Environmental Footprint

Our collective responsibility

For more than 10 years, we’ve been integrating environmental and social requirements into all business decisions and across all operations. Requirements have been embedded into our corporate strategy, business planning and annual budgeting processes, departmental programs and procedures, staff training, procurement and more. Environmental stewardship is considered the responsibility of all employees and a lot of effort goes into ensuring it remains top of mind.

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 the province to cover 80% of the cost to manage the waste materials generated in residential communities through empty liquor and beverage containers, packaging materials, and lottery and marketing products.

 

 

Combatting climate change

Energy use reduction

For the 60 buildings in our portfolio, we closely monitor energy consumption and continually work to improve energy efficiency through renovations, preventive maintenance, and equipment upgrades and optimization such as adding sensors and controls.

 

Greenhouse gas reduction

Our largest source of direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is related to building heating using natural gas.  To help address the issue of GHG emissions associated with natural gas use, we’ve chosen 100% green natural gas for 27 Winnipeg Liquor Marts through Bullfrog Power. This means that Bullfrog Power’s generators inject green natural gas into the national pipeline to match the amount of conventional natural gas used by these locations. This purchase reduces our GHG footprint and supports renewable energy sources across Canada.

 

10,000 gigajoules
We displace approximately 10,000 gigajoules of conventional natural gas with green natural gas at a cost of $40,000 in the 2017 calendar year. 

A portion of our carbon offset funds is 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 the Pelley’s Lake and other marsh systems as a renewable energy source to fuel furnaces. In fact, this project has multiple positive outcomes for the Lake Winnipeg watershed, including capturing phosphorous from waterways and enhancing wetland habitat.

6,000 tonnes
We purchased an equivalent of 6,000 tonnes of CO2e offsets at a cost of $150,000 in the 2017 calendar year.

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-certified cleaning products to minimize harm to lakes and rivers.

We belong to a Lake Friendly working group that has developed lake-friendly practices for schools, cottages, farms, municipalities and businesses to reduce nutrient loading into Lake Winnipeg.