LCBO Food & Drink Spring 2020

INSIDE SCOOP

We asked LCBO’s President & CEO George Soleas to share more about the new Spirit of Sustainability initiative.

Why is it so important to you that the LCBO build on its legacy in this area? I am proud of our past accomplishments but saw an opportunity to make sure our social responsibility efforts are focused and measurable. Under Spirit of Sustainability, we will deliver on our promise to support a sustainable future for our business, industry, and the communities in which we live and work. I want customers to feel confident that the LCBO is pushing the industry in a positive direction. The possibility of what we can accomplish working together fills me with optimism. Howwill the LCBOgive customers the oppor­ tunity tomakemore sustainable choices? Today’s customers are well-informed, and we want to help guide them toward choices aligned with their values. Providing information—including where a product comes from, how it is grown and how it impacts the soil and the environ- ment—is something we will be doing much more of in‑store and online. How is the LCBO encouraging suppliers to be more sustainable? Sustainable practices are expected of our supply partners. The entire industry is moving in a more sustainable direction and it is an exciting time. The LCBO pioneered the transition to lightweight glass, which is often referred to outside our borders as the “Canada bottle.” Lighter bottles mean reduced carbon emissions, and we are working alongside our suppliers and partners to expand this program to include more products. We will also celebrate the work and stories of our partners, who are making great strides to operate in a sustainable manner, so that others are motivated to follow suit. Howwill the LCBO improve the well-being of its communities? We will continue to support charities by activating the power of our network to raise needed funds. This spring we are partnering with Evergreen Canada, a not-for-profit dedicated to finding urban development opportunities to make our cities more green, liveable and prosperous.

A toast to sustainability At the LCBO, sustainability is more than a buzzword. It’s a commitment that will benefit everything from the lives of our customers to the health of the planet. Learn more about this new LCBO initiative called Spirit of Sustainability.

The LCBO is no stranger to sustain- ability. Social responsibility has been at the core of our mandate for more than 90 years. But as times change, one must adapt and grow. That’s why we have developed a new platform to engage our customers, partners and employees on our journey to making the world a better place. It’s called the Spirit of Sustainability.

    As one of the largest purchasers of alcohol in the world, the LCBO feels we have a responsibility to lead by exam- ple, improve the sustainability of our industry, and set new standards for our partners. With Spirit of Sustainability, not only will we increase our focus on the health of the planet, we will do the same for the well-being of our employ- ees and communities, and encourage others to do the same.

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SPRING 2020 FOOD & DRINK