Jamieson Launches Corporate Sustainability Campaign

Reforestation announcement in Windsor puts spotlight on local and national tree-planting initiatives

WINDSOR, ON, April 16 /CNW/ - Jamieson Laboratories is pleased to announce the naturalization of an historic landscape in Essex Region while also launching a national, public tree-planting campaign appropriately named Jamieson Trees.

Jamieson, Canada's leading vitamin and natural health products manufacturer, unveiled its 10-year commitment to the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) to reforest a 121-acre former Carolinian forest. The property is located along the shore of Lake Erie, and it will be naturalized with more than 72,000 seedlings, a number representing approximately 10 years of Jamieson's wood-fibre consumption.

"Jamieson has long represented more than simply being Canada's number-one producer of premium natural health products," explains Vic Neufeld, president and CEO of Jamieson Laboratories. "We are passionate about trees and about giving back to our community. Last fall, we partnered with the City of Windsor to plant major expressways and avenues with 1,000 mature trees. Our business depends on the planet's riches. Trees purify our water and air and they are the raw material for paper."

Today's announcement also signals the start of Jamieson Trees, a national tree-planting challenge. To celebrate this initiative, representatives of Jamieson Laboratories and ERCA will join students from the Greater Essex County District School Board at Northwood Public School on Friday afternoon to plant a ceremonial mature Basswood tree. "Windsor is our home base so we are launching the campaign here," explains Neufeld. "Now, we're inviting all Canadians to make their world greener."

The Jamieson tree project has set a goal of planting 25,000 trees by Canada's Environment Week in June. Individual and group planting efforts will be mapped online at www.jamiesoncares.com. Jamieson will match the public participation with support for an equal number of trees in 10 conservation areas across Canada. The national tree-planting project will be an annual community initiative between Earth Day (April 22) and World Environment Day (June 2). This weekend, Jamieson is distributing 1,500 free white-spruce seedlings to the public at the Windsor Enviro Expo.

Jamieson Laboratories currently donates nearly four per cent of its annual revenue to reforestation and animal-protection projects. "Responsible corporate citizenship demands that our business practices are ethical, sustainable and humane," says Neufeld. "We're committed to operating a business that preserves and enhances the natural environment and the well-being of all living species."

About Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) - www.erca.org

ERCA was established in 1973 with the aim of managing conservation issues and restoring the region's original character. Located at the tip of southern Ontario, ERCA has jurisdiction in nine municipalities (including the City of Windsor, Township of Pelee and seven municipalities in Essex County), collectively known as Canada's "South Coast." To fairly represent the needs of all regional stakeholders, ERCA manages its natural resources on a watershed basis. By 2020, ERCA hopes to achieve a sustainable, balanced environment, highlighted by clean creeks and rivers, thriving natural areas and productive agricultural lands.

About Jamieson Laboratories - www.jamiesonvitamins.com

Established in 1922, Jamieson Laboratories is Canada's largest manufacturer and distributor of advanced natural health products and a world-leading innovator in the development of proprietary formulas. All Jamieson products are manufactured at the company's state-of-the-art laboratories in Windsor, Ontario. Jamieson products are exported to more than 50 countries including; Italy, Trinidad, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore.

For further information: Media Inquiries: Rob McEwan, Argyle Communications, [phone], [email protected]; Stephanie Blok, Jamieson Laboratories, [phone], [email protected]