Sustainability Strategy

Introduction

At ESBE, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable future in alignment with Canada’s sustainability initiatives, which promotes development that meets present needs without compromising future generations. We have implemented significant sustainability initiatives, reflecting our commitment to the Act’s principles—such as environmental protection, social equity, and economic efficiency. This strategy highlights our achievements across energy, waste, operations, and community engagement, and outlines practical steps to further reduce our environmental footprint, measure and report emissions, engage employees and communities, join the Société de récupération des appareils commerciaux (SORAC) in Quebec, and fully integrate sustainability into our ISO 9001 quality management system, contributing to a greener, more responsible Canada.

Current Achievements

ESBE’s sustainability efforts have delivered measurable results, contributing to Quebec’s and Canada’s sustainable development goals:

Energy Efficiency (Markham, 2011): Replaced tar and gravel roof on our Markham headquarters with a TPO white membrane roof, reducing summer heat gain and cutting cooling energy use by an estimated 2-3% annually (environmental protection, economic efficiency).
Renewable Energy (Markham, 2011): Secured an Ontario FIT Contract and installed a 100 kW solar array on our Markham roof, generating ~5,000 kWh annually, offsetting ~100% of electricity use (environmental protection, innovation).

Waste Reduction (Markham & Montreal): Implemented a comprehensive recycling program for paper products, used recycled corrugated for shipping, reused supplier boxes, and offered end-of-life refrigeration equipment recycling, extracting refrigerants per Environment Canada regulations and recycling units via GFL in Ontario, significantly reducing landfill waste (prevention, environmental protection).
Lighting Upgrades (Markham 2020, Montreal 2022): Replaced T50 fluorescent bulbs with LEDs in both facilities, reducing lighting energy use by ~50-60% and overall energy by ~15-18% per facility, supporting Quebec’s low-carbon goals (environmental protection, economic efficiency).
Smart Heating/Cooling (Markham, 2019): Installed programmable thermostats in Markham to reduce off-hours heating and cooling, saving ~5% on HVAC energy (environmental protection, economic efficiency).
Digital Transformation (Company-wide): Adopted digital processes, including digital invoices, supplier payments, and customer payments (95% digital), and applied energy-efficient power plans to Windows 11 PCs, reducing paper use by ~80% (prevention, environmental protection).
Inclusive Workplace (Markham, 2017): Renovated Markham headquarters to include gender-neutral bathrooms, promoting inclusivity (social equity, participation).
Diverse Hiring (Company-wide): Maintained a merit-based hiring system, fostering a diverse workforce that delivers exceptional results for Canadian customers (social equity, social solidarity).
Hybrid Work Model (Company-wide, 2019): Migrated to Microsoft Teams phone system, enabling 75% of employees to work from home full-time, reducing commuting emissions, enhancing work-life balance, supporting remote communities, and increasing workforce diversity (social equity, participation, environmental protection).
Community Support (Markham): Sponsored NAAMAT Canada and Pope Francis Catholic School initiatives, strengthening local communities (social solidarity, participation).
Employee Engagement (Markham): Hosted weekly lunches at Markham headquarters to foster community and engagement (participation, social equity).

These achievements form the foundation for our new goals, showcasing ESBE’s leadership in sustainability.

Core Objectives

Reduce Environmental Footprint: Further minimize energy use, waste, and emissions while protecting biodiversity.
Promote Sustainable Practices: Encourage eco-friendly behaviors among employees and suppliers, applying precaution and prevention.
Support Community and Employees: Foster an inclusive, engaged workplace and support local initiatives, ensuring stakeholder participation.
Ensure Transparency: Communicate progress openly on our website, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, reflecting Quebec’s commitment to accountability.
Integrate Sustainability: Embed sustainability into our ISO 9001 quality management system through annual executive and risk analysis reviews.

Key Focus Areas and Action Plan

1. Energy Efficiency

Goal: Reduce energy consumption by an additional 5% within two years, building on ~20% savings from TPO roof, LED lighting, solar array, and thermostats, to support Quebec’s 2030 Plan for a Green Economy.

Actions:

Implement a policy to power down electronics after hours in both facilities (by November 2025).
Explore additional renewable energy options, such as green energy credits, to align with Quebec’s low-carbon goals (by April 2026).

2. Waste Reduction

Goal: Achieve a 20% reduction in waste sent to landfill within 18 months, building on our paper and equipment recycling programs and SORAC membership, applying the principle of prevention.

Actions:

Join the Société de récupération des appareils commerciaux (SORAC) in Quebec by January 2026 to enhance our commercial refrigeration recycling program, supporting SORAC’s 2026 goal to recover 35% of such appliances and avoid ~1 ton of GHG emissions per unit recycled (environmental protection, participation).
Expand recycling stations to include plastics and electronics in both facilities (by April 2026).
Partner with a local composting service for food waste in Markham (by April 2026).
Promote further digital documentation to reduce remaining paper use (by November 2025).

3. Sustainable Procurement

Goal: Ensure 50% of suppliers meet sustainability criteria, including biodiversity protection, within two years.

