Ubisoft 2008 Annual Report Download - page 74

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UBISOFTANNUAL REPORT 2009
In France, for example, Ubisoft has its computer equipment recycled by companies specialised in dismantling such equipment in
compliance with applicable standards and laws. They process electric and electronic waste, and depollute monitors. A recovery,
disassembly and recycling contract has been signed with these companies.
This year, the French subsidiaries recycled over seven tonnes of computer equipment.
Foreign subsidiaries are also carefully recycling their computer equipment with specialist companies. For example, the National
Computer Recycling company processes IT hardware reaching the end of its life at the Newcastle studio. It is recycled, donated
or destroyed in compliance with relevant European standards. The Montreal subsidiary has joined forces with a social enterprise
running work and job-nding schemes for young adults with difculties. This enterprise recycles worn-out equipment, reconditions
it and sells it on to welfare organisations.
1.1.4.3.1.5 Consumption and recycling of consumables
Paper
The Group encourages employees to save paper.
It is working to eliminate unnecessary paper media, which are expensive and damaging to the environment: reduction in the
number of printed copies of the annual report, which can now be downloaded from the www.ubisoftgroup.com website, electronic
management of documents (introduction of a shared space internally, data servers), increased use of printing on both sides of
the paper, optimising print settings and spread of collaborative work sites.
All subsidiaries are aware of the issues:
• taking advantage of municipal or governmental programmes to recycle their paper through waste sorting at their premises
or collection areas as is currently the case in Germany, Australia, South Korea, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, or
• 1employing outside specialists as in Canada, the United States and France.
At 1 April 2009, two out of every three subsidiaries had introduced a paper recycling process, while nearly half used recycled
paper for some or all of their supplies.
Ink cartridges
Most Group subsidiaries reuse ink cartridges, lling them several times through contracts with suppliers.
Other consumables
Numerous initiatives have been taken in France and at international subsidiaries to reduce the ecological impact of resources
consumed by the Group in the course of its business.
For example, many sites have sought to reduce or stop the procurement of certain types of consumables. In Shanghai, Switzerland
and the US ofces, for example, disposable plastic cups have given way to glasses or personal mugs.
Subsidiaries have looked to minimise the ecological footprint of consumables where they are still used. For example, fruit
available in the cafeterias of Paris sites is certied organic, and plates and cutlery in Montreal are made from 100% biodegradable
reconstituted potato starch. Ubisoft France includes recycled ofce supplies in its ordering catalogue. In Annecy, coffee capsules
are collected and recycled, while subsidiaries based in Paris, San Francisco and Chertsey have installed recycling bins for used
batteries.