Cascades receives Canada’s first LEED-New Construction certification for a paper manufacturing facility

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by Shane Henson — March 18, 2013—Cascades, a North American company that produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products composed mainly of recycled fibers, recently announced that the expansion of its Tissue Group plant in Lachute, Québec, has received the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. The plant is the first paper manufacturing facility to obtain the internationally recognized LEED-NC (New Construction) certification in the Canadian paper industry for the reduction of its environmental impact.

The 6,800 m2 expansion project of the Lachute plant received the Gold level of LEED certification thanks to Cascades’ continuous efforts to reduce its ecological footprint. This concern demonstrates the company’s will to remain at the forefront of environmental protection, which concerns not only its production activities but also the continuous improvement of its buildings, the company says.

This project was recognized for its exemplary performance regarding:

  • The reduction of its drinking water consumption, evaluated at 46.57 percent;
  • The use of regional materials, with 47.08 percent of costs used for the purchase of materials produced and extracted locally; and
  • The presence of certified wood, accounting for 96.36 percent of total cost for materials.

The project was also acknowledged because it offers a 58 percent reduction in energy costs, when compared to a Canadian reference building, says Cascades. The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) applauded the fact that 86.6 percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfill.

“We are honored to receive this certification, which reflects our numerous efforts to protect the environment and to make sustainable development a priority,” said Alain Lemaire, president and CEO of Cascades. “The new plant expansion not only meets the strict standards set by the LEED-NC rating system, but also helps to sustain the local economy while respecting the building’s more than 100-year-old heritage and its contribution to the community.”