Yellow Pages Group Takes Action by Changing the World, One Step at a Time With Green Communities Canada and Equiterre
MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwire – April 22, 2009) – Promoting ethical consumption, implementing a more efficient energy-saving policy, reducing business travel and producing directories in a responsible way… These are just a few examples of actions to be taken on by Yellow Pages Group (YPG) and its employees as part of the Changing the world, one step at a time campaign developed by Equiterre. This campaign aims at encouraging individuals and organizations to make ethical and ecological choices. Equiterre and its partner, Green Communities Canada, will support YPG in the accomplishment of its commitment. YPG is the first business to be part of this campaign in all its offices across Canada.
"The commitment of a large organization such as Yellow Pages Group demonstrates that it is possible to integrate concrete actions into a company’s business practices to preserve the environment and our communities" says Clifford Maynes, Executive Director of Green Communities Canada. "We are strong believers in the Changing the world, one step at a time program as it motivates people to be proactive about the environment in their everyday lives. We applaud Yellow Pages Group’s efforts and we encourage businesses to do the same."
YPG has already initiated some important environmental initiatives in its business practices. For example, the company already produces directories composed of post-consumer fibre from Canadian suppliers, vegetable-based ink and hot-melt glue, rendering them entirely recyclable. YPG also only purchases 100% recycled and FSC certified office paper for all its offices across the country. Other initiatives to come in 2009 will include: offering the option to consumers to customize their directory order, reviewing the employee business travel policy, and offering fair-trade products. YPG will report its progress on the different actions put into place over time.
"We are committed to strengthening our environmental initiatives on an ongoing basis and this program gives the perfect framework for us to focus on certain priorities and measure our performance," states Annie Marsolais, Communications Director of Yellow Pages Group. "We are proud to be working with environmental leaders such as Equiterre and Green Communities Canada to reduce our ecological footprint for the benefits of the communities in which we operate."
With this campaign, YPG will put into place selected initiatives over the next three years, including:
1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from business travel
2. Encouraging green commuting solutions
3. Promoting socially responsible and sustainable purchasing
4. Making socially responsible and sustainable purchasing choices
5. Promoting and purchasing certified fair trade products
6. Promoting local and organic agriculture
7. Implementing energy efficiency measures in its offices
8. Collaborating with its distributors to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
9. Implementing paper reduction initiatives
10. Supporting directory recycling
11. Enhancing source reduction and recycling in its offices
12. Contributing to employee social involvement
For more information and updates on YPG’s involvement in the Changing the world, one step at a time campaign, click here (http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/YPG_12actions_EN.pdf) or visit www.ypg.com/environment.
Green Communities Canada
Green Communities Canada is a national association of non-profit organizations that deliver innovative, practical and environmental solutions to Canadian communities, with a focus on household and community action. Green Communities Canada supports member organizations in working together to achieve environmental sustainability, including healthy ecosystems and communities, sustainable resource use, and clean air, water, and soil. For more information, visit www.gca.ca.
Equiterre
Equiterre helps build a social movement by encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to make ecological and equitable choices, in a spirit of solidarity. Through its four programs – ecological agriculture, fair trade, sustainable transportation and energy efficiency – the organization has developed projects that encourage individuals to take concrete actions that bring about positive change. All of Equiterre’s projects are backed by solid expertise, built on the latest developments in the related fields. For more information, visitwww.equiterre.org.
Yellow Pages Group
Yellow Pages Group is Canada’s leader local commercial search provider. It publishes annually more than 340 Yellow PagesTM and residential directories. The Company owns and manages Canada’s most visited online directories, YellowPages.caTM and Canada411.caTM, as well as CanadaPlus.caTM, a network of seven local city sites. Yellow Pages Group employs over 2,300 people in Canada and is indirectly held by Yellow Pages Income Fund (TSX:YLO.UN). For more information, visit www.ypg.com.
For more information, please contact
Yellow Pages Group
Perry Schwartz
416-412-5623
perry.schwartz@ypg.com
Clifford Maynes
Executive Director
Green Communities Canada
705 745 7479, x 118
cmaynes@greencommunitiescanada.org
Box 928, Peterborough, ON K9J 7A5
courier address:
416 Chambers Street, 2nd Floor
Peterborough, ON K9H 3V1
