Canadian Retailer - Winter 2013 - 38

MEMBER PROFILE

offer one of the best solutions. The
lamps come in a wide range of colour
temperatures, offering options to the
consumers. Companies can choose
lamps that are ideal for their functions. The lamps also have the advantage of producing less heat, which
reduces the cost and use of air conditioning equipment in the building.
The end result is considerable savings. “Total annual savings from electricity and lamp maintenance as a result of our refit has been over $185,000,
including more than $85,000 from
savings from reduced electricity use,”
says Sousa.
Recycling

More than a decade ago, The Brick
began a recycling program that today is among the most progressive
in the retail scene anywhere in North
America. Admittedly, the program
was rather modest at first; one must
start somewhere, after all.
“In 2000, The Brick began eliminating electronic waste throughout

the company, safely and responsibly
diverting thousands of kilograms of
old electronics from landfill through
a recycling program. E-waste recycling was the first step in our sustainability efforts,” explains Sousa.
The effort began expanding and became more comprehensive as the years
passed. In 2006, The Brick turned to
GreenSpace Waste Solution to implement its ambitious ‘green’ agenda.
“For every organization, efficiently
using resources is a top priority. In
recent times, we have all learned that
these objectives cannot come at the
expense of our environment. This
was the starting point for developing
the GreenSpace program and model,” explains Jason Smith, president
of GreenSpace Waste Solution. “We
work very closely with our clients to
help them reduce cost while focusing
on reducing risk and improving their
environmental footprint. GreenSpace
Waste Solutions reformulates our clients waste and recycling program to
streamline their efforts and maximize

how they use recycled materials.”
GreenSpace has assisted The Brick
in becoming an industry leader in
waste diversion over the past seven
years. Today, almost everything nonliquid is recycled at The Brick.
Each of The Brick’s six distribution centre’s across Canada are part
of the GreenSpace program, and
all have created a large dedicated
“Green Zone” where recyclables are
processed, stored, and shipped. Almost everything recycled at The
Brick including plastic, cardboard,
mattresses, e-Waste (old electronics), appliances, and skids. The Brick
is unique as it is one of Canada’s few
retail facilities that recycle Styrofoam (EPS). The recycling equipment in place will reduce the EPS to
1:90 of its expanded size and then is
recycled and reused.
The Mississauga DC is illustrative
of The Brick’s nation-wide commitment to recycling:
• Over the last 12 months, Sousa and
his team have recycled 237,554 lbs.

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Canadian Retailer - Winter 2013

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