Let’s go Green! McCarthy’s and the Environment

Over 50 years have passed since we sold our first uniform and today, our company is Canada’s largest school uniform provider! Each September, when students across Canada return to school, we get to work [behind the scenes] to ensure that the quality, value, and service commitments we have made continue from the current generation to the next.

In order to ensure that the next generation’s needs will be met, we are committed to doing our part with respect to the environment. As agents of Corporate Social Responsibility, we are committed to ensuring that we continue to develop environmental behaviour that will impact the lessening of our carbon footprint.   

What are we doing?

Our Corporate Headquarters, along with each of our Distribution outlets conserve electricity by using energy efficient lighting fixtures, skylights, and motion sensors to turn lights on and off automatically In our Warehouses, our lift trucks have been converted to electric models – this shift has resulted in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

We have reduced the amount of non-recyclable packaging used for our products by 98%! This includes the conversion of all laminated hang- tags and labels, found on each of our products, to recyclable paper. We are utilizing Eco Friendly shopping bags in each of our Distribution outlets. Our goal is to completely eliminate the use of plastic bags!

As energy prices have skyrocketed, McCarthy’s has come up with several innovative strategies for cutting transportation costs, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, we have converted our vehicle fleet to more fuel friendly models. We have also made a concerted effort to ship products in full truckloads, rather than in multiple less-than full shipments. Using full truckloads wherever, and whenever possible has created efficiencies that have resulted in reduced fuel consumption, noise, and, as a result our impact on traffic congestion, and reduced emissions.

In addition to our own internal transportation efficiencies, and in order to encourage fuel economy among our outside carriers, McCarthy’s has also been promoting a practice known as “drop and hook”, whereby carriers drop off fully loaded trailers at our Warehouses, and haul away empty ones. The primary advantage of this strategy is that it eliminates the need for trucks to sit in our shipping areas with engines idling, while waiting for the trailer to be unloaded. 

McCarthy’s also practices “triangulation” shipping. This shipping method ensures that outbound loads shipped to one location are met with secondary outbound loads that will bring them back to the starting point with no empty moves.  

With respect to waste management, we are active recyclers – we convert our shipping boxes into merchandising boxes. When any recyclable materials are no longer re-usable they are appropriately disposed of.

We efficiently use ceiling fans to minimize our use of Air Conditioning and Heating systems, while at the same time maintaining strict guidelines on thermostat temperature controls in all of our locations.

The environment and its sustainability for future generations is extremely important to us, our current customers, and of course, our future customers.  By regularly adopting more energy-efficient practices, McCarthy’s is actively reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that many scientists believe contribute to global warming.