For us, an environmentally friendly product has to follow a global approach that includes economic, social, and environmental aspects. In other words, a product that is truly environmentally friendly has a positive impact on all areas of life. Environmentally friendly, for us, has to be uncompromising. No shortcuts!
To evaluate environmental issues thoroughly and to assure ourselves that our products are undoubtedly environmentally sustainable, we applied what we call “life cycle analysis.” What does this allow us to do? It allows us to take into account each stage in a product’s life, from the extraction of the first materials to the end of its use.
This global approach allows us to minimize the environmental impact of our products, for example, through the selection of ingredients from renewable and vegetable sources that are easily biodegradable and non-toxic.
Environmentally friendly is much more than a buzzword! Businesses that emphasize a single attribute of their products, like biodegradability, are numerous. Because, after all, even a poison can be biodegradable! Thus another reason we certify our products. Independent certifications are a very useful tool. They make guarantees to consumers, all while simplifying a complicated message.
We offer to our employees stimulating jobs that surpass Canadian standards. In addition, we welcome at our factory people with disabilities, helping them become integrated in society. We sincerely believe that it is the responsibility of companies to contribute significantly to society. This is what we aim to do when we offer people the chance to lead dignified and normal lives despite their differences.
Firstly, we want to emphasize that this certification is a very useful tool for consumers, allowing them to make sure that environmentally friendly labels from manufacturers are valid and verified. Also, certifications help companies orient their products and services toward sustainable development. Finally, everything depends on certification, which has to be stringent, credible, and independent.
EcoLogo was developed in 1988 by the Canadian government. This independent certification is the most credible and respected in North America. The EcoLogo program encompasses product labeling, requiring strict criteria of industries wanting to be recognized. Each company has to be subjected to a detailed verification that aims to ensure that each criterion is respected. And once the certification EcoLogo is given, the program even performs spot-checks!
Yes, EcoLogo is a founding member of the Global Ecolabeling Network (GEN), a non-profit organization that aims to promote ecolabeling and increase the credibility of the practice. We should mention that there are more than 26 environmentally-friendly certifications around the world, with Canada being the second country to focus on such a policy!
Excellent question. First, we should return to our original line of thinking. At the time, we were heavily influenced by the documentary by Al Gore on climate change. Suddenly, we recognized the magnitude of the challenge that humanity faces in climate change.
The big question: how should we produce yet remain environmentally-friendly at the same time? Along the same lines comes the question of exporting. How can we be truly environmentally-friendly when exporting produces greenhouse gases? How do we export while tackling the current challenge to reduce our emissions?
Thus, in 2008, we decided to make our products without a carbon footprint, towards being carbon-neutral! Ever since, the greenhouse emissions of ATTITUDE products have simply been ZERO. We were the first company in our industry to offer CO2-neutral products. All of our processes were optimized to meet this objective, and we compensate actively for the remaining emissions by planting trees, many of them, in fact.
The foundations of our approach are simple: calculate our greenhouse emissions, reduce them as much as possible, and compensate for the remaining emissions by planting trees. Basing our products on our “life cycle analysis”, we carefully calculate the total emissions that result from our products: extraction, transport, and transformation of component materials, manufacturing of our products and packaging, distribution, etc. Even our employees’ emissions are included!
This type of bookkeeping is an excellent tool to identify "hot" zones, processes in which emissions are the highest. As a result, these processes are analyzed in a way to determine how to reduce the associated emissions effectively. At ATTITUDE, we have even succeeded in reducing our carbon footprint, all while decreasing our production costs! Carbon-neutrality is a model that functions well, and we believe that every serious company should adhere to it today.
To compensate entirely for our remaining emissions, we work with Jour de la Terre, with whom we are very proud to be associated. What is great about Jour de la Terre is that their reforestation objectives do not only focus on carbon sequestration, but also on the development of ecosystems and preservation of biodiversity while managing green corridors. In compensating for its greenhouse gas emissions, ATTITUDE tackles two problems at once!
Our concept of the integrated factory has brought about a lot of change. This particularly innovative concept is unique in its ability to create the bottles for the product, the packaging, and their storage all under one roof. Usually, these steps are completed at different places. By grouping them together, we have significantly reduced the greenhouse gas emissions that normally come from transporting component materials. A major improvement!
In addition, given that we manufacture our packaging on-site, it is possible to include a portion of recycled plastic and even to recycle defective bottles. As a result, we reduce greatly our waste and maximize the use of our primary materials.
And if the equipment that produces the bottles creates a lot of heat, you should know that this heat is captured and redirected toward production zones for packaging and storage. The amount of energy necessary to heat the building is thus minimized due to this recycling.
Definitely! For us, the process of reducing our carbon emissions and environmental impact is a continuing project. We are always attempting to create and implement more environmentally-friendly solutions.
For example, we are trying at this time to implement unpackaged goods. The goal? To allow consumers to refill their empty bottles or larger containers on site. If we succeed in meeting this challenge, the production of bottles and packaging in the factory will be reduced, and consumers will be able to benefit from a significant price reduction.