Purolator releases 2020 Sustainability Report

Despite increased demand for shipping and transportation services, Purolator reduced total emissions in 2020 by 8 per cent per package

TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Purolator today released its 2020 Sustainability Report, a detailed review of its progress in and commitment to environmental, social and governance performance. This report shows how Purolator raised the bar during COVID-19 and offers a preview into what Canadians can expect from the company in the future.

The report demonstrates how Purolator is fulfilling consumer demands to adopt more sustainable practices despite an unprecedented rise in shipping across Canada. As part of Purolator's Delivering the Future strategy and commitment to work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the company is making progress in sustainability efforts, including investing in greener buildings and alternative-fuel vehicles. Purolator's focus in these areas is further supported by its recent survey conducted by Léger, which found 67 per cent of customers would support a company actively pursuing energy reduction and renewable energy.

"The onset of COVID-19 reinforced our essential role in the daily lives of our customers and all Canadians, highlighting our longstanding values of performance excellence, people first, customer focus, corporate stewardship and transparency," says John Ferguson, President and CEO, Purolator. "Despite a year of incredible uncertainty, we remained true to our core values, while adapting and executing our strategy. We stayed committed to empowering our people, delivering for the planet and helping our neighbours as we continued to support the economic, social and environmental causes that are important to the communities we serve. That's what Canadians expect from us."

Key highlights of the 2020 Sustainability Report:

Empowering people

• Recruited and virtually trained more than 3,700 employees, up 34 per cent from 2019.
• Hired a Chief Medical Director to support the physical and mental health and safety of our people.
• Focused on creating a more inclusive workplace through dedicated training and recruitment strategies.

Delivering for our planet

• Reduced our total emissions per package delivered by 8 per cent.
• Operated approximately 200 alternative-fuel vehicles and launched innovation pilots in major Canadian cities.
• Completed lighting retrofits in seven terminals, reducing electricity demand by one million kilowatt hours.

Helping our neighbours

• Raised over 1.6 million pounds of food for food banks across Canada through the Purolator Tackle Hunger^® program.
• Partnered with Food Banks Canada and supported more than 500 affiliated food banks.
• Delivered critical medical supplies, including PPE and COVID-19 drug treatments to hospitals and long-term care homes across Canada.

Léger survey fast facts:

• 67 per cent of customers say they would support a company actively pursuing energy reduction and renewable energy.
• 76 per cent of businesses say the COVID-19 pandemic is the most important issue motivating their environmental sustainability efforts.
• 50 per cent of customers have placed greater importance on environmental sustainability since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 72.5 per cent of customers say they would support a company who strives to reduce packaging in their shipping efforts.

Purolator plans to share details of its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and action plan in 2022.

For more details on Purolator's progress, please read the 2020 Sustainability Report found on purolator.com.

About Purolator
Purolator Inc. is Canada's leading integrated freight, package and logistics solutions provider. Celebrating over 60 years of delivering its customers' promises, Purolator continues to expand its reach and renowned service levels and reliability to more people, more businesses and more places across the country and around the world. Purolator is proud of its Canadian heritage and is focused on sustainably positioning itself for future growth and success. Purolator is also committed to contributing to the well-being of the communities it serves and where more than 13,000 of its employees live, work and play.

SOURCE Purolator Inc.