Multiplex Canada Releases New Sustainability Report for 2020

TORONTO, CANADA: Multiplex Construction Canada Ltd. (Multiplex) – a global construction contractor with more than 1,000 completed projects around the world – today launched its third annual sustainability report.

The 2020 Positive Impact Report (‘the report’) details the specific, measurable actions that the company has taken over the past 12 months – notwithstanding a global pandemic – to drive environmental, social and governance (ESG) forward in the construction industry.

“We cannot talk of resilience in construction without sustainability. It is essential that we maintain focus on decarbonizing the built environment as one of the greatest challenges continuing to face our industry,” President and Managing Director for Multiplex Canada, Terry Olynyk said.

“As contractors, we have a unique opportunity to influence decisions throughout the construction process and champion solutions that will create positive impacts for people and the environment, far beyond the completion of our projects.”

The construction company behind some of the Greater Toronto Area’s most complex and large-scale towers, including the Bay Adelaide Centre’s North Tower (targeting LEED Platinum) and East Tower (LEED Platinum) in Toronto’s Financial District, Kings Club in Liberty Village (LEED Silver), Transit City (Towers 1 – 3) in Vaughan and Grid Condominiums in downtown Toronto, Multiplex uses its market position and leading, global ESG expertise to influence more sustainable decision-making within the local construction industry.

This report provides meaningful ESG disclosures in line with international best-practice reporting frameworks the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards for Engineering and Construction Services.

Highlights of the 2020 report include:

Positive Environmental Impact

• Guided by its 2020 Strategy and in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Multiplex made great strides across its operations in terms of sustainability performance between January and December 2020. Multiplex recorded scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions data throughout the year to set a carbon emissions baseline, which would go on to inform its science based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target. With a 2020 baseline in place, Multiplex became the first construction company in Canada – and the tenth company from any sector – to have an approved science based target under the respected Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
• Multiplex increased diversion from landfill rates to 79% across its operations, which included diverting more than 95% of demolition and construction waste from landfill at its Bay Adelaide Centre – North Tower project
• It delivered more than 50 environmental training sessions to over 500 attendees
• Multiplex’s ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems was audited by BSI with zero environmental non-conformance reports (NCRs) raised.

Positive Social Impact

• Multiplex delivered more than 450 hours of health, safety and wellbeing training internally, and 650 hours of external training
• It held 821 health, safety and wellbeing toolbox talks with project partners, engaging more than 13,300 attendees
• Multiplex trained a group of 14 Mental Health First Aid staff to support its focus on mental health and wellbeing at every site and office
• The company supplied more than 2,500 reusable face masks to employees and trades during the pandemic, as well as other PPE recommended for COVID-19 prevention
• Multiplex supported four charities local to its construction projects.

Governance and Business Ethics

• Multiplex’s internal control framework continued to uphold good governance and business ethics, including accurate financial and operational reporting and compliance with laws and regulations
• In 2020, Multiplex continued to uphold a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption through its Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy, which includes enforcing and maintaining a gift registry tracking the giving and receiving of gifts, and ensuring gifts are not exchanged when parties are negotiating agreements
• The company continued to require anyone who experiences or witnesses behaviour that violates its Positive Working Environment Policy to take action through management and human resources.

Multiplex Canada 2020 Positive Impact Report:

Read the Multiplex Canada 2020 Positive Impact Report