Our ecological commitment
Promotion of recycled paper, reuse of our computers before recycling, four day week and promotion of public transport. We are taking extra steps for the environment.
Locally produced ecological paper
At Mardigrafe, we actively promote the Enviro100 range of ecological paper to our customers. This paper is produced locally at the Rolland plant in Saint-Jérôme. It is made exclusively with pulp containing 100% recycled fiber and using green energy from biogas recovered from a landfill site. This paper is bleached without chlorine or acid. Every time a ton of this paper is used instead of another, 17 mature trees are saved. Since the advent of 100% post-consumer recycled paper, all of our intermediate proofs are performed on Enviro100 paper. For our administrative purposes, we print only what is needed and we use both sides of the sheet!
Papers without chemical treatment
We encourage our customers to choose uncoated papers and non-laminated cardboard by explaining to them the impacts of these processes on the environment. We offer the full range of bindings, including the eco-friendly spiral binding. We are always ready to offer better and gentler alternatives for the planet.
Supply and energy savings
Since 2004, Mardigrafe has equipped itself with digital printers that allow printing in small and medium runs. This allows our customers to print only the quantities they really need. For ecological reasons, we want to avoid unnecessary travel. We systematically use PDF proofs sent over the Internet, and we have increased our coordination of mailings in order to reduce the use of messengers. Our purchasing planning also allows us to reduce the mileage spent transporting goods.
Eco-friendly inks and toner savings
We encourage the use of environmentally friendly inks that do not contain solvents (volatile organic compounds, or VOCs) or driers (carcinogenic heavy metals: cobalt, manganese, mercury, lead). These inks exist and are manufactured locally in Quebec, which further reduces the environmental impact of prints. Our state-of-the-art digital presses use only the optimum and required amount of toner, and all cartridges are recycled by the manufacturer.
Our computers are reused
In order to reduce our ecological footprint due to the purchase of new computer equipment and the environmental problem of techno-waste, it is our policy to preserve our computer equipment as long as possible. Thus, software updates make it possible to keep the equipment running, and some production devices are converted back into servers. At the end of its life cycle, our obsolete equipment is sent to youth centers and schools or, in case it can no longer be used by anyone, we send it to our eco-center.
The four day week
At our level (a small company with less than 10 employees), we have implemented the four day week, which is a way of reducing traffic during rush hour while allowing a better balance between family life and work. In other words, it makes life more enjoyable for our employees. This is a simple solution which, if applied on a large scale, would have a beneficial effect on Quebec’s carbon footprint and, we are convinced, on the health check as well. This is 20% of transit during rush hour. We encourage the use of public transport by paying for the monthly transit cards for our employees.
Maintain dialogue
We want environmental information to circulate. We talk to our customers and our suppliers. We listen to them, we talk to them. We don’t take anything for granted: we don’t hesitate to regularly question our ways of doing things. We participate in conferences and meetings. Hasn’t the preservation of our environment become an economic activity in its own right?