Alcan Inc. has announced an 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," Travis Engen, president and CEO of Alcan Inc., says. "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."
The "Alcan Builds on Recycling" program will provide two levels of recycling incentives for Habitat for Humanity affiliates. At the first level, Alcan will match donations raised by affiliates through the recycling of aluminum beverage cans up to an annual total of CAN $2,500. At the second level, Alcan 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 checks of up to CAN $2,500 from Alcan to each participating affiliate, adding 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," David Hughes, president of Habitat for Humanity Canada, says. "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," he adds.
Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976, is a non-profit
organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing around the world.
Funds, building materials and labor 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.
Alcan employs 88,000 people and has operating facilities in 58 countries and regions. The company is a global leader in aluminum and packaging, as well as aluminum recycling.