BC Liquor Stores – Doing Our Part Together
“Thinking Green” is not a new idea at BC Liquor Stores. With a long-term commitment to the environment, the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) has been the leader in sustainable retailing in British Columbia for more than 35 years.
Today, the LDB is building on its foundation of sustainability by implementing leading edge energy reduction programs in all of its operational areas, including BC Liquor Stores.
Everyone has an important role to play in a healthy environment – especially at the retail level including customers and employees alike. The LDB is committed to further reducing its environmental footprint by building on existing programs and introducing new innovative plans.
Recycling Beverage Alcohol Containers – Return-to-Retail
In 1970, the LDB introduced its Return-to-Retail program in all government liquor stores. BC’s beverage container recovery system is the oldest legislated deposit-return system in North America.
This program was followed by full in-store recycling programs in 1998 to address changes in beverage container packaging. Under the Recycling Regulation, all beverage containers returned by consumers must be recycled. In going beyond typical current environmental standards, the LDB is the only retailer in the province to take full life-cycle responsibility for 100 per cent of the products and packaging sold in its BC Liquor Stores. This includes the collection, processing and recycling of all beverage containers. Customers may bring back their empty beverage alcohol containers to BC Liquor Stores or return unlimited amounts to Return-It® bottle depots around the province.
BC Liquor Stores are being equipped with new equipment that will allow them to recover the maximum amount of recyclables. Currently, the LDB recovers 80 per cent of the products it sells.
Think Green Shop Smart
With your help, we can reduce the impact on our environment. The LDB’s Think Green Shop Smart awareness program encourages customers to make environment-conscious decisions when shopping. The following options available at BC Liquor Stores can help you Think Green Shop Smart:
• A wide selection of organic products are available in stores
• Choose to carry out your purchases without a bag or using BC Liquor Stores reusable bottle bags
• Products available in alternative packaging (such as PET or Tetra Pak)
• Tips to helping the environment
LDB Green Plan
In early 2008, the LDB conducted a full review of all operations and the LDB Green Plan was created. Currently, the Green Plan identifies and tracks the status of more than 50 initiatives that have been implemented or are in various stages of consideration. Some of the key initiatives for 2008 included:
• Power Smart – Prior to Green House Gas (GHG) legislation, the LDB was in the process of working with BC Hydro to conduct a Power Smart energy audit all of its facilities with the goal of reducing energy requirements and costs.
• A full review of current recycling practices in all operations with the goal being to maximize recovery of materials and reduce costs.
• The replacement of LDB fleet vehicles with more fuel efficient hybrid cars.
• Think Green Shop Smart green marketing program designed to bring green awareness to our thousands of employees and millions of customers.
• The “Best Bag is No Bag at All” program – an in-store marketing program which has led to the reduction of single bag use by 23 per cent or five million bags in just eight months.
The LDB is encouraged by the support and commitment received from the public and government for some of its sustainable initiatives and, looking into the future, intends to further its leadership in the retail sector. Going forward, the LDB will undertake further initiatives to increase sustainability and reduce its environmental footprint.
As a responsible retailer for almost 40 years, BC Liquor Stores invite you to continue to join our efforts to further reduce our environmental footprint by recycling, reusing and reducing. By Doing Our Part Together, we can make a positive environmental impact at the local, national and global levels.
