“We donate slightly defective or returned items, most often footwear, to the International Porter's Protection Group in Nepal or to charities here in town,” says Karina Low of MEC Edmonton.

Mountain Equipment Canada (MEC) is a Canadian –founded company with a great connection to the environment. Through a number of simple waste reduction strategies, MEC saved over $43,000 in 2004 alone and is close to meeting Alberta Environment's goal of landfilling 20% and recycling 80% of its waste.

Every fall, MEC Edmonton does its own waste audit. Three employees jump in the dumpster and take everything out. The waste is separated and weighed. At the end of the process, MEC focuses on the largest areas of waste, then work to educate staff and members to take action.

Additionally, MEC's own retail products are not individually wrapped in wasteful packaging but tied together with pieces of scrap fabric; they also send their pallets and large boxes back to their distribution centre in otherwise empty delivery trucks. The co-op sponsors biannual gear swaps offering used rental and slightly defective items, as well as inviting individuals to come and exchange equipment and clothing that they longer need. When a problem product is returned to MEC, the service desk will offer first to fix it, rather than always simply replacing. If it's broken beyond repair, the item is kept and used for parts. “We also donate slightly defective or returned items, most often footwear, to the International Porter's Protection Group in Nepal or to charities here in town,” says Karina Low of MEC Edmonton. “And every year head office takes the ends of fleece rolls and makes blankets to donate to charities.”

Though expected from a business that so strongly identifies itself with love and respect for nature, the co-op remains a model to emulate regarding environmentally responsible business.