Chosen as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2011:
By Kristina Leung and Richard Yerema, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editor
(
Apr 20, 2011)
Some of the reasons why Royal Bank of Canada was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2011):
established "RBC Environmental Blueprint", a green strategy to address ways in which the bank and its employees can address environmental issues through three stated priorities: to reduce its environmental footprint; the promotion of environmentally responsible business activities; and the development of environmental products and services
developed an "EnergySmart" program in 2007 to reduce energy consumption, installing energy efficient lighting as part of a number of lighting upgrade projects as well as powering 96 branch locations with certified green power (representing a carbon dioxide reduction of 2,749 tonnes)
recently released the "RBC Employee Environmental Stewardship Guidelines" to help employees worldwide make the most environmentally sustainable choices in the course of their day-to-day activities
has dramatically increased the proportion of sustainably sourced office paper across its North American and United Kingdom operations (increasing from 15% in 2008 to over 84% last year), and has converted over 1.3 million accounts in Canada to electronic-only statement accounts and introduced a number of electronic communications protocols within the bank, reducing the amount of paper traditionally used
has a longstanding furniture reuse program that directs used (but still usable) furniture to charitable organizations, offering a second life and diversion from the landfill
established and supports seven RBC environmental committees, working groups and networks from across all business operations and regions
recently offset all the carbon emissions resulting from its participation in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, the Vancouver Olympics, and Paralympic Winter Games, including all emissions associated with our vehicles, air and rail travel, hotel accommodations, hospitality events, temporary branch operations and related logistics
operates the internationally focused "Blue Water Project" to support water stewardship projects in countries where the bank operates -- dedicating $50 million over ten years on projects that are focused on watershed protection and access to freshwater
hosted its first "Blue Water Day" last year with over 77,000 employees in 54 countries wearing blue to raise awareness of the program and the important work being completed
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