In 2020, we pledged to accelerate our global waste performance by 2025, with a commitment to reduce our total waste by 25% against our fiscal 2020 baseline and increase our diversion rate to 75%. 

As part of our efforts to improve our waste diversion rate, one of our manufacturing facilities in Canada piloted a project to convert non-recyclable waste into usable forms of energy via combustion. During this conversion process, the heat generated from the combustion of waste creates superheated steam in the boilers, allowing the steam to drive turbogenerators and produce electricity. The electricity generated can then be sold to the city and distributed to surrounding communities.

With the purchase of a few compactors and balers to collect and segregate cardboard, plastics and garbage waste throughout the facility, this initiative diverted an estimated 420 metric tonnes from landfill while generating revenue for the plant and improving its current recycling program.

In addition to driving best practices in waste management, the long-term impacts of this project will reduce the need for landfill space, while avoiding the groundwater pollution observed in dump yards. 

At Saputo, our focus on operational efficiency and continuous improvement means we are constantly looking for ways to reduce, repurpose, or divert waste. Building on the success of this initiative, we will continue to explore new ways to optimize waste reduction as we continuously strive to improve on all aspects of our environmental pledges. 

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