Lowe-Martin is committed to sustainable environmental stewardship to protect our environment and our economy. Our overreaching sustainability goal is to reduce the environmental footprint of our operations, drive change in our industry, and contribute to a reduction of the environmental footprint of our customers. We believe that this commitment has and will continue to enhance the economic success of our operations and will allow us to continue to deliver benefits for all stakeholders. Our key approach is the consideration and engagement of our ownership, customers, employees, suppliers and the communities in which we conduct business and raise our families.
The five fundamental elements of our environmental sustainability strategy are Leadership, Resource Stewardship, Risk Management, Verification and Regulatory Compliance on key environmental issues. We believe that the priority areas of focus in which we can have the greatest impact include Climate Change, Sustainable Forestry, Resource Management and Waste Management. Our progress in these areas is demonstrated in our Key Sustainability Fact Sheet and Sustainability Report.
Awards and Certifications
Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada Award
Lowe-Martin has been recognized as one of Canada’s Most Environmentally Progressive Printers for the past fourteen (14) years. Lowe-Martin was recognized once again at the Canadian Printing Awards in September 2021. This prestigious award has been presented by PrintAction magazine in recognition of Lowe-Martin’s holistic strategy to lessen the environmental impact of our products and processes.
Ecovadis Sustainability Rating
Lowe-Martin has received the Silver Sustainability Rating with Ecovadis for the last 2 years. Ecovadis is the world’s largest and most trusted business sustainability ratings provider. This rating covers a range of non-financial management areas including Environmental, Labour and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Lowe-Martin has scored in the top 25% of over 90,000 Ecovadis clients.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHG)
For the past fourteen (14) years, Lowe-Martin has been collecting and measuring our carbon footprint for each of our facilities. Lowe-Martin collects this data for Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions annually in accordance with the GHG Protocol. This assessment helps identify opportunities to implement strategies to reduce, conserve and replace harmful products and processes with more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Carbon Neutral
On May 18, 2011, Lowe-Martin announced our Mississauga facilities became carbon neutral. As part of the process in becoming carbon neutral, we collect and track our Green House Gas (GHG) inventory on an annual basis. We then implemented reduction strategies in order to reduce and conserve where we can as well as implement more environmentally friendly alternatives such as 100% renewable electricity. Our next step was to neutralize the remaining emissions. Lowe-Martin has partnered with Carbonzero in order to produce measurable, verified emissions reductions that will support and provide the Montreal, Quebec’s School Board Energy Efficiency Project and the Nanaimo Landfill Gas Capture Project with clear environmental, economic and social benefits.
Forest Stewardship Council® - FSC® Certification
In an effort to improve our environmental practices, Lowe-Martin has continuously received and maintained certification from the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC®) Chain of Custody program since March 2003. FSC® sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. Lowe-Martin strongly believes in the importance of preserving the environment and has therefore committed itself to developing practices that conform to the Chain of Custody certification. FSC® paper used by Lowe-Martin is properly identified, tracked and handled during production. This process allows Lowe-Martin to provide high quality products while presenting customers with the option of supporting sound environmental practices.
Bullfrog Powered
On November 1, 2007, Lowe-Martin became bullfrogpowered, and remains the largest print manufacturing purchaser of green electricity through Bullfrog Power in Canada to this day. Lowe-Martin carefully considers its ecological impact and its responsibility to the environment. With the help of Bullfrog Power we have added over 11,000 MWh of green electricity to the grid, avoiding over 2,000 tonnes of CO2e in the process. Through this partnership, we offer our clients an option for their printed materials that drastically reduces the carbon footprint of their products while supporting the growth of clean, renewable, emissions-free power in Canada.
Sustainable Mail Group
Lowe-Martin is pleased to be a founding member of the Sustainable Mail Group (SMG), a new industry association that brings together marketers, manufacturers, and mail service providers to help build a sustainable mail value chain. SMG's mission is "To be stewards of the environment, working within the direct mail industry to offer continuous thought leadership and sustainable solutions that meet consumer demand for responsible mail." Our President and CEO, Ward Griffin, is the first chair of SMG.
Environmental Policy
Ancient and Endangered Forest Policy
Sustainability Report
Sustainability Fact Sheet