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Founded in 1993, Logistik Unicorp  has always factored in the local economy and its impact on the environment as part of its success equation. "We constantly keep in mind the importance of developing projects that contribute to stimulate and support the local industry," emphasizes Karine Bibeau, Vice President of Customer Experience at the family-owned company specializing in integrated uniform management.

One of the Canadian giant's achievements was the construction of their LEED Or certified headquarters in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in 2006, a first for a Canadian private company. With a geothermal heating and cooling system, solar wall, 200,000 square feet of green space, and two natural filtration ponds, there is a sense of well-deserved pride when Karine talks about it.

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For her, eco-responsibility is also about prioritizing the "local factor." That's why 80% of sales to Canadian clients are domestically manufactured products. This number rises to 96% for non-operational uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Despite this significant proportion, promoting the added value of what is made locally is an ongoing mission for Karine, especially to convince clients who are solely focused on finding the lowest compliant bidder. "There is less transportation, hence fewer carbon emissions; the manufacturing processes adhere to environmental and social standards, and it is beneficial for the local economy," she points out.

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Green initiatives also come into play when choosing textiles. In 2024, the polyester insulation of a model of coats for Canada Post employees will be replaced with a version made from milkweed, a native plant fiber. For the past six years, the company has also been working on a local hemp cultivation project that, hopefully, will eventually replace cotton, which is much more energy-intensive.

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Another promising avenue for reducing their environmental footprint lies in artificial intelligence. A new system designed to minimize partial shipments and, consequently, the number of deliveries saved them 14,000 shipments last year, for their client Canada Post alone.

The next challenge? The circularity of their garments. "We would like to recycle the fabrics of our products, but that would require infrastructure to sort and revalorize them," shares Karine, who hopes that the local industry will come together to find new breakthroughs. Given the number of companies facing the same problem, it is clearly a shared concern for all.

The distribution of this article is made possible by the contribution of Détail Québec, the retail sectoral workforce committee.

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