EcoBusiness Success - TD Canada Trust

Published on February 16, 2011

Cornwall, ON -- TD Canada Trust, Branch 2312 has successfully completed the Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative project, EcoBusiness. This venture assists local companies as they adapt to the changing economic climate. Since today's market is rapidly changing as communities focus more and more on environmental sustainability, EcoBusiness provided guidance to several businesses in SD&G transition to this new economy. TD Canada Trust accepted the challenge and has enhanced its environmental sustainability. The bank was already very ecologically aware; EcoBusiness encouraged TD Canada Trust to become even more aware of eco-friendly procedures and provided assistance towards integrating more environmentally sustainable practices into its business operations.

There are many TD Canada Trust branches across Canada. Cornwall's Branch 2312 accepted the EcoBusiness challenge. The branch, located at 61 Ninth Street West, stands out at the branch-level with its commitment to the environment. Many procedures are controlled at a corporate level, however branch 2312 has gone above and beyond its environmental duties.

Nationally, TD Canada Trust was named one of Jantzi-Maclean's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations in 2009 and named one of Canada's Greenest Employers by Mediacorp Canada. One of TD's corporate goals is to become carbon neutral and is one of only a few banks in the world to set this goal. The Conference Board of Canada and the Carbon Disclosure Project honoured TD as a 2009 Climate Disclosure Leader.

In 2008, TD set the target of reducing paper usage by per employee by 5% in 2009 and another 5% in 2010. TD is also part of a cell phone recycling program. Through this program, donated phones are refurbished and distributed to women's shelters across the country. Also, for each phone donated, TD's recycling partner donates one dollar to WWF-Canada for climate change and conservation work.

TD employees in Toronto have access to a discounted public transit pass. In calendar 2009, approximately 2,350 employees took advantage of this program on a monthly basis. In 2010, TD sponsored a similar program to promote public transit in Vancouver.

On 2009's Earth Day, April 22, more than 1,100 TD employees participated in the One Million Acts of Green (OMAoG) initiative, making TD the largest corporate group on the OMAoG site. Branch employees wore 100% organic TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) T-shirts and encouraged customers to donate to TD FEF. As an added bonus, TD gave away 500,000 TD FEF-branded reusable shopping bags.

TD undertakes a wide range of environmental activities and projects through community giving, partnerships and volunteering. TD's Friends of the Environment Foundation is in its 20th year and has contributed more than $50 million to community-based environmental projects during this period. TD also provides funding and volunteer time to a wide range of environmental groups and projects. Branch 2312 is actively involved with the TD Friends of the Environment program and had Branch Manager Leigh MacDonald been recognized as been awarded the 2010 Leadership Award for her involvement with TD Friends of the Environment.

At a branch level, Branch 2312 on Ninth Street West has been successful with the EcoBusiness project. To add life to the bank and to promote good health, TD added plants to its indoor environment. A Rubber Plant, Peace Lily and Philodendron have been added to the indoor space and more plants will be added in the near future. Over the Christmas holidays, Poinsettias were added to all the offices.

TD recognized that office plants have a relaxing affect on people, clean the air, promote good health, and can make people more productive and awake by adding oxygen to the air. TD chose indoor tropical plants because they thrive in low light and purify the air. Because tropical plants originate under a thick canopy in the tropical rainforest and they can process the gases they need to flourish, TD knew that tropical plants were the right choice.

Branch 2312 uses recycled paper for printing and tries to maximize communications by email to keep printing to a minimal. Many procedures at 2312 as well as all TD banks are now computer-based, minimizing the paper trail. This practice will further downsize the paper trail in the future.

Branch 2312 realizes that it is sometimes difficult to encourage all employees to recycle. Recycling bins are accessible to all employees for paper, plastic, and aluminium. Employees share newspapers and magazines; this practice eliminates multiple purchasing of the same publications, thus reducing paper consumption.

Compact Fluorescent lights have replaced all incandescent bulbs at Branch 2312. This switch not only lowers the electrical bill, but also lowers the bank's carbon footprint. CFLs use 67% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last longer.

The staff and management rallied for a bike rack that was installed this past fall just outside of the branch, encouraging staff and customers to use bicycling as an alternate to cars. The bike rack provides security for locked up bikes as well as an open invitation to cyclists.

TD Canada Trust, Branch 2312, knows that a lot more can be done to further lower its carbon footprint. With TD Canada Trust aiming to be carbon neutral, a lot more changes will take place at corporate level. However, at the branch level, Branch Manager Leigh MacDonald will continue to encourage her employees to be environmental stewards by providing ongoing education regarding recycling, the benefits of plants, minimal paper consumption and car pooling.

Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative is proud to announce TD Canada Trust, Branch 2312 as an EcoBusiness.

EcoBusiness is a project of the Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative. This project has received funding support from the Eastern Ontario Development Program. The Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) is a $10-million Government of Canada initiative which promotes socio-economic development in rural Eastern Ontario, encourages a competitive and diversified regional economy, and contributes to the successful development of business and job opportunities and sustainable, self-reliant communities.