Canadian Tire’s CSR Business Results Reflected in Latest Sustainability Report

Canadian Tire is “one of Canada’s most shopped general retailers offering every day products and services to Canadians through more than 1,200 retail and gasoline outlets from coast-to-coast. Nearly 57,000 people are employed across the Canadian Tire enterprise, which was founded in 1922 and remains one of Canada’s most recognized and trusted brands.”

Canadian Tire Corporation’s CSR business efforts took a giant leap forward according to its latest report on its second quarter sustainability results. The Canadian retail chain’s report concluded that they completed 188 of its sustainability initiatives during the quarter. This increases their sustainability by 79% compared to the same time period in 2010.

Canadian Tire logo image courtesy of canadiantire.ca

The company is estimating that they will eliminate a minimum of 1,200 tonnes of waste and 3,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. This is the equivalent to the energy use and emissions from powering more than 414 Canadian homes. They are achieving this by retrofitting stores, the implementation of a new solar panel project, and in-store signage right-sizing to name a few initiatives.

The rooftop solar system will be implemented in forty stores within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The first sixteen are already underway with the commitment that the other twenty-four will be completed by 2013. When all forty projects are complete, they will generate enough electricity to power one thousand average sized Ontario homes each year.

The crowning jewel in their CSR business report would have to be the opening of their most energy- efficient store in Kemptville, Ontario. So far they have exceed expectations of their promise to build a store that is 75% more efficient than previous models by 2011. The design of the Kemptville store, which will be used for new store construction through 2015, consumes 9.7 ekWh/sq ft per year (unit of energy usage for gas and hydro in kilowatt hours) versus the 17.8ekWh/sq ft consumed in previous model stores. Energy prices continue to grow and reducing future electricity and gas consumption benefit the company’s bottom line.

“We are approaching the first anniversary of Canadian Tire’s integration of its business sustainability results with its financial reporting, and we couldn’t be happier with the significant improvements we have made in all areas of our business,” said Tyler Elm, VP, Business Sustainability, Canadian Tire Corporation. “We had a busy quarter, and there are several exciting new initiatives underway that will help maintain our momentum through the end of the year – and beyond.”

Making strides towards more sustainable and environmentally conscious business practices shows Canadian Tire is staying current with what eco-minded consumers want and keeping up with what other big box stores are promoting. The company has made huge CSR business advances in a short time and hopefully it’s just the beginning.

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