Canada Post’s Path to Zero Waste by 2030
Overview:
Location: Canada
Typology: Post offices, distribution centers, offices, construction
Sector: Government
Client: JLL/Canada Post Corporation
Sustainability Goals: Zero waste strategic planning
AAW Services: Zero Waste consulting
Sustainability Goals:
Divert 90% of all non-hazardous, operational, construction & demolition waste from landfills, incinerators (waste-to-energy) & the environment by 2030
Eliminate the unnecessary use of single-use plastics in Head Office, corporate events and meeting by 2020 and Canada Post operations by 2022
Conduct waste audits at key facilities
Establish waste diversion targets for key facilities and track performance
Track and log materials diverted from landfills
Pilot reuse strategies in operations
Work with major vendors on disclosure of environmental performance
What We Delivered:
Zero Waste Strategy Development: All About Waste built on CPC’s foundational planning work to develop a comprehensive Zero Waste Strategy document outlining a step-by-step roadmap to reach 2030 diversion goals. Key elements included:
A complete Zero Waste Project Plan structured around five strategic pillars and over 50 sub-projects
Two Zero Waste Project Trackers to help CPC manage timelines, responsibilities, and KPIs across facilities
Finalized and delivered presentations tailored to various internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and buy-in
Sourcing Specifications for Waste Reduction: To align vendors with CPC’s goals, AAW created:
A Zero Waste Construction & Demolition Specification, including an evaluation matrix for project bids
A Zero Waste Purchasing Specification, addressing procurement of durable goods, packaging, and end-of-life planning
Waste Hauling RFP Support
AAW conducted industry research, gathered best practices, and provided targeted feedback on JLL’s draft national waste hauling RFP to ensure alignment with CPC’s diversion targets.
Zero Waste Practices In Place:
Prioritizes reduction, reuse, and recycling by setting standards that minimize waste at the source and promote the use of durable, reusable products.
Diverts waste from landfills through robust recycling and reuse programs, aiming for less than 10% waste stream contamination by volume.
Supports continuous improvement with performance monitoring, audits, and pilot projects to test and refine waste reduction initiatives.
Empowers employees with education programs and encourages facility-level recycling efforts to foster a culture of sustainability.
Maintains compliance with federal and provincial waste regulations, ensuring proper environmental management and oversight.
Summary:
Motivated by the effects of climate change in Canada and recent federal sustainability targets, Canada Post Corporation committed to a bold goal: 90% diversion of all non-hazardous solid waste and construction/demolition waste by 2030. With extensive operations across the country, CPC partnered with All About Waste to finalize and implement a clear, actionable strategy.
Over the past year, CPC developed a strategic roadmap and completed a Corporate Waste Baseline, collecting data on operational, construction, and durable goods waste across the portfolio. All About Waste played a critical role in finalizing the national Zero Waste Strategy, developing tools for implementation and oversight, and aligning vendors and contractors through clear zero waste specifications.
From planning to procurement to policy, this collaboration has laid the foundation for one of Canada's largest public zero waste transitions—one that will impact communities and infrastructure nationwide for decades to come.