We can take direct action on our energy consumption—and we are doing so. When it comes to transportation, we are optimizing the routes taken by our fleet of trucks and contributing to electrification efforts, with electric vehicle charging stations at some of our stores and at our head office.

For the past several years, we have also been investing in the implementation of technologies that help us improve the energy efficiency of our buildings. In March 2020, we decided to go one step further by announcing the adoption of a target to reduce our GHG emissions to 40% below our 2016 levels by 2030. To achieve this goal, we are focusing first on the completion of a series of energy efficiency initiatives in our distribution centres and corporate stores across the country, which represent a total investment of over $24 million. By the end of 2020, 230 Lowe’s, RONA, and Reno-Depot corporate stores will be equipped with a building management system, and 162 of our corporate stores will have LED lighting systems. It is estimated that by 2022, these two initiatives will have allowed us to reduce our GHG emissions by approximately 8.6%, relative to 2016, which can be compared to removing over 2,675 vehicles from circulation.

As part of our efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, we announced at the beginning of the year that we would be progressively eliminating single-use plastic shopping bags from our entire store network. This initiative will further our efforts–initiated in 2018 through the implementation of a fee on plastic bags– to encourage our customers to change their shopping habits and opt for more sustainable options.

Starting in June 2022, we will progressively withdraw single-use plastic shopping bags from our Lowe’s, RONA and Reno-Depot stores across the country. We will offer customers reusable bags, for which profits will be donated to Nature Conservancy of Canada to support conservation projects across the country.