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The Greening of Expedited Packaging

A U.S. Postal Service and Supplier Collaboration

(TEMPE, Arizona) February 2, 2009 – Many organizations are increasing their focus on sustainability - efforts to find more efficient and effective ways to do business profitability while lessening the negative impact of current operations on future generations.

This best practices article discusses one U.S. Postal Service sustainability initiative: the "green" redesign of expedited packaging. Leadership and collaboration drove the success of this initiative. The results of the project included a change in packaging design, reduction in the types of packages and estimated savings of 15,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually at no cost increase.

A structured and disciplined approach to supply strategy development and execution provided the foundation for the internal and external collaboration necessary to complete this initiative successfully.

A cradle to cradle design protocol was used to assess the materials used in the products and production processes. Cradle to cradle products are made of materials that maximize value without damaging the ecosystems.

Postal services employees continue to expand environmentally friendly business practices and accelerate energy conservation. The goal is to be good environmental stewards who balance environmental factors with other factors such as revenue and profits, to make best-value decisions consistently.

Click on the following link to access the Practix report, "The Greening of Expedited Packaging: A U.S. Postal Service and Supplier Collaboration:" http://www.capsresearch.org/publications/pdfs-protected/practix012009.pdf

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CAPS Research is a nonprofit research organization founded in 1986 to provide leading research to our strategic-minded corporate sponsors and to the public. Our mission is to work in partnership with a global network of executives and academics for the discovery and dissemination of strategic supply management knowledge and best practices. CAPS Research is jointly sponsored by the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and the Institute for Supply Management™ and over 140 Global 1000/Fortune 500-size organizations.

Media Contact:
Clare Donnalley
Marketing Manager
CAPS Research
Voice: 800/888-6276 extension 3007
cdonnalley@capsresearch.org

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