Environment

July 7, 2021 | Publisac

DID YOU KNOW

• The new Publisac bag is now made from 100% recycled plastic, and is still 100% recyclable.

• Flyers are printed on newsprint made of sawmill residues.

• In Québec, trees are not cut down in order to manufacture newsprint which is used for printing the Publisac flyers. In fact, they are made from wood chips from sawmills.

A BAG MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC, STILL 100% RECYCLABLE
Over the summer 2019, we evaluated possible alternatives to our bag to further limit our environmental footprint. We are proud to have put on the market a new bag made from 100% recycled plastic, and still 100% recyclable.

In fact, did you know that several studies have concluded that paper bags have a higher carbon footprint than plastic bags when the entire life cycle is considered? An environmental and economic life cycle analysis of shopping bags, commissioned by RECYC-QUÉBEC, showed that conventional thin HDPE plastic bags have the least environmental impact among the five disposable bags studied, including oxodegradable plastic bags, compostable bioplastic bags, thick plastic bags and paper bags.

Source: Study commissioned by RECYC-QUÉBEC and carried out by the International Reference Centre on the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) – December 2017

CIRCULAR APPROACH TO PAPER
As the largest printer in Canada, TC Transcontinental purchases significant quantities of paper every year. Our paper purchasing policy encourages the responsible use of natural resources and promotes the protection of ancient and endangered forests.

Where virgin wood fibre is required, preference is given to fibres from responsibly managed forests with a chain of custody certification from a recognized forest certification system. TC Transcontinental recognizes FSC®, CSA and SFI® certification systems with respect to sustainable forest management, as well PEFC Chain of Custody certification. The end consumer is thereby assured that the paper used is sourced from responsibly managed forests.

In addition, newspapers and newsprint inserts and flyers in the residential sector have one of the best recovery rates in Quebec, at 86%. In fact, TC Transcontinental encourages consumers to recycle the Publisac by separating the bag and its content in the bin.

A significant portion of sorting facilities revenues is generated from corrugated cardboard and newsprint. There is an excellent market in Quebec for newsprint, if it is properly sorted. These materials are of great value to companies like Cascades, which can process them again into cereal boxes or egg containers, for example, according to the principles of the circular economy. The problem of sorting facilities is not in terms of demand, but in terms of the quality of the bales. Modernization of sorting facilities would make it possible to resell a material that better meets the needs of local markets.

Source: RECYC-QUÉBEC / Éco Entreprises Québec – ÉEQ
READ MORE ON OUR COMMITMENT TO PAPER
 

CIRCULAR APPROACH TO PLASTIC
TC Transcontinental commits to collaborating towards increasing reuse, recycling and composting rates for plastic in the communities where we operate. We intend to play an important role in Québec’s transition towards a circular economy for plastic.

In fact, TC Transcontinental is now the first Canadian-based manufacturer to join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. We share the common vision of a circular economy for plastic, where plastic never becomes waste. In 2020, TC Transcontinental created a new Recycling Group, whose goal is to convert plastic waste recovered from sorting facilities into recycled plastic granules.

In addition, the new Publisac bag made from 100% recycled plastic is a testimonial to our commitment towards the environment. The Publisac is one of the first milestones in the creation of a circular economy for plastic in Québec.

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