

Other key highlights from the FY2024 report

People:

  • Recorded safest year to date with the Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) reducing to 5.1 in FY2024
  • Officeworks raised and contributed more than $5.3 million to local communities
  • Supported 17,059 Australian students with more than 60,000 students helped since the launch of the People and Planet Positive Plan in FY2020

Planet:

  • Reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 49.1% since 2018 and a 7.7% reduction in FY2024
  • Planted 1.5 million plants across more than 1,990 hectares of land through Restoring Australia Program since its inception in 2017, with over 55,000 trees planted on behalf of customers in the last financial year
  • Repaired, repurposed and recycled more than 11,880 tonnes of unwanted products through programs such as Bring it Back and tech trade in 
  • As of 30 June 2024, Officeworks packaging components were 75% recyclable
  • 83% of Officeworks paper and wood products are FSC certified or recycled
  • People and Planet Positive range expanded to more than 2,400 products