Dec 6 2004
Alcan Inc. today announced a major initiative to promote the recycling of aluminum cans in support of Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Canada.
"We are proud to expand our relationship with the Habitat for Humanity family through a program that underlines the value of our product as a sustainable material," said Travis Engen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alcan Inc. "We believe our actions, both inside and outside our operations, speak much louder than words when it comes to communicating our commitment to sustainability. This program allows Alcan to return a large and direct benefit to Habitat for Humanity's goal of providing decent, affordable housing to families in need," he added.
The "Alcan Builds on Recycling" program will provide two levels of recycling incentives for Habitat for Humanity affiliates. The first level will see Alcan match, up to an annual total of CAD$2,500, monies raised by affiliates through the recycling of aluminum beverage cans. The second level will provide direct funding for the construction of new homes to the two top- recycling affiliates in Canada, based on total cans collected and total cans per capita in a given geographic area. The program will result in the construction of two new Habitat for Humanity homes in Canada each year and annual cheques for up to CAD$2,500 from Alcan to each participating affiliate, to add to their home-building budgets.
"We are pleased to launch this Canadian partnership with Alcan, a company that has been supporting our efforts in the U.S. for a number of years. It's a great way to involve Canadians in helping to give a 'hand up' to families in need, while keeping a valuable and renewable product from going to waste," said David Hughes, President of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "The program assures us of two fully-funded homes a year, on top of what our Habitat for Humanity affiliates may accomplish through their own recycling efforts," he added.
The "Alcan Builds on Recycling" program is consistent with the sustainability platform Alcan adopted late last year to guide its community investment decisions. It follows the Company's creation of the US$1 million Alcan Prize for Sustainability in January, 2004, and its major sponsorship of the +30 Sustainable Cities initiative announced in March, 2004.
Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976, is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing around the world.
Funds, building materials, and labour are donated by individuals, corporations, and other organizations that share the goal of providing decent, and affordable housing to families in need. Habitat for Humanity International is now active in 100 countries, and has sold more than 180,000 homes to qualified partner families.
Habitat for Humanity Canada was founded in 1985 and has placed more than 800 impoverished families into new homes from coast to coast. There are 64 affiliates in 10 provinces and one territory; the national headquarters is located in Waterloo, Ontario. The Canadian goal for 2005 is to put more than 1,000 families into Habitat homes.
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