Federated Co-operatives Ltd. will take a close look at its carbon footprint, with the addition of an environmental and technical services department.
Eric Lawrenz, vice-president of the new department, said his job is to find sustainable ways to do business through waste and energy management, recycling and alternative energy sources.
“You can be environmentally sustainable but if there’s not enough green in the till, you’re not really sustainable,” he told delegates to FCL’s annual convention in Saskatoon March 2.
The existing environmental and product services co-ordinator was assigned to the new department and a second co-ordinator was added.
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Lawrenz will start with baseline measurements of FCL operations and look at the construction of new buildings, opportunities to save gas and electricity, environmentally friendly products and ways to reduce remediation costs.
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” he said.
He cited a study in the Saskatoon warehouse where giant ceiling fans have been installed that could reap up to 30 percent in energy savings.
“If the trial confirms benefits, others will follow,” he said.
There are also studies underway to bury carbon dioxide from the Regina upgrader plant in permanent underground storage containers rather than release the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Pallet wrap is baled and turned into decking, shopping bag recycling bins are found in stores and ongoing equipment upgrades help conserve energy.
Scott Banda, FCL vice-president of corporate and legal affairs, said society has changed and its concern for the environment has increased in recent years.
He said the new department is a consolidation of ideas, people and programs to emphasize what is being done to improve the environment and FCL operations.
“We’re continuing to watch for things we can do,” Banda said.
