Cascades supports the Semaine québécoise de réduction des déchets

KINGSEY FALLS, QC, Oct. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Cascades is pleased to announce that it is supporting, for the fourth consecutive year, the Semaine québécoise de réduction des déchets (Waste Reduction Week) which will be held on October 18-25: a week dedicated to finding alternatives that will enable us to limit the impact of our everyday gestures on the environment by implementing the 4Rs principle (reduce, reuse, recycle and recover).

For a third consecutive year, employees at all Cascades' Quebec divisions are invited to remove their personal trash can from their desk for the duration of the event. Although very small, it still enables us to easily rid ourselves of trash that is generated in a day and to quickly lose track of it. If the best trash is the one that we do not produce, then how do we become conscious of what we produce if we get rid of it at once.

Cascades is proud to be the biggest recycling company in Canada . "We are responsible for our actions and it is up to us to act. At Cascades, many initiatives are already underway to ensure sound management of residual materials. There is a person responsible for environmental issues in each of our units. Incidentally, it is those persons who ensure a follow-up during the week without trash cans. Over the past couple of years, many have observed that this activity has a positive impact on the volume of our recovered matter and that, the weeks following, the quantity of waste in the trash cans had decreased", stated Alain Lemaire, Cascades' President and Chief Executive Officer. "Moreover, we are happy that this initiative has made some headway, since we have learned that other companies will participate this year", he continued to say.

Green Committees in certain Cascades units will take advantage of this event to launch other initiatives, such as buying long-lasting dishes for cafeterias and offering reusable water bottles to employees.

The Semaine québécoise de réduction des déchets is an initiative of Action-rebuts. Besides financially supporting the organization for the pursuit of its mission, Cascades is helping it reduce its environmental footprint by providing it with products that are environmentally sound. This year, Cascades has given the company 100% postconsumer paper, used to print posters, and envelopes of various sizes that contain a high percentage of recycled fibres.

Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products composed mainly of recycled fibres. Cascades employs nearly 13,000 men and women who work in some 100 modern and flexible production units located in North America and in Europe . Cascades' management philosophy, its more than 45 years of experience in recycling, its continuous efforts in research and development are strengths which enable the company to create innovative products for its customers. The Cascades shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS.

For further information: Marie-Eve Chapdelaine, Communications Advisor, Cascades Inc., [phone], [email protected]