Océ Eco Start Program Helps Customers Reach Sustainability Goals

 
Chicago, IL – October 3, 2010 – Océ, an international leader in digital document management and delivery, announced today the continued market excitement and acceptance of the Océ Eco Start Program supporting customer sustainability strategies. Since its inception in December of 2009, the Océ Eco Start Program presented carbon offset certificates to more than 70 customers representing over 40,000 trees planted in partnership with Trees for the Future.

With sustainable business practices becoming an increasingly important concern for customers, the Océ Eco Start program is uniquely helping customers support their own green initiatives. When a customer purchases an Océ production printing product, Océ utilizes a specially designed Eco-calculator to estimate the expected carbon emissions from the first year of the Océ product's operation based on print volume, stand-by and running power to determine the number of trees needed in order to offset those emissions. Océ then partners with Trees for the Future to plant the trees in the customer's name in communities located in Central America, Africa and Asia.

Customer Endorsement
The Virginia Department of Taxation recently purchased two Océ VarioPrint^® 4120 printers for which 100 trees were planted to offset the product's expected emissions, and the organization found the Eco Start program to be consistent with its environmental goals. "As outlined in Governor Bob McDonnell's Executive Order No. 19 issued earlier this year, conservation and efficiency are extremely important to the Virginia state government," said Joel Davison, Public Relations manager at the Virginia Department of Taxation. "It's gratifying to know that Océ shares our commitment to sustainability by working with the Trees for the Future organization to offset the carbon impact from our new systems in the first year."

Dick Helmey, President of University Copy Centers Inc., a subsidiary of Campus Document Systems of Houston, TX, and a document management company that works with higher education institutions, promotes their participation in the program by making copies of the Océ Eco Start certificates and placing them on store counters for students, faculty, and administration to view. He describes the crucial nature of sustainability by stating, "In this day and age, we all need to be focused on sustainability as a key part of our marketing and business strategy. We're happy to see Océ can be a partner in that commitment."

Océ has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability over the past 50 years with a multi-faceted approach. The company dedicates diligent time and effort to sustainable engineering and manufacturing practices, a dedicated Asset Recovery facility, maintaining a Certified Green Partners facility and sponsoring companywide green events, including an international beach cleanup. The Océ Eco Start program further extends Océ's leadership in sustainable practices.

"The Océ Eco Start program demonstrates our commitment to green business practices and speaks to the culture of Océ. Through this program, Océ customers are making a positive impact on the environment and taking steps to improve their carbon footprint," said Francis McMahon, Vice President, Marketing, Océ North America Production Printing Systems division. "We are extremely excited with the customer interest and positive feedback we've received about the program during first year."

The Océ Eco Start program is unique in the comprehensive ways that it assists companies in improving their carbon footprint, while simultaneously providing aid in the development of communities in Central America, Africa, and Asia. Through a strategic partnership with Trees for the Future, an organization dedicated to improving livelihoods and restoring degraded lands to sustainable productivity through the planting of trees, Océ has a positive impact on these communities by alleviating some of the environmental issues at the forefront of today's news stories including increased deforestation and soil erosion and rising atmospheric carbon levels. Since 1988, Trees for the Future has helped thousands of communities and planted nearly 65 million trees.

Jodie MacLellan, Marketing Manager of Field Programs, Océ North America Production Printing Systems division, and member of the Océ Sustainability Council, describes how this unique partnership between profit and non-profit organizations is a positive trend likely to continue in the future by stating, "Clearly companies are taking sustainability seriously and looking for more environmentally responsible ways to do business. More and more manufacturers and business partners are offering programs and solutions to help them do just that. We are proud to partner with Trees for the Future to offer the Océ Eco Start Program."

About the Océ Eco Start Program
The Océ North America Production Printing Systems division is among the first companies in the industry to introduce a comprehensive program to help customers implement earth-friendly practices and contribute to a carbon-free business environment. Since the program's inception in December of 2009, Océ has planted over 40,000 trees on behalf of its customers who have purchased an Océ production printing system. The centerpiece of the Océ Eco Start program is a specially designed Eco-calculator developed by Océ. This calculator determines the number of trees that need to be planted in order to offset carbon emissions generated by Océ production printing equipment during the first year of operation at the Océ customer's facility. Running power, stand-by power, and pages-per-minute are all factored into the calculation based on estimated production volumes during one operating year. Customers can visit Océ's website to compare their current print operation's carbon emissions with that of an Océ solution. To plant the trees, Océ partners with Trees for the Future, a Charity Navigator four-star organization. This organization plants trees in Central American, African, and Asian communities to both help the environment and improve the livelihoods of the people there. Océ is excited to present this program as a means of minimizing its carbon footprint and solidifying its position as a Certified Green Partner and leader in green initiatives. For more information about the Océ Eco Start Program or to sample the Eco-calculator, visit www.oceusa.com/greenproduction. To learn more about Océ sustainability strategy, visit sustainability.oce.com.

About Océ
Océ is a leading international provider of digital document management technology and services. The company's solutions are based on Océ's advanced software applications that deliver documents and data over internal networks and the Internet to printing devices and archives – locally and around the world. Supporting the workflow solutions are Océ digital printers and scanners, considered the most reliable and productive in the world. Océ also offers a wide range of display graphics, consulting and outsourcing solutions.

Océ employs around 22,000 people, with 2009 revenues of approximately $3.7 billion, operates in around 100 countries and maintains research and manufacturing centers in the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Romania and Singapore. Océ North America is headquartered in Trumbull, CT, with additional business units in Chicago, IL; New York City; Boca Raton, FL; Salt Lake City, UT and Vancouver, BC. North America represents over 37% of Océ's worldwide revenues, and employment is over 9,000. For more information about Océ, visit www.oceusa.com. Outside the U.S., consult http://global.oce.com.

"Océ VarioPrint", "Océ" and the Océ logo are registered trademarks, of Océ-Technologies B.V. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their owners and are respectfully acknowledged.