Sustainability Profile: BluPlanet Recycling Inc.

1. What is your company’s brand promise, vision or statement of values, and how does it relate to sustainability?

BluPlanet Recycling Inc. is Calgary’s fastest growing multi-family residential recycling collection service provider. BluPlanet Recycling is dedicated to environmental and social responsibility in all of our operations. Besides the benefits derived from our core recycling operations, BluPlanet supports local not-for-profit organizations and is a climate neutral company.

2. How are your products or services environmentally and socially sustainable?

BluPlanet Recycling provides mixed-materials recycling collection services that help divert over 300 tonnes of waste material from Calgary landfills annually. We expect this number to double by year June, 2012.

3. How do your suppliers create positive social and environmental benefits either through their products or through their community partnerships?

Where possible, BluPlanet Recycling purchases our collection materials from local companies who source post-consumer raw materials for their production processes.

4. How does your business minimize the environmental impact of its operations?

BluPlanet Recycling minimizes our environmental impact in the following ways:

• multi-family recycling collection
• recycling provided at our offices themselves
• purchases clean electricity from BullFrog Power
• Is a recognized and registered member of the UNEP Climate Neutral Network

5.  How does your business demonstrate ethical business conduct?

BluPlanet Recycling operates all of our operations in an ethical and responsible way. We post many of our materials collection, charitable contribution and carbon impact numbers on our website or Facebook page and property managers receive this information regularly.

6. What strategic community partnerships or affiliations does your company have in place?

BluPlanet operates partner programs with the following not-for-profit organizations:

• Clothing collection programs for the Cerebral Palsy Association of Alberta
• Employment opportunity programs with Hull Child and Family Services for individuals who struggle to find and maintain employment. We presently employ one individual.
• Member of the UNEP Climate Neutral Network

7.  What policy or guidelines exist to support charitable contributions? Or, if no formal policy is in place, what organizations have you previously supported?

BluPlanet operates refundable beverage container profit donation programs as part of our general operations. Not-for-profits who benefit from these programs have been; Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, Distress Centre Calgary, Calgary Wildlife Rescue Foundation, Make a Wish Foundation.

Donations to date exceed $10,000.00 in the first 18 months of operating this program.

8. How many people do you employ locally?

We employ 3 Manager/Owners, 2 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee.

9. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee health and safety?

BluPlanet supports our employees by providing safety equipment such as work-boots, safety glasses, back-braces, transport equipment and encourages a generally safe working environment.

10. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee development and job satisfaction?

BluPlanet Recycling is always looking to expand our benefit programs and we support our employees in their long-term aspirations with our firm by meeting with them regularly to discuss knowledge gaps, future goals, and opportunities to expand their responsibilities.

11. How does your business support employees to lead balanced lives and be active participants in their communities?

At this time BluPlanet supports organizations such as Green Calgary, E-Cycle and others in partner volunteer opportunities where employees are encouraged to volunteer and time off is provided.