ÉEQ welcomes the launch of the institute for product development’s study on profitability of eco-design

POSITIVE OR NEUTRAL FINANCIAL IMPACT IN 96% OF CASES

Montreal – February 11, 2014 – Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), the eco-organization responsible for offsetting the costs of municipal curbside recycling services through the contributions of companies that put containers, packaging and printed matter on Quebec’s market, welcomed the Institute for Product Development’s (IPD) study on the profitability of eco-design, which launched today at the Centre for Sustainable Development. The Institute’s efforts to quantify and promote eco-design’s economic and socio-environmental benefits to local businesses are in line with ÉEQ’s initiatives to help these companies adopt eco-responsible practices and reduce their footprint at the source.

“As a long-time IPD partner, ÉEQ supports and welcomes the launch of the Institute’s study, which provides a fresh, enlightening perspective for companies planning to optimize their containers and packaging,” said Maryse Vermette, President and CEO of Éco Entreprises Québec. “Proving that optimizing their products and packaging is a strategic driver for improving environmental performance and is profitable at best (in 45% of cases) or poses very little financial risk (with a neutral impact in 51% of cases) clearly demonstrates that sustainability can go hand in hand with economic growth. In addition, for companies that offset up to $120 million annually in municipal curbside recycling in Quebec, the data supports the decision for more of them to become sustainable development leaders and adopt best practices.”

“Our study sheds light on the profitability of eco-design and indicates that the profit margin of eco-designed products is 12% higher on average than conventional product markups,” said Bertrand Derome, Executive Director of IPD. “From a socio-economic standpoint, there’s no longer any doubt that eco-design is a win-win approach.”

This positive data will help promote the optimization of containers and packaging, an approach that has long been a major priority for ÉEQ. Along with other initiatives in this area, ÉEQ recently launched a packaging optimization portal (www.OptimEco.ca). For many years, the eco-organization has worked closely with IPD to develop business intelligence in this emerging area and plans to provide special packaging optimization training throughout the year in collaboration with IDP and Quantis, a well-known lifecycle analysis consultant.

Beyond its role as a collector, EEQ helps optimize the curbside recycling value chain. The organization will continue to improve business tools that encourage companies to use recyclable materials to optimize their containers and packaging, to incorporate materials with high recycled content into their manufacturing process and to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

About Éco Entreprises Québec
Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) is a private, non-profit organization created by companies that put containers, packaging and printed matter on Quebec’s market. ÉEQ is certified by RECYC- QUÉBEC to establish a fee structure and collect contributions from companies to offset the net costs of municipal curbside recycling. The organization is also committed to initiatives aimed at optimizing the recyclable material value chain, primarily by reducing the volume at source, and expanding curbside recycling by cutting costs, by increasing recycling and enhancing the economic value of recovered materials.

-30-

References :
The Institute for Product Development study :
www.idp-ipd.com

Vidéo :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPVLB8AK8QY&feature=youtu.be

Container & Packaging Optimization Portal and ÉEQ Awareness video :
http://www.optimeco.ca/en/