Tim Hortons, Canada’s largest publicly listed restaurant chain, says it is on track to meet all its environmental stewardship and supply chain targets.
Hortons, which is listed on both the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges, and operates over 500 U.S. locations, released the results in its first sustainability report.
The company said it met goals to implement a business partner and supplier code of conduct, and to develop an independent audit and verification program for its coffee sourcing. The coffee audit program will begin this year with all suppliers participating.
Tim Hortons also registered three restaurants for LEED certification, beating a goal of certifying two pilot restaurants.
The company says it is also on target to reduce packaging within its supply chain and manufacturing operations by five percent by 2012, and to cut energy and water use for all corporate buildings and new restaurant construction by five percent by 2011, from a 2008 baseline.
Tim Hortons aims to increase the fuel efficiency of its distribution fleet by 5 percent between 2008 and 2011. So far it has increased efficiency by 2.6 percent, but says it is still on target to meet the goal. In 2011 it will focus on upgrading equipment and improving driver behavior to maximize efficiency, the company said.
In 2010 the company’s direct and indirect energy use at its corporate offices, manufacturing and distribution centers rose by 19 percent compared to 2009, from 45 million kWh to nearly 54 million kWh (see chart). But direct and indirect use at Tim Hortons restaurants fell by 1.5 percent, from 962 million kWh to 948 million kWh.
Tim Hortons’ greenhouse gas emissions rose by six percent in 2010, from 227,315 tons to 240,307 tons. The company saw rises across scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions.
Energy intensity fell at corporate offices, distribution centers and restaurants in 2010, but rose at manufacturing facilities. For water intensity, this trend was reversed.
The company says that it is working to ensure that its paper cup is accepted in local recycling and composting systems. The cup is now being collected at over 650 Tim Hortons restaurant locations.
The report follows the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G3 sustainability reporting guidelines, Tim Hortons says, and is self-declared to Level B.
