Botanical PaperWorks grew from the seeds of a teacher’s desire to reduce paper waste in her classroom. The pursuit of making a difference, no matter how small, is part of our roots and continues to motivate us. Today, Botanical PaperWorks is a strong, stable, thriving company on a mission to have a positive impact on the planet and the community in which we’ve been planted.

Learn about our core values, what they mean to us, and explore our commitments below.

Botanical PaperWorks grew from the seeds of a teacher’s desire to reduce paper waste in her classroom. The pursuit of making a difference, no matter how small, is part of our roots and continues to motivate us. Today, Botanical PaperWorks is a strong, stable, thriving company on a mission to have a positive impact on the planet and the community in which we’ve been planted.

Learn about our core values and what each one means to us and explore our commitments below.

1) Environmental Protection

We’re dedicated to minimizing negative environmental impacts associated with our products and operations. This commitment involves adopting sustainable business practices, reducing our carbon footprint, conserving resources, and implementing initiatives for waste reduction.

We’re dedicated to minimizing negative environmental impacts associated with our products and operations. This commitment involves adopting sustainable business practices, reducing our carbon footprint, conserving resources, and implementing initiatives for waste reduction.

Product Lifecycle

All seed paper made at Botanical PaperWorks is made from recycled paper waste embedded with seeds that grow when the paper is planted in soil. The paper naturally breaks down in the soil, resulting in zero waste.

Planting the paper or composting it after use helps “close the loop” by recycling the material back into the Earth. This not only reduces waste in our landfills but also contributes to a healthier planet and the overall production of more sustainable products.

On average, we recycle over 20 tonnes of paper waste per year.

Packaging

We believe in prioritizing inputs and packaging components that are made from recycled materials and/or can be repurposed, recycled, or composted, as well as emphasizing minimizing materials while ensuring product protection. Current practices include compact packaging, bulk shipping, recyclable outer and inner packaging, using compostable and biodegradable kraft bags, and the reuse of shipping boxes.

Emissions

  • Botanical PaperWorks is Climate Smart Certified which means we track and measure our GHGs annually. Over the past 4 years, Botanical PaperWorks has seen a steady reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across a variety of categories. 
  • We’re powered by one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world with 97% of the electricity generated from renewable hydropower. That means near-zero emissions from our electricity consumption. 
  • Our heating is powered by natural gas. Although natural gas is a fossil fuel, it is cleaner burning and produces 45% less carbon dioxide than coal. Natural gas is also a more efficient form of energy than hydroelectricity for heating purposes in very cold climates, like the one we operate in. 

Over half of our employees commute to work in sustainable ways (walking, bussing, or biking)

Over 10 weeks, Botanical PaperWorks composts approximately 254 kg, which equates to reducing 229 kg of CO2 emissions

Waste Diversion

Botanical PaperWorks responsibly recycles:
  • Paper and plastic materials
  • Batteries
  • Electronic waste
  • Face masks
  • Paint cans and more
Botanical PaperWorks composts: 
  • Kitchen scraps
  • Organic materials
Botanical PaperWorks repurposes: 
  • Pallet wood
  • Paper waste
  • Seed paper offcuts
  • Shipping boxes
  • Manufacturing supplies and more
 

2) Customer Focus

We understand the importance of putting the customer at the center of all of our efforts. This approach encourages innovation in the company as well as creates a positive work environment for our team.

We understand the importance of putting the customer at the center of all of our efforts. This approach encourages innovation in the company as well as creates a positive work environment for our team.

The Experience

We streamline the process of placing an order to make it easy and communicate with our customers through multiple channels to get back to you as quickly as possible, no matter how you reach out to us.

Our expert team is available to support our customers with their decisions, quotes, artwork setups, and more. We also provide plenty of resources on our website including templates, videos, and easy-to-follow guidelines.

Customer Feedback

We deeply value and encourage feedback from our customers. By monitoring website feedback forms and reviews, sharing surveys, and having one-on-one conversations with our customers, we find opportunities to continuously improve the customer experience. 
Man smiling as he opens an envelope and pulls out a card

Botanical PaperWorks has a 4.9 star rating on Google from hundreds of customer reviews

3) People & Ethics

Botanical PaperWorks is a responsible and socially-conscious business which means transparency, fairness, and integrity are essential to our team. 

Botanical PaperWorks is a responsible and socially-conscious business which means transparency, fairness, and integrity are essential to our team. 

Fair, Equitable, and Safe Conditions

Botanical PaperWorks ensures employees receive fair compensation for their time and effort, standard working hours, overtime pay, sick leave, and public holidays. We are also committed to a strong safety program that ensures workplace safety for all employees.

Wellness and Employee Support

  • Education and professional development support for career growth
  • Flexibility for the different needs of our team members 
  • Benefit packages for all full time employees
  • Free menstrual products in washrooms
  • Bereavement leave 
  • Company-wide lunches and treat days

Inclusion and Acceptance

Botanical PaperWorks employs a wide range of people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. We work together to create a workplace where it is safe to speak up, be heard, and feel welcome. This includes having a firm Anti-Racism policy and a Code of Conduct for all employees, the use of inclusive recruiting methods, showing diversity in our content, and amplifying the voices of different communities.

Accessibility & Ergonomics

While Botanical PaperWorks is not open to the public, we strive to make our business accessible to all team members and occasional visitors. Our management collaborates directly with individuals to meet their accessibility needs. We also invest in automation and ergonomic solutions to reduce physical strain on employees where feasible.

4) Quality

Botanical PaperWorks makes it a priority to deliver superior product quality consistently. We never stop improving our processes and strive to produce the very best products we can.

Botanical PaperWorks makes it a priority to deliver superior product quality consistently. We never stop improving our processes and strive to produce the very best products we can.

Botanical PaperWorks seed paper sheets are among the very best in the industry. Every sheet is handmade with care to be flat, sturdy, and even throughout to meet our high quality standards.

Germination

Botanical PaperWorks constantly tests and monitors the seed paper we produce to ensure consistent growth when planted in soil. Our grow station is always growing plants from our seed paper so we can be confident in what we share with customers.

5) Community Impact

Botanical PaperWorks is driven to positively contribute to the community in which we operate and beyond.

Give-Back Programs

Botanical PaperWorks currently has give-back programs for the following organizations:
 
Oceana10% of the sales from our Save Our Oceans Soaps go to Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation. 

PFLAG Canada10% of the sales from our Pride Promotions line goes to PFLAG Canada, an organization that works with 2SLGBTQ+ communities including families, friends, allies and loved ones, to provide peer support, education, and advocacy.

Events

Team litter cleanupsBotanical PaperWorks organizes annual team clean-ups to help reduce litter in our neighborhood as well as improve the overall community for everyone. 

Recycling drives – Botanical PaperWorks organizes occasional recycling drives where our team members collect and bring in items from home for responsible recycling drop-off at our 4R depot in Winnipeg.
 

Mentorships & Work Placements

  • Our CEO, Heidi Reimer-Epp, mentors women in business through The Scotiabank Women Initiative® Mentor Program and The Forum Mentorship Program. 
  • Botanical PaperWorks hosts students from a variety of programs including University of Manitoba Engineering and Business students for co-op placements and class projects, Graphic Design Students from Red River College, and high school students for Bring Your Child To Work Day.Â