Table of Contents
- Environmental Responsibility in the Business World
- Our Partners' Environmental Commitments
- HSM: Pioneering Sustainability Since 1971
- Fellowes: Environmental Leadership Through Innovation
- KOBRA: Innovation for Energy Conservation
- Intimus: Sustainable Paper Management
- Transforming Business Operations Through Sustainable Equipment
- The Circular Economy and Document Management
- Simple Steps for Sustainable Document Management
- The Business Case for Sustainable Equipment
- Looking Forward: Sustainability as a Business Advantage
- Partner with Clary Business Machines for Your Sustainability Journey
Environmental Responsibility in the Business World
The pressing environmental challenges facing our planet have elevated sustainability from a nice-to-have initiative to a critical business consideration. Organizations across industries are recognizing that environmental responsibility delivers both ecological and economic benefits while addressing the growing concerns about climate change, resource depletion, and waste management.
Sustainable practices in document management and waste handling represent significant opportunities to make a positive environmental impact while achieving business benefits. At Clary Business Machines, we recognize that our responsibility extends beyond providing cutting-edge technology solutions. Since 1954, we've built our reputation on excellence and customer service, and now that includes a commitment to embracing sustainable practices across our operations and product offerings. Our commitment to sustainability focuses on reducing waste, optimizing energy usage, and promoting Ecofriendly circular economy principles that extend product lifecycles and minimize environmental impact.
Our Partners' Environmental Commitments
Our approach to sustainability is strengthened by the environmental leadership of our partners. Each brings unique initiatives and innovations that contribute to reducing environmental impact across multiple industries we serve. From energy-efficient manufacturing facilities to recyclable materials and innovative product designs, these companies demonstrate how businesses can balance ecological responsibility with operational excellence. Below, we highlight the specific sustainability practices of our key partners and how their approaches benefit both our customers and the planet.
HSM: Pioneering Sustainability Since 1971
Our partnership with HSM showcases our commitment to environmentally responsible solutions. Founded in 1971 with the idea of reducing waste volume through compaction, HSM has built sustainability into every aspect of their business.
What makes HSM stand out in sustainability? Their approach covers multiple areas:
- Manufacturing Excellence: With 90% of components made in-house at their German facilities, HSM maintains high quality control while reducing transportation emissions.
- Energy Conservation: About 25% of HSM's power comes from renewable energy, including solar systems and micro gas turbines. Their facilities use heat recovery systems that capture thermal energy from production processes to heat over 6,200 square meters of space.
- Product Design: HSM baling presses reduce waste volume by up to 95%, significantly cutting storage needs and transportation emissions. Their document shredders have earned the Blue Angel certification for energy efficiency.
A manufacturing client who implemented HSM baling solutions saw a 92% reduction in waste volume and a 40% decrease in waste management costs, while also optimizing truck usage and increasing recycling rates.
Fellowes: Environmental Leadership Through Innovation
Another trusted partner, Fellowes, brings over 100 years of experience combined with strong environmental commitment. Their Earth by Fellowes program has made impressive progress:
- Energy Conservation: Fellowes has installed solar arrays at multiple facilities, including a 1 MWh installation at their global headquarters, along with LED lighting projects across their operations.
- Design for Environment: Their product development includes recyclability and sustainable materials from the earliest design phase. Their Breyta product line is 100% recyclable and sold in 100% recyclable packaging.
- Waste Reduction: Fellowes European operations have achieved high waste diversion rates. Their Doncaster facility recycled 96.2 tonnes of materials, diverting 85.5% of total waste from landfills.
- Biodiversity Initiatives: Through their BANKERS BOX business, Fellowes has planted over 140,000 trees globally, with more than 35,000 trees planted in 2023 alone.
A university using Fellowes products reported improvements in both sustainability and operational efficiency, noting that "The extended warranty policy and durable design have reduced our equipment replacement cycle, creating both environmental and economic benefits."
KOBRA: Innovation for Energy Conservation
KOBRA brings sustainable innovation to our document shredding lineup with their 'Green' business models and Ecofriendly products:
- Materials Selection: KOBRA cabinets use recycled and recyclable materials from FSC-certified forests, ensuring responsible resource management.
- Energy Efficiency: The KOBRA Hybrid System captures energy during each shredding cycle, while their Touch Screen line automatically disconnects from power when not in use, using zero electricity in standby mode.
- Waste Management: Many KOBRA models automatically separate plastic from paper shreds, making recycling easier.
