Exhibit 28

                                                                    NEWS RELEASE

Contacts:  Rip Tilden                     Marty Buckley
Vice President, Corporate Affairs         Director, Corporate Communications
(610) 993-3608                            (610) 993-3609

          ALCO STANDARD TAKES CHARGE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIM RELATING
                          TO DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS


     VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA--OCTOBER 10, 1995--Alco Standard Corporation
(NYSE:ASN) today announced that it will take a charge of approximately $24
million for environmental claims associated with discontinued manufacturing
operations. This will result in an after tax charge to earnings of approximately
$17 million, or approximately $0.29 per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal
year 1995. These claims primarily relate to businesses divested by Alco Standard
in fiscal year 1991 and prior.

     The company plans to release its fourth quarter earnings on October 17, and
still expects to meet its earnings objective for continuing operations for the
quarter and the year.

     During its 30-year history, Alco has owned a wide range of manufacturing
and industrial businesses, all of which have been sold. There are currently
environmental remediation claims pending for manufacturing or landfill sites in
the United States which relate to these former operations.

     Several recent claims associated with the discontinued manufacturing
operations and increased estimated costs associated with existing environmental
remediation sites resulted in Alco's decision to take this charge. Since most
environmental claims are paid over a period of years, the impact on annual cash
flow is expected to be minimal. The company does not expect that additional
environmental charges for these sites will be required in the future.

     Today, Alco Standard operates the largest independent network of copier
dealers in North America and the United Kingdom through Alco Office Products and
is the largest marketer and distributor of paper and supply systems in North
America through Unisource.

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