HiTouch Business Services Partners with PrintReleaf

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The application that rewards the earth and your business.

HiTouch Business Services has underlined it's commitment to sustainability as a channel partner of PrintReleaf, a software-based platform that helps customers reduce their environmental impact while bringing about world change. The patent-pending platform, the PrintReleaf Exchange (PRX), connects those in the managed print services industry and large-scale users of paper with reforestation projects across the globe, ensuring a tree is planted for every 8,333 sheets of standard letter paper consumed. In addition, customers can access and manage their consumption and reforestation projects through a unique online PrintReleaf portal, easily creating sustainability reports and linking to social media channels for increased transparency and accountability.

PrintReleaf will make it very easy for our clients to see tangible results," said Joe Aiello, president of HiTouch Business Services. It's easy to say you've recycled 10,000 cardboard boxes. But if you can actually see the reforestation project, if you know the number of trees going in, and you have real-time data about how you're putting your sustainability efforts to work, that's what makes this a win-win.

The program is also scalable, added Aiello, So customers are able to establish a level of participation that meets specific criteria as part of their overall sustainability efforts.

HiTouch Business Services, which has nine distinct operating units including Rentacrate, MyOfficeProducts, MyOfficePrinterServices, ShredX and others, has long been committed to green initiatives. In addition to offering green products and solutions through its various units, customers of Rentacrate have been provided sustainability calculators since 1991, enabling them to track their environmental impact. Employing reusable crates rather than corrugated boxes saves trees and reduces carbon emissions.

In the same way, Aiello said, the PrintReleaf partnership allows HiTouch to continue offering its clients a value proposition that goes beyond the procurement of products. In addition to its managed print services, the HiTouch MyOfficeProducts unit supplies paper to more than 13,000 customers, and they, too, will have the opportunity to take part in reforestation.

Over the last century, roughly 5 billion acres of land have been deforested or degraded, in part due to tree harvesting for paper manufacturing and consumption. The PrintReleaf project, however, is about more than simply planting trees.

"World change comes not only from the reforestation, but really the socioeconomic impact and what it creates," said Michael Greenberg, PrintReleaf CFO. "Reforestation creates jobs and converts decimated lands back into farmable lands through regeneration of the soil and re-creation of the watershed."

PrintReleaf, which officially introduced the PRX platform in early 2014, works with world-class reforestation organizations including Eden Projects, Plant With Purpose, Plant-It 2020, and WeForest. The projects are audited by verification/testing/certification/inspection company SGS International over an eight-year period to ensure that all trees planted survive. Only 10 percent of the world's forests are sustainably certified, according to PrintReleaf, so those who are part of PRX can rest assured their efforts will be lasting.

Marc Sutter, vice president, managed print services, for HiTouch, said the company is proud to be an early adopter of the PrintReleaf effort, and looks forward to providing visibility and recognition for those giving back.

"These programs are real, and PrintReleaf is doing what it claims," he said.

As for the partnership between the two organizations, PrintReleaf's Greenberg said it clearly demonstrates HiTouch's commitment to sustainability. HiTouch wants to be a part of this, he said. "They share the vision, and they understand that it matters for the generations to come.

To learn more about how your organization can participate in the PrintReleaf Program, contact: Marc Sutter at MSutter@hitouchservices.com or call 1-407-319-4301.