Canadian Tire -- the Canadian retailing institution based in Toronto -- has embarked on an
innovative sustainability strategy that measures both the environmental and business impacts of its green initiatives. The company
says in an announcement that it introduced measures in 2010 that it expects will save the company $6 million per year in costs, while also diverting 610 tonnes of waste from landfill and produce 7,800 tonnes fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Tyler Elm, VP of business sustainability with the company, says that going green is key to profitability. "In fact we see it as a business strategy that has environmental benefits rather than as an environmental initiative," he says. "This is based on innovation, value creation and generating organizational enhancements. We want to integrate it into our business operations."
At the same time, the company has announced the results of its energy production efforts: between 2008 and 2010 Canadian Tire claims to have generated enough energy to reduce greenhouse emissions by 41 tonnes through geothermal and solar installations. The 389 initiatives that the company has undertaken under the program include aspects that touch on transportation, lighting, heating, cooling and waste reduction.
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Tyler Elm, VP Business Sustainability, Canadian Tire