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Environment Policy

Vanguard strives to achieve a health, safety and environmental performance that we are proud of, to earn the confidence of our customers, and to be a good neighbour and to contribute to sustainable development.

Highlights of Vanguard Painting Ltd.'s environmental policy include:

  1. Paint Stewardship Program

    Vanguard Painting Ltd. has developed its own Paint Stewardship Program for you and your neighbours. Arrangements can be made with our Environmental Manager to accept waste paint for safe disposal and recycling, free of charge.

    The following is a list of paints and coatings that you can recycle through us:

    • Interior & exterior latex, alkyd, enamel & oil-based consumer paints
    • Porch, floor & deck paints
    • Interior & exterior varnishes and urethanes
    • Primers, undercoats,† & sealers
    • Marine enamels
    • Wood finishing oils, stains & shellac
    • Latex driveway sealers
    • Rust paint, decorative metal paints
    • Fence, barn & swimming pool paints
    • Empty paint containers

    Contact our Environmental Manager at 778-891-9782 ( mc@painter.ca) or BC Recycling Hotline for information on what to do with non-program materials.

  2. Environmental Code of Conduct for management and employees
    • Be an environmentally responsible neighbour in the communities where we operate, and act promptly and responsibly to correct incidents or conditions that endanger health, safety, or the environment.
    • Promote the use of water-based paints, which helps eliminates the need of toxic solvents. Vanguard Painting Ltd. employs the use of the ToxicSmart Resource Guide to minimize and, where possible, eliminate the use of toxic chemicals.
    • Prevent or minimize air, water, and other pollution and ensure proper disposal of waste.
    • Conserve natural resources by reusing and recycling materials wherever possible, and by purchasing recycled packaging and other materials.
    • Ensure the responsible use of energy throughout our business, including conserving energy, improving energy efficiency, and giving preference to renewable over non-renewable energy sources when feasible.
    • Improve systems and operations to minimize waste.
    • Strive to continually improve Vanguard Painting Ltd.'s environmental management system by conducting audits, measuring progress of environmental performance, and reporting deficiencies to the Board of Directors.
  3. Environmental Manager

    Mark Carroll

    Work Experience:

    Federal Government Environmental Services - Vancouver, B.C.
    Environmental Auditor, Pacific and Yukon Region

    Conducted solid waste and energy audit as well as conducting Environmental Assessments.

    Environment Canada - Vancouver, B.C.
    Environmental Technician

    Provide technical information on environmental toxicity and potential impacts of substances discharged into the environment.

    City of Whitehorse - Whitehorse, Yukon
    Environment Manager

    Implemented a solid waste management plan for the City of Whitehorse. The main focus was on the reduction of organic waste entering the landfill (centralized composting site: windrow).

    University of Victoria - Victoria, B.C.
    University of Victoria Sustainability Project

    Prepared reports for the University in Sustainable Development i.e. transportation, waste reduction/recycling issues. Designed and implemented a sustainable use program for all departments on campus.

    Education:

    University of Victoria - Victoria, B.C.
    B.Sc. Geography/Environmental Science.

    Concentrations in Resource Management, Environmental Protection and Management.

    Training Certification:

    ISO EMS 14001 - Richmond, B.C.
    Certificate of Recognition - Richmond, B.C.
    LEED - Victoria, B.C.

    (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design)

    LEED for homes - Fall 2005
    Environmental Responsibilities - Vancouver, B.C.
    Liabilities Course

    Examine existing and proposed environmental legislation; Identify responsibilities and potential liabilities

    Halocarbon Regulation Course - Vancouver, B.C.
    Halocarbon inventory and compliance monitoring.
    Stream Keepers Course - Bowen Island, B.C.

    A comprehensive education and awareness program developed around stream protection, restoration and enhancement.

    Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency - Vancouver, B.C.

    Examines the purpose and application of the Environmental Assessment Act.

  4. ISO 14001 Environmental Management System

    Vanguard Painting Ltd. is committed to sustainable business practices. This is the integration of economic, environmental and social considerations in the decision-making process across all of our business activities.

    Vanguard Painting Ltd. continually looks for new ways to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, products and services throughout their life cycle.

    Consistent with our commitment to contribute to sustainable business practices, Vanguard has adopted a systematic approach to environmental health, ISO 14001 EMS, in order to achieve continuous performance improvement.

    Vanguards' EMS Program

    1. Transportation and Distribution
      • Training
      • Risk Management
      • Emergency Response
    2. Product Stewardship
      • Life Cycle Analysis
      • Environmental Education and Information-MSDS Sheets
      • Product Safety (Product Use)
    3. Operations Management
      • Occupational Safety & Health
      • Operations (Process Safety)
      • Environmental Management (Pollution Prevention/Waste Management)
  5. LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design)

    LEED is an environmental report card or Green Building Rating System. Vanguard Painting Ltd. is committed to the development of Green Buildings with its promotion of zero and low VOC paints and sealants.

    The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee has adopted LEED for all Olympic venues. Also, the City of Vancouver has adopted LEED for city owned buildings and property, as of March 2005.

    LEED Canada is currently developing a Green Rating system for homes, to be delivered in the fall of 2005. Our LEED Accredited Professional will help you with any LEED building questions. Contact Mark at 778-891-9782 or mc@painter.ca.

    For further information about Green Buildings, visit:

  6. Green Power Certificate Program

    Green electricity is defined by BC Hydro as socially responsible electricity generated with minimal environmental impact from renewable resources.

    Green Power Certificates extend our corporate environmental policy into electricity purchases.

    In addition, the environmental and social attributes associated with ecological purchasing can be applied against the impacts of conventional electricity generation, essentially offsetting these impacts.

  7. Use of Environmentally Friendly Products

    Vanguard Painting Ltd. promotes the use of zero and low VOC employs the use of the ToxicSmart Resource Guide to minimize and, where possible, eliminate the use of toxic chemicals. Whenever possible we promote the use of water-based paints, which helps eliminate the need of toxic solvents. In addition, we (volatile organic compounds) paint (we recently painted the interior of the BC Transplant Society during regular hours of operation by employing the use of zero VOC paint).

    ToxicSmart Resource Information supplied by the Georgia Strait Alliance. For more information on the ToxicSmart Resource Guide, Check out their web site: http://www.georgiastrait.org/curtoxic.php

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Vanguard Painting Ltd. is committed to sustainable business practices. This is the integration of economic, environmental and social considerations in the decision-making process across all of our business activities.

For more information, please visit our Environmental Policies page.