Carbon offset programs in Canada are al-
lowing businesses to become carbon neu-
tral, meaning that these companies are
removing the same amount of CO
2
they
are putting into the environment. The idea
stems from the fact that climate change
is a global problem; greenhouse gas emis-
sions in one area can be neutralized by
green initiatives, like wind farms, in other
areas. Purchasing carbon credits or off-
sets from these sources allow companies
to simultaneously offset their own emis-
sions while supporting green technology.
In 2008, Novex began purchasing carbon
offsets and became the only local carbon
neutral courier. Even at the office, staff
have undertaken big steps in reducing
their impact, from eliminating the use of
natural gas and composting food scraps to
decreasing both electricity and paper use
by 35 and 75 per cent, respectively.
A TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
Novex prides itself on having a triple bot-
tom line, which includes social, economic
and environmental aspects. Involved in a
number of charitable organizations, staff
are encouraged to participate in the local
community. Although the company serves
3,700 customers in Vancouver, many of
which are big names in their own indus-
tries, Novex is committed to small com-
panies too, who especially depend on reli-
able delivery services during their time of
growth.
As for its environmental targets, the com-
pany has already proven itself to be a
sustainable organization. The next step
for Novex is to spice up their efforts with
some fancy technology.
“We’re looking at leading electric vehicle
contenders and how we might be able to
integrate them into our fleet,” Coupar said.
Right now, Novex is testing an electric ve-
“I think the move to electric will be huge. We think that this is going to happen
fairly quickly.”
OCTOBER 2016
H
business elite canada
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