Holcim Canada and Van Houtte Coffee Services Inc. untap the potential of K-cup® packs

Recovered K-Cup^® Packs used as alternative fuel in Quebec cement

LONGUEUIL, QC, Dec. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Holcim Canada and Van Houtte Coffee Services Inc., a subsidiary of Keurig Canada Inc, are proud to team up to reduce their respective environmental footprints. The two companies recently introduced a new service to recover the energy content of used K-Cup^® packs from institutional and commercial clients of Van Houtte Coffee Services Inc. Once collected from customers, the packs are sent to the Holcim Canada Joliette cement plant where they are processed and reused as alternative fuel for the plant. The initiative both keeps the used K-Cup^® packs from entering landfills and helps reduce the plant's reliance on traditional fuel sources. A ton of K-Cup^® packs produces 30% less CO₂ than the fossil fuels it replaces.*

With sustainable development at the heart of its business strategy, Holcim Canada is committed to reducing its environmental impact and continuously looks for ways to advance sustainable environmental practices. This new partnership is in line with this goal. "We have a responsibility to drive sustainability and by providing innovative solutions, the opportunity to enable the industry to operate more sustainably. Using alternative fuels is an important and effective tool to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and improve our CO₂ profile. Reclaiming used K-Cup^® packs helps us to meet the ambitious objectives we've set," said Robert Houde, General Manager of Geocycle, the Holcim Canada division responsible for alternative fuels.

''Innovation is at the heart of our actions and addressing the environmental impact of Keurig^® brewing systems is a critical priority," mentioned Stéphane Glorieux, President of Keurig Canada Inc., Canadian business unit of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. "The partnership between Holcim Canada and Van Houtte Coffee Services Inc. is a creative example of what is possible when like-minded companies start working together towards a common environmental goal."  Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. is committed to ensuring that 100 percent of its K-Cup^® packs are recyclable by 2020 and this is an interim step along that path.

About Holcim (Canada) Inc.
Holcim (Canada) Inc. is one of the country's largest vertically integrated building materials and construction companies. With 3,000 employees, Holcim Canada manufactures cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete and provides construction services to many of Canada's largest infrastructure projects. It has a portfolio of brands, including Dufferin in Ontario and Demix in Quebec.

About Keurig Canada Inc.
Keurig Canada Inc. (Keurig Canada) is the Canadian business unit of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig). The company offers a wide range of premium coffees in a variety of formats, as well as Keurig^® Single Cup Brewers and many Keurig Brewed^® coffees, teas and other beverages. Consumers can enjoy Keurig Canada products whether they are at home, at work, in a café-bistro and in other points of sale. Keurig Canada markets flagship brands such as Keurig^®, Van Houtte^®, Timothy's World Coffee^®, Barista Prima Coffeehouse^®, as well as Green Mountain Coffee^®, Tully's^® and Café Escapes^® to highlight a few.

In addition to revolutionizing the Canadian beverage marketplace, Keurig Canada is also a leader in sustainable development thanks to its programs supporting local and global communities, and its initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint.

The company's Canadian principle office, management team, and coffee roasting and beverage packaging plants are located in Montreal, Quebec. Also located in Quebec are Keurig Canada's subsidiaries, VKI Technologies Inc., and Van Houtte Coffee Services Inc. who together offer innovative beverage service options to away from home customers from branches in 30 cities across Canada. For more information, visit corp.keurig.ca, KeurigGreenMountain.com, Keurig.ca, VanHoutte.com, Timothys.com, baristaprima.ca and vkitech.com.

* Source: "Plant K-Cup® Waste Options" internal study by Keurig Green Mountain Inc., November 2013.

SOURCE: Holcim Canada Inc.

Junaina Saulat, Director, Corportate Marketing & Public Affairs, Holcim (Canada) inc., 1 [phone], [email protected]; Valérie Ladouceur, Brand PR Specialist, Keurig Canada Inc., 1 [phone], [email protected]