LASALLE, QC, Nov. 8, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc.(TSX: GDI) (the “Company” or “GDI“) is pleased to announce that the second edition of its annual Environmental Social Governance (“ESG“) report was released on November 8, 2022. GDI’s ESG report further enhances its commitment to GDI’s ESG initiatives and provides reporting on GDI’s progress towards its stated goals.
Last year’s ESG report set a foundational structure on how GDI would move forward towards meeting its ESG targets and objectives. Detailed in the report for 2022, the Company has already reached several of these targets, including establishing two committees, one focused on Safety & Health and the other on Diversity & Inclusion, as well as maintaining a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) well below the average NAICS TRIR Rate of 20%. Additionally, GDI has already reached its target of increasing the diversity of its Board of Directors to at least 25% before the end of 2024.
“We are still at the beginning stages of this journey but have already seen progression in our analysis, understanding, management, and enhancement of our corporate efforts in all aspects of ESG,” said Claude Bigras, President & CEO of GDI. “This second annual report illustrates how our goals are taking root and growing, with ESG quickly becoming an everyday topic of discussion and an important aspect to our GDI culture.”
Despite major global supply chain issues, GDI maintains its concerted push to meet its targets to replace aged vehicles with sustainable alternatives and has set new objectives to further reduce its environmental impact. Proof of the Company’s commitment to its ESG goals, GDI’s U.S. janitorial business unit achieved its ISO 14001 environmental certification a year ahead of schedule. Additionally, the entire GDI Group of Companies achieved EcoVadis certification. Since the publication of GDI’s 2021 ESG report, GDI has engaged in the following key activities as part of its Environmental Impact Reduction Strategy (EIRS):
- Initiated activities to assess its global GHG emissions and waste diversion
- Developed sustainable sourcing and sustainable product design policies
- Reached 25% of spend on products and materials that carry a 3rd party environmental rating within the Janitorial Canada business unit
Included in the 2022 ESG report are progressions in meeting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion targets and activities, including increasing women in management roles and technical positions, partnering with diverse suppliers, and participating in 3rd party diversity-oriented organizations to increase access for underserved communities and champion growth of minority-owned businesses.
The 2022 ESG report captures existing and future initiatives aimed at identifying the ways GDI can improve as a leader in the facility services industry. Looking to 2023, GDI’s ESG committee is working on initiatives for Modern Slavery prevention and the launch of the Company’s HRIS/Payroll solution. In the coming years, GDI will continue to develop, refine, monitor, and adjust ESG strategies to meet its stakeholder needs, and drive enhanced safety and innovation.
GDI is a leading integrated commercial facility services provider which offers a range of services in Canada and the United States to owners and managers of a variety of facility types including office buildings, educational facilities, distribution centers, industrial facilities, healthcare establishments, stadiums and event venues, hotels, shopping centres, airports and other transportation facilities. GDI’s commercial facility services capabilities include commercial janitorial and building maintenance, the installation, maintenance and repair of HVACâR, mechanical, electrical and building automation systems, as well as other complementary services such as janitorial products manufacturing and distribution. GDI’s subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: GDI) Additional information on GDI can be found on its website at www.gdi.com.
Certain statements in this press release may constitute forwardâlooking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward looking information may relate to GDI’s future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as “may”; “will”; “should”; “expect”; “plan”; “anticipate”; “believe”; “intend”; “estimate”; “predict”; “potential”; “continue”; “foresee”; “ensure” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements regarding GDI’s future operating results and economic performance, and its objectives and strategies are forwardâlooking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which GDI believes are reasonable as of the current date. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company, they may prove to be incorrect. It is impossible for GDI to predict with certainty the impact that the current economic uncertainties may have on future results. Forwardâlooking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties (described in the “Risk Factors” section of the MD&A) that could cause actual results to differ materially from what GDI currently expects. Namely, these factors include risks pertaining to COVIDâ19 and related pandemic, unsuccessful implementation of the business strategy, inherent operating risks of acquisition activity, failure to integrate, decline in commercial real estate occupancy levels, increase in costs which cannot be passed on to customers, labour shortages, disruption in information technology systems and execution issues with strategic IT projects, increases in interest rates, deterioration in general economic conditions, increase in competition, influence of the principal shareholders, loss of key or longâterm customers, public procurement laws and regulations, legal proceedings, reputational damage, labour disputes, goodwill and longâlived assets impairment charges, tax matters, dependence on key employees, participation in multiâemployer pension plans, legislation or other governmental action, exchange rate fluctuations, disputes with franchisees, cybersecurity and data protection, data confidentiality, and public perception of our environmental footprint, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue importance on forwardâlooking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While management may elect to, the Company is under no obligation and does not undertake to update or alter this information at any particular time, except as may be required by law.
SOURCE GDI Integrated Facility Services Inc.
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