Actions:

Develop a supplier questionnaire to assess environmental practices, including biodiversity impacts (e.g., sourcing from deforestation-free supply chains) (by April 2026).
Prioritize suppliers in Canada to reduce transport emissions and support the national economy (ongoing).
Source office supplies (e.g., paper, pens) from eco-certified vendors (by April 2026).
Apply the precautionary principle by evaluating suppliers for potential environmental risks (by April 2026).
Preferentially promote “green” products, such as low-energy refrigeration and low-waste products, in our product portfolio to align with sustainability goals (by April 2026).

4. Employee Engagement

Goal: Engage 80% of employees in sustainability initiatives within one year, building on hybrid work and lunch programs, fostering participation.

Actions:

Launch a “Green Team” to lead sustainability efforts, incorporating employee feedback (by April 2026).
Introduce incentives, like public recognition or small rewards, for eco-friendly behaviors (by April 2026).
Expand remote work options to further reduce commuting emissions (ongoing).

5. Community Involvement

Goal: Participate in at least two additional local sustainability initiatives annually, complementing NAAMAT and Pope Francis sponsorships, reflecting social solidarity.

Actions:

Identify environmental causes (e.g., tree planting, cleanups) in Canada (by April 2026).
Share involvement stories on the company website (ongoing).

Implementation Steps

Engage Stakeholders (October 2025):
- Conduct a brief survey or meeting with employees to gather input on sustainability priorities, reflecting the Act’s participation principle.
Integrate into ISO 9001 Processes (November 2025):
- Incorporate sustainability discussions, including SORAC membership and emissions calculations, into ESBE’s ISO 9001 annual executive review and risk analysis review meetings, ensuring oversight by the executive team.
- Update ISO 9001 quality management system documentation to fully embed sustainability, aligning with quality and risk management processes.
- Assign a budget for initiatives like composting services, emissions tracking tools, and SORAC-related activities.
Join SORAC (November 2025–January 2026):
- Complete the SORAC membership process by submitting the required form to RECYC-QUÉBEC, per SORAC guidelines (by January 2026).
Communicate the Strategy (November 2025):
- Share the strategy internally via email and a Teams meeting, highlighting alignment with Quebec’s Sustainable Development Act, our achievements, ISO 9001 integration, and SORAC commitment.
- Post the strategy on the company website under a dedicated “Sustainability” page, linking to www.developpementdurable.gouv.qc.ca and www.sorac.ca.
Set Baselines and Metrics (November 2025–January 2026):
- Measure current energy use, waste output, supplier practices, and biodiversity impacts, building on existing data from past actions.
- Begin data collection for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions (categories 6: business travel, 7: employee commuting, 9: downstream transportation and distribution) to prepare for reporting (by January 2026).
Execute and Monitor (Ongoing):
- Follow the action plan timeline, adjusting based on stakeholder feedback and ISO 9001 review outcomes.
- Update the website quarterly with progress (e.g., energy savings, waste diverted, emissions data, SORAC membership status), including updates on past initiatives.
Annual Review (Yearly):
- Assess progress against goals during ISO 9001 executive and risk analysis reviews, incorporating principles like prevention and precaution.
- Set new targets and update the strategy, sharing updates with stakeholders via the website and internal communications.

Reporting and Transparency

Publish a brief annual sustainability report on the website (e.g., 1-2 pages) detailing past and ongoing achievements.
Within 6 months, calculate and publish Scope 1 (direct emissions, e.g., fuel use), Scope 2 (indirect emissions, e.g., electricity), and Scope 3 emissions (categories 6: business travel, 7: employee commuting, 9: downstream transportation and distribution), using GHG Protocol standards, to enhance transparency.
Share key metrics, such as energy saved, waste reduced, emissions data, or SORAC recycling impacts, in simple charts.
Highlight employee and community stories to build engagement and showcase contributions to Canada’s sustainability goals.

Resources Needed

Budget: Assign annual budget for supplier assessments, emissions tracking tools, SORAC eco-fees, and programs like composting in Markham and recycling station expansion (eco-fees are internalized in product pricing, per SORAC guidelines).
Time: 1-2 hours per month for sustainability oversight within ISO 9001 executive and risk analysis review meetings, plus 1-2 hours for initial stakeholder consultation, 1-2 hours for emissions data collection, and 1-2 hours for SORAC membership enrollment.
Tools: Free/low-cost platforms for tracking (e.g., Energy Star, GHG Protocol templates, SORAC reporting portal, local waste management resources).

Next Steps

October 2025: Conduct stakeholder consultation (employee survey) and announce the strategy, emphasizing past achievements, emissions commitment, ISO 9001 integration, and SORAC membership plans.
November 2025: Post the strategy on the website, update ISO 9001 documentation to include sustainability, initiate SORAC membership process, promote digital documentation, and begin energy/waste baseline measurements and emissions data collection.
January 2026: Launch recycling stations, the Green Team, supplier questionnaire development, and composting service for Markham.

By building on our extensive achievements, committing to SORAC membership, transparent emissions reporting, embedding sustainability into our ISO 9001 quality management system, and supporting Quebec’s Sustainable Development Act principles and 2030 Plan for a Green Economy, ESBE pledges to drive a sustainable future, inspiring employees, customers, and our communities while contributing to a greener Canada.