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Sustainable Operations

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Hemlock is proud to be a sustainable printing company, operating as a carbon neutral company since 2007.

Sustainability Report

Working with partners like Climate Smart and Ostrom Climate Solutions, we reduce our footprint with emission reduction initiatives, and then complement these efforts with the purchase of carbon offsets that account for all direct emissions and a portion of indirect emissions.
These offset purchases support energy-efficient and fuel switching projects that permanently reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring our Burnaby manufacturing facilities and US sales offices operate carbon neutral.

 

  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Hemlock is proud to be a sustainable printing company. We have operated as a carbon neutral business since 2007. Collaborating with Climate Smart, we identify, measure, and reduce our operational carbon emissions and purchase carbon offsets through Ostrom Climate Solutions.

    Recycling and Waste Reduction

    Hemlock has been instrumental in the advocacy to reduce, reuse and recycle all waste materials in the print industry. We recycle 99% of all paper waste generated in our business operations and we have a long record of effectively recycling other production materials such as aluminum plates, corrugated material, book stock, plastics, wooden pallets and more.

    We have actively participated in the circular economy by collaborating with Executive Mats, one of the most environmentally conscious cleaning services in the industry. Through this service we saved over 6,000 lbs of CO2 as compared to the industry standard by recycling our blanket wash fluid and reusing our press towels.

  • Green Printing Technology

    The last two presses we installed were two new high-efficiency UV presses, both manufactured carbon neutral at the Heidelberg plant in Germany. As we continue to embrace UV print technology to replace our conventional offset presses, our Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions will continue to shift to virtually zero.

    Packaging

    As a supporting partner of Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative, Hemlock commits to ensuring the paper-based packaging we use prioritizes innovative packaging design and materials which have high-recycled content and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification. As a result, we are now transitioning our “famous” white shipping boxes to brown kraft boxes that are FSC certified and made from a minimum of 75% recycled content.

Sustainability

Partners

  • The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C014956) is an international certification and labeling system dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC® enables businesses and consumers to create positive change to keep our forests healthy for generations to come.
  • Canopy is a not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting forests, species and climate. Collaborating with hundreds of leading companies across North America to help ensure their supply chains are sustainable, Canopy believes that businesses can be powerful partners in implementing innovative solutions.
  • Ostrom Climate Solutions (formerly Offsetters) is one of North America's leading providers of carbon management solutions. Based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, they bridge the gap between commitment and action for organizations riding to the global challenge of climate change. Ostrom specializes in carbon offset project development and climate solutions consulting in both the private and public sectors.
  • Climate Smart is a Vancouver-based social enterprise committed to educating businesses and enabling organizations to reduce their emissions through greenhouse gas management training and advising. Climate Smart is committed to helping businesses build a resilient, low carbon economy.
  • Green-e is the leading independent certification program in the US that sets consumer protection and environmental-integrity standards for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the retail market. Their Green-e Marketplace re:print program certifies printers and paper mills that use renewable energy from natural sources like solar, wind, and low-impact hydropower facilities.
  • The Environmental Paper Network is a world-wide network of over 150 organizations working together to create transformational change in the pulp and paper industry and wider society, so that paper production and use contribute to a clean, healthy, just and sustainable future for life on earth.
  • 3Deress helps organizations around the world achieve renewable energy and decarbonization goals through their work with global Fortune 500 companies, utilities, and other organizations that want to join the fight against climate change. The 3Degrees team has deep expertise in sustainability consulting, environmental markets, renewable energy and carbon project development, transportation decarbonization solutions, and utility renewable energy programs.
  • The Social Purpose Institute helps businesses grow for good, partnering with companies and collaborating with governments, allied organizations and others to grow the Social Purpose Business movement. The SPI helps businesses define and implement their social purpose to drive business growth and societal good.