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SHERBROOKE, QC, Canada – Built in 2023 in Sherbrooke’s industrial park, Café William ‘s factory embodies an ambitious vision: increase production while reducing the energy and ecological footprint. That ambition has now been recognized with LEED Silver certification, an international standard that evaluates a building’s energy efficiency, water management, use of sustainable materials, quality of interior environments, and overall environmental impact of a building.
As Nancy Picard, sustainable building consultant and founder of Éco-Transition, notes: “Every choice made in the design of this facility reflects a concrete commitment to people and the planet.
It is a project that shows that even in a competitive industrial world, it is not only possible to combine innovation, sustainability, and efficiency, but that doing so also allows for a meaningful and inspiring way to stand out.”
What makes this facility a LEED-Certified Building
At Café William, the LEED certification stems from a unified approach: reducing the footprint from the moment construction begins, optimizing energy at the source, and rethinking how coffee is produced and transported.
As Rémi Tremblay, CEO and owner of Café William, notes, “Achieving LEED certification in an industry as energy-intensive as coffee didn’t happen by chance. Every decision, from architectural choices to equipment to how work is organized, was designed to bring together efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.”
The plant was designed to limit consumption and impact at every turn: heat recovery systems, responsible materials, reduced light pollution and drinking water consumption, charging stations, and rigorous waste management. These foundational choices guided each step of the project.
At the heart of this performance is the 100 percent electric roaster, a world first, states the company.
By eliminating fossil gas combustion, it prevents more than 730 tonnes of CO₂ each year and makes it possible to roast at scale while reducing the energy impact of the entire process.
People are also central to this approach: workspaces designed for comfort and collaboration, support for active transport, access to services and development programs. LEED recognizes these human factors as essential to a building built to improve the life of its occupants.
Finally, the company’s commitment extends all the way to sourcing. “Our three crossings of organic, Fairtrade green coffee beans aboard the TOWT sailing cargo ship demonstrate that truly decarbonized maritime transport can be operational,” concludes the company.
