News
RONA’s new in-store signage highlights eco-responsible products

Oct. 6, 2008 – RONA has unveiled its new eco-responsible signage across all stores bearing the RONA banner. The new signage is designed to help consumers identify products that represent an eco-responsible choice.

RONA has unveiled its new eco-responsible signage across all stores bearing the RONA banner. The new signage is designed to help consumers identify products that represent an eco-responsible choice. These products were rigorously selected based on the life cycle approach adopted by RONA. They include over 300 various brand name items, selected because they lessen the environmental impacts of one or several phases of their life cycle. RONA ECO products, which have a smaller environmental footprint throughout their entire life cycle, are also considered eco-responsible choices. The signage provides complete, unbiased information on the environmental characteristics of the different categories of eco-responsible products, outlining why items were selected. Customers can also visit rona.ca/eco fore more information on products that qualify as eco-responsible choices and the life cycle approach.

“Our research shows that consumers are looking to adopt environmentally-friendly practices but often lack the necessary information to do so,” said Robert Dutton, RONA’s President and CEO. “At RONA, our goal is to promote responsible consumption by helping consumers adopt comportments that are less harmful to the environment. The new signage allows us to provide information on products’ environmental characteristics and guide consumers looking for eco-responsible hardware, renovation and gardening products.”

Eco-responsible products can be found across departments, from building materials to gardening products, and are manufactured by different suppliers and sold under various brand names. They have been selected in partnership with the École Polytechnique’s International Chair in Life Cycle Assessment, a research unit with CIRAIG, the Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services. Eco-responsible products meet minimum impact requirements in one or several life cycle phases; acquisition, manufacturing, packaging and transport, use, or end of life.

In addition to being subjected to the life cycle methodology, most of RONA’s eco-responsible products are also certi fied by one of the following recognized ecolabels: Energy Star®, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Ecologo™, Forest Products Marking Program (CSA), Watersense®, Green Seal™ or Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI Inc.).