A university department using KOBRA shredders reported 30% energy savings compared to their previous equipment, while also improving their waste sorting for recycling programs.
Intimus: Sustainable Paper Management
Intimus paper shredders show how sustainability can be built into everyday office equipment through:
- Energy-efficient operation with automatic shutdown features
- Durable construction with robust cutting units that last longer and reduce waste
- Maintenance systems with reduced oil lubrication
A financial services client using Intimus shredders throughout their offices saw improvements in both security compliance and environmental responsibility. Their facilities manager said, "The automatic energy-saving features aligned perfectly with our corporate sustainability goals while ensuring our data security requirements were met."
Transforming Business Operations Through Sustainable Equipment
Beyond the environmental benefits of how our manufacturing partners create their products, the equipment itself helps businesses operate more sustainably. Our lineup addresses various aspects of waste management and resource conservation:
- Paper Shredders: Our core product line enables the secure destruction of sensitive documents while facilitating paper recycling programs. Energy-efficient models with auto-shutoff features minimize power consumption while ensuring materials enter the recycling stream properly.
- Industrial Balers and Compactors: These transform loose waste into compact bales that optimize transportation, reducing carbon footprint and often generating recycling revenue.
- PET Bottle Crushers: With about 500 billion PET bottles produced annually worldwide, our crushing solutions reduce plastic waste volume by up to 90%.
- Cardboard Shredders: Advanced systems like cardboard processing machines transform used cardboard into protective packaging material, eliminating the need for bubble wrap and styrofoam.
- Digital Media Shredders: These ensure proper destruction and recycling of electronic media, addressing e-waste concerns.
The Circular Economy and Document Management
The circular economy concept, where we minimize waste and reuse resources, fits perfectly with our industry. Document management equipment plays a key role in this sustainable approach when thoughtfully designed and properly used.
Think about what happens to a single sheet of paper at the end of its useful life. It can either end up in a landfill, contributing to environmental problems, or it can be properly shredded and recycled, becoming a valuable resource for new paper products. Our document shredders are the critical first step in this recycling process.
Simple Steps for Sustainable Document Management
Businesses looking to enhance their sustainability while maintaining efficiency can take these practical steps with our equipment:
- Conduct a waste audit to identify document management inefficiencies
- Place appropriately sized shredders strategically throughout facilities
- Implement batch shredding to maximize energy efficiency
- Establish clear recycling streams for shredded materials
- Train staff on both security protocols and environmental benefits
A retail chain with locations across California implemented these strategies and saw a 45% increase in paper recycling rates while improving data security compliance.
The Business Case for Sustainable Equipment
The economic benefits of sustainable equipment make these initiatives attractive for businesses:
- Volume reduction of 80-95% means lower waste hauling costs
- Energy-efficient models reduce operational expenses
- Durable construction with extended warranties minimizes replacement needs
- Potential revenue from recyclable materials
- Compliance with environmental regulations avoids fines
A San Diego distribution center calculated a 24-month return on investment for their industrial baler, after which it continued generating positive returns through reduced waste management costs and recycling revenue.
Looking Forward: Sustainability as a Business Advantage
Sustainability represents both a responsibility and an opportunity for modern businesses. Organizations that implement sustainable practices gain advantages in several areas:
- Regulatory Compliance: Staying ahead of environmental regulations
- Brand Enhancement: Meeting customer expectations for responsible business practices
- Operational Efficiency: Reducing waste and energy use directly impacts the bottom line
- Future-Proofing: Building resilience against resource scarcity
Partner with Clary Business Machines for Your Sustainability Journey
With approximately 700 employees and over 100,000 clients nationwide, Clary Business Machines brings expertise and resources to your sustainability initiatives. Our decades of experience, combined with partnerships with industry leaders like HSM, Fellowes, KOBRA, and Intimus, enable us to provide solutions that align with your environmental goals.
Properly implemented document management systems and waste handling processes can significantly reduce environmental footprints while simultaneously improving operational efficiency and compliance.
Sustainability is an ongoing process of improvement. By partnering with companies who prioritize environmental responsibility and implementing the right equipment solutions, your organization can contribute to a more sustainable future while seeing real business benefits today.
Whether you're just starting your sustainability journey or enhancing an established program, our team is ready to help you identify the right equipment and implementation strategies.
Contact us to discuss how Clary Business Machines can support your environmental initiatives while enhancing your operational efficiency and data security.