Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) - Office Supplies (OS4)

 

1. Secondary (Delivery) Packaging: Beyond the environment, packaging affects shipping costs, customer waste disposal costs, and customer convenience. When packaging orders for delivery, some office supplies vendors have started using more-sustainable materials and methods including variable-size shipping cartons; delivery in bags and/or returnable plastic crates instead of corrugated cartons; recycled, biobased and compostable dunnage materials; and take-back and reuse/recycling of packaging materials, including pallets. What are your thoughts on these and related packaging practices, and their impact on the environment and/or costs?

 

2. Sustainable Distribution and Delivery Data Reporting: Leading delivery companies like UPS and FedEx now offer customers account-level reports on the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of their shipments, providing a potential way for federal agencies to measure and manage the environmental impact of their orders. (Like delivery costs, GHG emissions from delivery are lower when orders are bundled into fewer and larger orders). Similarly, a popular EPA voluntary program, the SmartWay Transport Partnership, has helped thousands of companies including both transportation companies and product shippers to measure, manage and reduce the fuel and environmental impacts of their shipping. What are your thoughts on these supply chain efficiency initiatives and data reporting practices?