Product Recycling Program Captures up to 80% of Returned Parts
Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) today announced that it will reach a
significant milestone in its environmental stewardship efforts, the
recovery of nearly 1.1 million pounds of U.S. equipment and components
for reuse, recycling or remanufacture in 2008.
Over the past fifty years, since the product
take-back program was started, Pitney Bowes has recovered millions
of pounds of equipment and components, with numerous benefits for the
company, customers and the environment.
Pitney Bowes customers that purchase or lease postal
meters or mailing machines can return these products to established
distribution centers throughout the United States. All returned products
are sent to the Pitney Bowes remanufacturing plant for inspection,
harvesting and remanufacture of equipment parts. Any parts or finished
products that cannot be remanufactured are sent to a partnering
recycling facility.
Today, 95 percent of the company’s mailing equipment parts are
recyclable. This environmental benefit is achieved through the
organization’s environmental standards for suppliers and in the product
design process. Pitney Bowes uses the ‘Design for Environmental Quality’
standard in the design and assembly of its products.
“Our product take-back program gives customers the option to do
something good for the environment while helping them avoid the cost of
waste disposal,” said Paul Robbertz, vice president, Environment, Health
and Safety. “It also helps Pitney Bowes redirect its waste to serve as
raw materials, saving the energy used to create those materials and
providing financial benefits to the company.”
Pitney Bowes is a participant in the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s voluntary WasteWise program, which aims to help companies
reduce municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes from
operations. In 2007, Pitney Bowes was inducted into the WasteWise
Hall of Fame for its efforts in waste reduction since 1997, which
totaled over 55,000 tons of materials including white paper, cardboard,
wooden pallets and equipment recovered through the product take-back
program.
About Pitney Bowes:
Pitney Bowes is a mailstream technology company that helps organizations
manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages. Our 36,000
employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two
million customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1920 and annual
revenues now total $6.3 billion. More information is available at www.pb.com.
Source: Pitney Bowes Inc.
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Elizabeth Reinhart, 203-351-6152
Elizabeth.Reinhart@pb.com
