LCBO Social Responsibility

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ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

LCBO has a longstanding tradition of safeguarding the environment, reducing its environmental footprint and developing initiatives with industry suppliers.

LCBO’s environmental committee consists of a cross-functional team of employees who help to implement the organization’s environmental strategy, review best practices and develop new ideas.

LCBO’s environmental strategy has five key goals:

Reducing package waste generated by LCBO sales
Increasing the rate of material diverted from landfill to recycling and re-use
Improving all aspects of environmental management
Reducing consumption of energy and utilities at LCBO facilities
Promoting re-use and conservation.

LCBO is helping to protect the environment in several ways including:

LCBO SUPPORTS “BRING BACK THE SALMON” PROGRAM

LCBO attended the May 2011 stocking of the three millionth salmon at a “Bring Back the Salmon” program phase II event at Duffins Creek in Pickering, Ontario. Patrick Ford, LCBO’s Senior Director of Policy & Government Relations announced LCBO’s contribution of $50,000 per year and reaffirmed the organization’s five year commitment to this important initiative.

This program aims to restore a wild, self-sustaining population of Atlantic Salmon to Lake Ontario and its tributaries. Five years into this program, the results are positive. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) jointly lead this program, with partners including LCBO and Banrock Station Wines among other organizations.

Attendees at the “Bring Back the Salmon” event in May 2011 included (from left to right): Paul Henderson, representative for Banrock Station Wines; Doug Dickerson, Deputy Mayor, City of Pickering; Mike Reader, OFAH Executive Director; Patrick Ford, LCBO (back row); Minister Linda Jeffrey, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; John Murphy, Executive Vice President, Ontario Power Generation (back row); Bill Blackwell, OFAH President; Mayor David Ryan, City of Pickering; and, Brian Denney, CAO, Toronto Region Conservation.

LCBO 2010-2011 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

In 2011, LCBO launched the organization’s first annual environmental sustainability report, Our responsibility to the environment: LCBO Sustainability Report, 2010-2011. To view the report, click here.

As one of the largest retailers of beverage alcohol in the world, LCBO takes its responsibility to ensure its operations are environmentally sustainable seriously.

This report outlines LCBO’s environmental sustainability strategy, activities and accomplishments. Inside, visitors will find information on a variety of topics including:

A Message from LCBO’s President and CEO Bob Peter
Ontario Deposit Return Program (ODRP)
Energy and Utilities Conservation
Carbon Measures
Logistics Efficiencies
In-store Waste Reduction
Lightweight Containers
Environmentally Friendly Bags
Printer and Paper Reduction Strategy
Organic and Biodynamic Products
goLOCAL
Environmentally Friendly Cleaners
Natural Heritage Fund (NHF)
Marketing/Promotional Products

THE LCBO NATURAL HERITAGE FUND

The LCBO Natural Heritage Fund raises money for wildlife habitat restoration and rehabilitation throughout Ontario. Reusable bags are available in LCBO stores and a portion of sales of reusable bags, together with proceeds from other fundraising efforts, go to the LCBO Natural Heritage Fund, which supports community-based projects to preserve or restore wildlife habitat.

Click here for a video on the last year's release of the two millionth Ontario Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario and its tributaries.

Click here for a video on the re-establishment of bald eagles in the Thousand Islands region.

ELIMINATING PLASTIC BAGS AND OFFERING REUSABLE BAGS

LCBO phased out plastic bags in all stores in 2008 to reduce reliance on disposable shopping bags and encourage customers to opt for reusable alternatives. This initiative has eliminated 80 million plastic bags. Customers now have a variety of reusable LCBO bags to choose from or they can bring their own reusable bags.

Proceeds from the sales of reusable bags, together with proceeds from other fundraising efforts, go to the LCBO Natural Heritage Fund, which supports community-based projects to preserve or restore wildlife habitat.

PACKAGING AND RECYCLING

LCBO helps to protect the environment through the Ontario Deposit Return Program (ODRP) and the municipal Blue Box program. The organization is also working with suppliers to offer more products in alternative and lightweight packaging including Tetra Pak cartons, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles, aluminum cans and, increasingly, lightweight glass.

In addition to recycling corrugated cardboard, alcohol, cans/bottles/PET, fine paper, newspaper, batteries, printer cartridges, data tapes and other materials, LCBO is also working to reduce energy use in stores, warehouses and offices.