Cascades, Green by Nature

Cascades environmental commitment

Cascades’ environmental commitment, supported by over 45 years of recycling experience and ongoing research and development, is a strength that enables us to create increasingly sustainable products.

As part of the energy- and resource-intensive paper industry, we have a responsibility to lighten our footprint every step of the way. By continuously optimizing energy, fibre and water use. By minimizing effluents and air emissions. And by reporting honestly on everything we do. As always, Cascades’ actions continue to be guided by conviction and vision rather than circumstance and fashion.

> Discover what Cascades does to protect the environment

CONSUMES an average of 10 m³ of water per metric ton of paper – 80% LESS than the North American paper industry average. Two of Cascades’ Tissue Group plants consume even less than 10 m³.

NO CHLORINE-BEARING COMPOUNDS are used in the bleaching process.

CERTIFIED PROCESSED CHLORINE FREE – North River® is the first and only tissue brand to be certified PCF.

PARTNERS with a university group in the creation of a “water indicator” to study life cycles – a first step in IMPROVING AND CONSERVING WATER.

REDUCED THE INTENSITY OF ITS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS by 6% in 2008.

PARTICIPATES in the Carbon Disclosure Project. Since 2006, Cascades has been REPORTING ITS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS along with measures it is taking to address them.

IMPROVED its truck fleet’s performance by installing aerodynamic side skirts. They reduce fuel consumption by 6% on average, eliminating 664 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually – THE EQUIVALENT OF 110 FEWER CARS ON THE ROAD. In fact, Cascades trucks produce 8.5% less CO2 than the average American truck.

REDUCED ITS ENERGY CONSUMPTION by 8,5% in 2008, further reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

INVESTS in RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, with a 34% participation in Boralex, which develops community and environment friendly energy projects.

TRANSFORMS ITS WASTES INTO GAS in partnership with Boralex. This pilot gasification unit aims at producing steam for paper manufacturing.

IS THE ONLY paper manufacturer in North America with an in-house group of EXPERTS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

USES 2.2 MILLION SHORT TONS OF RECYCLED FIBRE EACH YEAR – 73% of the raw material used in the manufacturing process of our products.

SAVES over 37 MILLION TREES annually.

RECOVERS ON AVERAGE 62% OF PLANT WASTE. Four of our tissue mills have achieved a recovery rate higher than 96%. Residues are reused to enrich the soil, fertilize farmland, fuel biomass boilers and restore damaged sites.

INTRODUCED the first certified paper towel made with 100% POST-CONSUMER FIBRE.

 

THE ENVIRONMENT, OUR CERTIFIED PRIORITY

Green Seal Green Seal®: All our bathroom tissue, paper towel, napkin and wiper products have been manufactured in conformity with the eco-practices encouraged by Green Seal®, whether through the optimal use of recycled fibres, post-consumer fibres or chlorine-free product bleaching.
Ecologo Ecologo® Program: Cascades Tissue Group’s North River™ brand of paper towels, bathroom tissue, napkins, facial tissue and wipers fully comply with the Ecologo criteria for resource consumption, energy use, solid waste, air and water emissions.
Processed Chlorine Free PCF certification (Processed Chlorine Free): This certification ensures a chain of custody for all fibres and the delivery of products that are manufactured from sustainable raw materials according to a chlorine-free process. Cascades Tissue Group even exceeds CFPA standards with its North River® product line, which is made of 100% recycled fibres and contains up to 100% post-consumer fibres.
Green-e Green-e® : Green-e is the nation’s leading independent certification for renewable energy products and purchases. All of Cascades’ North River® brand products bear this logo, as all the electricity used to manufacture North River’s towel and tissue products is offset with 100% Green-e certified wind energy.
 
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A virtuous circle
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® Cascades is a registered trademark of Cascades Canada ULC.

® The green colour applied on the paper is a registered trademark of Cascades Canada ULC.

™ Trademark of Cascades Canada ULC.