Our commitment
The construction industry, a key player in economic development, is also a significant contributor to global environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution. In the face of these urgent challenges, it’s crucial for companies to swiftly adopt eco-responsible practices and develop sustainable products with minimal impact. As industry professionals, we must question our methods, rethink our processes, reassess our energy efficiency, review our choice of components, and develop responsible options.
At MAC, we firmly believe that our industry’s future is rooted in a circular economy. This belief drives us to continually invest in the research and development of innovative production and supply processes to pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.
For many years, we at MAC have steadfastly committed to adopting eco-responsible practices in our daily operations. This commitment is unwavering. We aim to provide sustainable, recyclable, maintenance-free products with a minimal ecological footprint to help you achieve LEED® or green building certifications.
Join us in our mission towards a more sustainable world, where your every action counts to preserve our planet. Your partnership is crucial in this journey.
For total ecological transparency
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATIONS | EDP & HPD |
We are proud to work with our partners, architects, and contractors toward a shared vision to develop sustainable, low-carbon products that will contribute to LEED® or green building certification. View our Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and Health Product Declaration (HPD), which were prepared and verified by Vertima, experts in green building certification. They are also published in the ASTM and HPDC libraries.
These reports offer complete transparency, providing a rigorous analysis of our products’ manufacturing life cycle and chemical composition up to a threshold of 1000 ppm. They enable our partners to fully understand our products’ environmental impact and contribute to LEED® certification for new buildings, fostering trust and confidence in our processes.
By choosing MAC, you’re not just selecting quality, innovation, and an eco-responsible approach. You’re becoming integral to our quest for sustainable, environmentally friendly construction. We value your partnership and invite you to join us. For more information, contact us today and discover how our environmental reports can make all the difference to your projects.
LIFE CYCLE
86% RECYCLED CONTENT AND 100% RECYCLABILITY
Steel is one of the few materials that can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties. Incorporating a high proportion of recycled materials into our products reduces waste and emissions and preserves natural resources. The use of recycled steel in the transformation of the raw material helps to reduce the extraction of iron ore and other virgin raw materials required in the mix prepared in the furnace by steel mills, dramatically reducing the energy needed for the primary transformation of steel.
SUSTAINABLE LIFE CYCLE
Our products are not only sustainable but also deliver exceptional performance. Designed to have minimal environmental impact, they are backed by a 40-year warranty. Our products can be fully recycled at the end of their life cycle, reintegrating the production cycle and considerably reducing our ecological footprint. This assurance of quality and sustainability and their high performance make our products stand out.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
The circular economy is based on eliminating waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating ecosystems. This economy contrasts with the traditional linear economy.
RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
In our daily practice, we are committed to optimizing the use of our resources, including raw materials, materials, energy, and water.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
We believe that part of the solution lies in investing in research and development. Developing innovative technologies and processes will help create a greener future.
CARBON NEUTRALITY
Carbon neutrality refers to balancing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. This balance can be attained through reducing emissions, storing carbon, and offsetting emissions.
It is a critical component in the efforts to combat climate change. Both Canada and the United States have pledged to work towards reaching a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Our actions
NORTH AMERICAN SOURCING
By choosing local North American suppliers, we significantly reduce CO2 emissions related to transportation. The proximity between the steel mill and our processing plant allows us to minimize our carbon footprint while ensuring the quality and durability of the raw materials used in production. We only work with highly recognized suppliers in the industry who continuously invest in more efficient and environmentally conscious extraction and processing methods. Together, we take another step toward minimizing waste generated by the construction industry by developing a responsible and fully recyclable product offering.
RAW MATERIAL OPTIMIZATION
We optimize the use of raw materials by integrating them as much as possible into the covering part of our profiles. This means more material for the customer while reducing environmental impact. These optimizations are validated through rigorous laboratory testing that ensures the performance of our products. We reuse 95% of steel scraps in our manufacturing process, particularly for producing samples and accessories.
GOLD LEED® PLANT
Our new manufacturing plant is fully equipped with low-energy consumption machines. Our electricity source comes 100% from the hydroelectric grid, a fully renewable energy source. Our operational activities have also been adapted to minimize our environmental impact. Our building, certified LEED® Gold, reflects our commitment to the quality of the facilities, ecological awareness, air quality, and energy and water savings. In addition, our daily management efforts are recognized by RECYC-QUÉBEC’s ICI on recycle + program.
ECO-FRIENDLY PAINT
We exclusively use eco-friendly paints that are non-toxic to health, free from heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, and VOC-free. These high-quality paints extend the durability of our products and ensure their performance. Supported by a 40-year warranty, MAC products require no maintenance during their useful life. Compared to many other coatings available on the market that require frequent maintenance, such as surface preparation and harmful chemicals to revive their shine and ensure their integrity, a simple wash with water and mild soap is enough to preserve the aesthetics of MAC coatings year after year.
LEED®
CERTIFICATION
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) is an international recognition that confirms buildings’ performance in terms of sustainable development. The nonprofit organization U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed this certification, which encompasses various rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings and waste management.
CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION
Our profiles offer a lower carbon footprint than most building envelope products available on the market, both steel and others. Based on a 40-year life cycle, the carbon footprint of non-installed MAC steel products ranges from 0.68 to 1.11 kg CO2 per square foot of product. The Polymac panel, with more components, has a footprint of approximately 1.38 kg CO2 per square foot of product. A correlation chart between the carbon impact of an installed and non-installed profile is available in the EPD to calculate the carbon footprint and understand its impact on a building’s LCA. * *Based on product EPD data.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
The ASHRAE Level 1 energy audit conducted as part of the LEED certification for the building revealed that the average unit energy consumption of MAC, at 21.3 kWheq/ft²/year, was lower than the average for buildings certified by BOMA BEST between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020; this national average energy performance was 24.7 kWheq/ft²/year. BOMA BEST® is a national program launched in 2005 by BOMA Canada. This initiative sets realistic and innovative standards and practices for existing commercial buildings. This unique and voluntary online program is designed by the industry for the industry, offering owners and managers a consistent framework to assess the energy performance and environmental management of their buildings, regardless of size.
WASTE REDUCTION AND REUSE | ICI ON RECYCLE + PROGRAM BY RECYC-QUÉBEC
We have implemented many measures for internal waste management, which has enabled us to become certified by the ICI on recycle + program, established by the government of Quebec. This program aims to recognize the efforts of industries, businesses, and institutions (ICI) that manage their waste responsibly by implementing measures for source reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery (3Rs).
