ESG Disclosure for Investors
Concerned with providing comprehensive and transparent information regarding environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, Cascades makes additional data available to investors and the public on a larger number of indicators identified by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).
ESG disclosure for investors (0.1 Mo)
Wanting to take an active part in the fight against climate change, Cascades has completed the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) assessment since 2017. CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. In order to respond to requests from our stakeholders, you will find our most up-to-date reports below
Sustainability report 2021
In 2021, Cascades launched its fourth Sustainability Action Plan 2021-2025, which includes 15 quantified objectives based on four main pillars. To provide complete and transparent information on environmental, social and governance challenges, Cascades issued its annual sustainability report. For more details on our progress towards our new targets and more, please consult our interactive report.
2016-2020 Sustainability Action Plan: Our Results
Guided by our determination to progress even further for our planet, our prosperity and our partners, we adopted the 2016-2020 Sustainability Plan to expand our horizons. With that now behind us, take a look at the results of our efforts.
Data below includes the results of Cascades' activities in North America and Europe.
Note that this data differs slightly from the 2016-2020 Sustainable Development Plan, which includes only Cascades' activities in North America.
In 2020, the projects by
Cascades CS+, energy division, coupled with the efforts of the plants, enabled a reduction of 262,500 in energy consumption, the equivalent of the annual consumption of 2,838
Canadian households.1
Cascades uses 2.4 times less energy when manufacturing its products than the North American paper industry average.2
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Total Energy Consumption1 | Millions of GJs | 18.7 | 18.6 | 18.9 | 18.8 | 19.2 |
| Energy Consumption (intensity) | GJ/metric tonne | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 |
1 Includes production plants only.
2 Fisher International, 2020
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Total Emissions1 | Thousand of metric tonnes | 417 | 418 | 420 | 417 | 427 |
| Total Emissions (intensity)1 | kg/metric tonne | 211 | 211 | 213 | 211 | 210 |
1 CO2 equivalent. Includes the scope 1 of production plants.
In 2020, Cascades gave a new lease of life to 492,159 tonnes of residual materials from its plants. Most of production residuals consists of de-inking sludge.
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Quantity of waste recycled | Metric tonnes | 449,475 | 426,809 | 418,840 | 406,030 | 492,159 |
| Percentage of waste recycled | % of total generated | 76 | 76 | 78 | 77 | 80 |
1 Includes production plants only.
Cascades uses 4.5 times less water when manufacturing its products than the North American paper industry average.1 2
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Water Consumption | m3/metric tonne | 9.5 | 10.2 | 11.0 | 9.3 | 9.8 |
| Suspended Solids Returned to Effluent | kg/metric tonne | 0.36 | 0.64 | 0.47 | 0.35 | 0.28 |
| Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) After Five Days in Effluent | kg/metric tonne | 0,21 | 0,27 | 0,23 | 0.22 | 0.17 |
1 Includes production plants only
2 Fisher International, 2020
Cascades is the top recycler of waste paper and cardboard in Canada. By using mostly recycled fibres to manufacture its products, Cascades helps reduce pressure on natural resources and brings the circular economy to life.1
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Recycled Fibre Consumption | Millions of short tonnes % of total |
3.2 84 |
3.2 82 |
3.3 83 |
3.4 84 |
3.4 83 |
| Virgin Fibre Consumption | Millions of short tonnes % of total |
0.4 10 |
0.4 10 |
0.4 11 |
0.4 10 |
0.4 10 |
| Virgin Pulp Consumption | Millions of short tonnes % of total |
0.2 6 |
0.3 8 |
0.2 6 |
0.2 6 |
0.3 7 |
| Total | Millions of short tonnes | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
1 Includes procurement of Reno de Medici S.p.A.; fully consolidated according to IFRS accounting standards. Includes procurement of Greenpac since 2014.
The organizational culture at Cascades puts each employee at the heart of the company’s success.
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Total Number of Employees | Employees | 10,858 | 11,346 | 11,780 | 12,347 | 11,714 |
| Women | Employees | 1,843 | 2,220 | 2,118 | 2,416 | 2,203 |
| % of the Workforce | % of total | 17 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 19 |
| Men | Employees | 9,015 | 9,131 | 9,662 | 9,931 | 9,511 |
| % of the Workforce | % of total | 83 | 80 | 82 | 80 | 81 |
| Average Seniority | Years | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
| Average Age | Years | 45 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
| Interns | Employees | 154 | 141 | 170 | 174 | 52 |
| Students | Employees | 405 | 359 | 347 | 312 | 124 |
Cascades has 85 units, with operations spanning two continents and six countries.
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Number of Business Units | 88 | 92 | 96 | 99 | 85 | |
| Number of employees in Canada | % of total | 63 | 65 | 63 | 60 | 61 |
| Number of employees in United States | % of total | 22 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 24 |
| Number of employees in Europe | % of total | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 |
Employees are part of the company’s success and are entitled to a portion of company profits through the profit-sharing program.
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Gross Earnings | Millions of $ | 627 | 650 | 694 | 759 | 785 |
| Benefits | Millions of $ | 255 | 252 | 273 | 313 | 371 |
| Profit-sharing | Millions of $ | 56 | 53 | 50 | 55 | 60 |
| Total Compensation | Millions of $ | 938 | 955 | 1,017 | 1,127 | 1,216 |
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Number of Hours Spent on Training | Thousand hours | 318 | 314 | 351 | 399 | 446 |
| Number of Employees Trained | Employees | 8,483 | 8,535 | 10,279 | 10,990 | 7,514 |
| Amount Invested in Training | Millions of $ % of total payroll |
11.0 1.61 |
10.0 1.47 |
11,4 1.53 |
13,8 1.70 |
12,3 1.45 |
In 2020, Cascades recorded its best OSHA frequency rate (1.3) and lowest OSHA severity rate (34) ever.
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Lost Time Frequency Rate (OSHA) | Per 200,000 hours worked | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
Millions of dollars are given every year to hundreds of organizations near our facilities.
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| By Cascades Inc. | Millions of $ | 3.1 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
With annual consolidated sales over $5 billion in 2020, Cascades contributes to the economic vitality of the countries it works in.
| Units | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|
Sales |
Millions of $ | 4,001 | 4,321 | 4,649 | 4,996 | 5,157 |
|
Returned on Capital Employed3 |
% | 5.2 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 6.2 |
| Return on Assets3 | % | 10.8 | 9.2 | 10.6 | 12.0 | 13.1 |
| Investments3,4 | Millions of $ | 237 | 302 | 462 | 578 | 244 |
| Investments in R & D | Millions of $ | 38.2 | 45.0 | 31.0 | 30.2 | 32.0 |
3 See our
2020 Annual Report.
4 Includes the acquisition of fixed assets, an increase in other ERP assets and the acquisition of companies.
Note: Data was compiled using the net saleable production in metric tonnes.
Wanting to take an active part in the fight against climate change, Cascades has completed the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) assessment since 2017. CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. In order to respond to requests from our stakeholders, you will find our most up-to-date report below.