Staples 2013 Annual Report Download - page 77

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68
We already provide significant disclosure regarding human rights and other sustainability issues. Staples has
implemented sustainability and human rights policies and practices to protect and enhance long-term investment, as evidenced
by the company being recognized in 2014 as the only North American retailer in the Global 100 Sustainability Index and being
selected as a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year over the last decade. We have provided significant
disclosure regarding human rights through our SEC filings, our website and various external reports. For example, on our website
we have extensive information regarding the number and nature of inspections and audits we conducted at our supplier sites. We
also provide an overview of the audits conducted and the corrective action processes.
Costs and resources to create an additional, separate report on human rights would be burdensome and would
not provide significant benefit to stockholders. Staples has always endeavored to conduct business responsibly and ethically
and already has established programs and processes to address human rights risks. Creating a new program dedicated to assessing
and reporting those human rights risks in our operations and for our suppliers within 6 months of the annual meeting could be
costly and burdensome. Diverting resources to create such a program would not provide a significant benefit to stockholders,
particularly when the company is currently focused on executing against its reinvention strategy to better compete in the
marketplace.
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.