Environmental Footprint
Innovation and collaboration drive efforts to reduce our environmental impact. Environmental stewardship is our collective responsibility and we’ve been integrating environmental and social requirements into all business decisions and across all operations for many years.
Responsible product stewards
We are a “product steward” under Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation. This means that every year we provide funds to cover 80% of the cost to support the management of empty liquor and beverage containers, packaging materials and lottery and marketing materials generated in residential communities.
Remitted to Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba to cover our residential waste management obligation for 2019.
Combatting climate change
Energy use reduction
For the 66 buildings in our portfolio, we closely monitor energy consumption and continually work to improve energy efficiency through renovations, preventive maintenance, equipment upgrades and optimization such as adding sensors and controls.
An 8.8% reduction in building-related energy use intensity from 2012 to 2019.
Carbon offset funds are used to support renewable bioenergy research and projects in our province, such as the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s (IISD) nutrient bioenergy project. This project assesses the viability of harvesting, drying, pelletizing and using cattail biomass from marsh systems as a renewable energy source to fuel furnaces. In fact, this project has multiple positive outcomes for watersheds, including capturing phosphorous from waterways and enhancing wetland habitat.
6,000 tons
We purchased an equivalent of 6,000 metric tons of CO2e offsets for the 2019 calendar year at a cost of $150,000.
Focus on water stewardship
We’re making strides in reducing our water-related impacts in part through our commitment to integrating sustainable building features into all renovation projects. This includes installing low-flow water fixtures in kitchens and washrooms and using Ecologo and Green Seal Certified cleaning products to minimize harm to lakes and rivers.
We support Lake Friendly best practices to reduce nutrient loading into Lake Winnipeg and other waterbodies in Manitoba. lakefriendly.ca
Achieved a 19.0% reduction in our water usage from 2012 to 2019.
Certified, sustainable food
We have been designated as a Fair Trade Workplace by Fairtrade Canada and are the largest workplace in Canada with this designation. This designation recognizes, among other things, that we offer a range of Fairtrade Certified products including coffee, tea and sugar. In addition, we offer over 20 Fairtrade Certified wine products in our Liquor Marts.
In addition, we have set minimum sustainability requirements for many of commonly purchased goods and services. For example, we only serve certified sustainable seafood and over 25% of the food ingredients used in our restaurants is locally sourced.
Energy (GJ/square meters)
Year 2012: 3.63
Year 2019: 3.31
Resulted in 8.8% decrease
Actual source energy use intensity trend - energy bills (electricity, natural gas and propane) benchmarked using Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
Water (cubic meters)
Year 2012: 85,058
Year 2019: 68,909
Resulted in 19.0% decrease
Actual water usage data for all metered buildings - water utility bills.
GHG(g CO2e/$*)
Year 2012: 11.54
Year 2019: 10.61
Resulted in 8.1% reduction
Greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 + Scope 2 + Scope 3) calculated using WRI's GHG Protocol Corporate and Accounting Standard (2018). Gross revenue adjusted for inflation using Statistics Canada, Consumer Price Index, by province (base year 2012)
*Gross revenue adjusted for inflation using Statistics Canada, Consumer Price Index, by province (base year 2012)
reduction
45% reduction in idle time by our fleet drivers since 2015 has helped reduce fleet fuel consumption, which is our second largest direct source of GHG emissions (natural gas for heating buildings is first).
tonnes
533 metric tons of cardboard was collected for recycling by Winnipeg Liquor Marts and our Distribution Centre in 2019. This one initiative equates to saving over 9,048 mature trees, removing 410 vehicles off the road, and saving 74,515 bathtubs filled with water.
kilograms
Over 9,500 kilograms of Fairtrade certified coffee was purchased and served to guests in our casinos and offices in 2019.
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