The Paper Challenge

The Desjardins Paper Challenge aims to reduce printer and photocopier paper consumption by 15% and to increase the use of recycled paper by the same amount.

Introduced on Earth Day in 2005, the program had led, as at April 15, 2008, to a 21% reduction in printer and photocopier paper consumption in Desjardins Group, which represents about 43 million sheets of paper. According to the Chaire en Éco-conseil de l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, this represents 3,435 trees saved and prevents about 227 tons of Co₂-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions related to the paper life cycle.

The Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec and Desjardins Group components have reduced their paper consumption by 27%, which represents nearly 33 million sheets of paper throughout the enterprise (excluding the caisse network). Invited to take part in the Paper Challenge only since 2006, the caisse network succeeded in reducing its paper consumption by 13%, saving 10 million sheets of paper.

As well, measures taken to limit the number of pages in the Desjardins Funds investment statement will save 1,260,000 pages per year, the biomass equivalent of 100 trees or 5 tonnes of CO₂.

The results also show that the target of replacing 60% of new ink cartridges by recycled cartridges, a target set by the Desjardins Group Procurement Committee, is well on the way to being reached, since after one year, this figure stands at 52%.

Desjardins Group continues to promote the Paper Challenge throughout its cooperative network. Approximately 410 caisses, Desjardins business centres and administrative centres have already committed to the program.

Puchase of environmentally friendly paper

By December 31, 2008, Desjardins aims to purchase paper containing only 100% post-consumer fibres for both its internal activities and its commercial activities. In the meantime, the Group is encouraging the use of paper with at least 30% post-consumer fibres.

Certain Desjardins components have already joined in with this objective. For example:

• Développement international Desjardins has been buying only recycled paper for its head office in Lévis.
• Desjardins Financial Security has made the same commitment for all its printer paper and photocopier paper.
• Desjardins Securities, after having made the shift to recycled paper for its internal needs, will undertake a process in 2008 to review the type of paper used for printing account statements for clients.
• At the FCDQ, more than 66% of the paper purchased in 2007 was recycled paper.