Environment
Friesens Legacy of Green
Friesens commitment to the environment is built around making the best use of our resources, and by minimizing our ecological footprint. We use our resources as carefully as possible – reusing and recycling whatever we can.
Did You Know?
- Friesens uses only hydro-generated power provided by the Nelson River watershed, a renewable source of clean energy with zero carbon
- Friesens hydro-powered plants produce no air pollutants, no toxic waste, and contribute 18-60 times less greenhouse gases than natural gas or coal-fired plants
- Friesens UV web press emits no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
- Friesens cover boards are FSC® certified and 100% PCW
- Friesens inks are vegetable based
- 2011
- Proud sponsor of the Environmental Paper Network (environmentalpaper.org) and featured eco-audit power user
- 63% of paper used annually by Friesens includes post-consumer waste
- Tests flax, wheat and recycled paper for Canopy
- 2010
- Implemented new FSC® standards
- Installed upgraded shredding system allowing all hard covers to be recycled
- Reduced energy consumption in Employee parking lot by installing new plugs.
- 2009
- All plants are upgraded with centralized high and low pressure air and vacuum
- 2008
- Built new plant according to latest environmental standards
- Installed UV press with UV ink
- 2006
- Developed Friesens Eco-Calculator, a calculator that converts book specifications to environmental resources saved
- Friesens estimating goes ‘paperless’, saving 285,000 pages (annually) of printing
- Launched eco-education program
- 2005
- Launched Friesens Green Scene, a quarterly update on industry and Friesens environmental practices and initiatives
- 2004
- With publisher Raincoast Books, Friesens prints Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on 100% post consumer waste paper. This landmark ‘green’ edition set the stage for all future Harry Potter books to go ‘tree free’
- Launched Eco-Audit program
- Installed water efficient washrooms
- 2003
- Canada’s first FSC® certified book manufacturer
- 2001
- Donations to Scoutree Program
- 1999
- Switched humidity system from air fog to high pressure mist
- Upgraded compressed air systems to reduce energy dependency
- 1997
- Initiated sorting baling waste by grade
- 1994
- Installed high efficiency lighting
- 1992
- Installed silver recovery system
- Installed solvent recovery program
- Launched drink can/desk bin recycling programs
- Published first promotional edition of Making Eco-Friendly Books
- 1985
- Replaced ink cans with refillable drums
- 1981
- Used press waste for line-up sheets in next press run