Cascades earns two new awards for social responsibility and energy efficiency

KINGSEY FALLS, QC, Dec. 16, 2011 (CNW) - Cascades is proud to add to its list of honours a public recognition and two awards: one in social responsibility and the other to underline the excellent work of the energy action team, Cascades GIE Inc.

Cascades, the Most Responsible Company in the Eyes of Quebeckers
For the past two years, l'Observatoire de la Consommation Responsable (OCR), a centre composed of research workers from Québec, France and the Netherlands, has produced the Barometer of responsible consumption which measures the level of responsible consumption of Quebeckers. The Barometer presents an overall picture of their preferences, expectations, attitudes, reasons for buying and responsible actions. The study ranks Cascades at the top of responsible companies in the eyes of Quebeckers. Complete results are available on the Protégez-vous.caWeb site as well as on the OCR Web site.

A Social Responsibility Award
The Corporate and Community Social Responsibility Conference, which was held on November 15 in Ottawa, honoured Cascades in the "Corporate" category for its exemplary practices in social responsibility. This distinction was also awarded for its respect of its stakeholders (civil society, employees, customers, suppliers, etc.), for its respect of the environment (by working to minimize the repercussions of its activities) and for its respect of its investors.

Ongoing Efforts in Energy Efficiency
On November 30, at the Biennial Energy Conference, the most important conference on energy efficiency in the Canadian industry, Cascades GIE Inc. (Energy Action Group) won a Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) Leadership Award in the "Integrated Energy Efficiency Strategy" category. This program is designed to highlight the achievements of industrial companies and demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency, as much for business as for the environment. This award referenced the work carried out in 100 plants of the Cascades group, the implementation of 63 projects since 2000 and the continuous follow-up carried out by the current team.

Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres. The Company employs close to 11,000 employees, who work in more than 100 units located in North America and Europe. Its management philosophy, its more than 45 years of experience in recycling and its continued efforts in research and development are strengths that enable Cascades to create new products for its customers. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol CAS.