Green Enterprise

Permalink Gallery
Benefits of CSR Reporting

Benefits of CSR Reporting

Let’s face it, becoming a Sustainable Organization is a challenge. There are many factors in the equation, from the obvious things like energy and material consumption to the less obvious community support and supply chain engagement. Even though it can be a challenge, Sustainability is not going away. Organizations need to start somewhere if they are going to compete and win in the new economy.

CSR, aka Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting is a great place for companies to start their journey towards Sustainability and with this, brings a number of benefits. To start, more and more organizations are demanding suppliers report progress towards Sustainability and develop a plan for moving forward. Meeting these expectations will help organizations retain current customers while attracting new ones. CSR reporting is also a great way to get buy in and support from Sr. Mgmt as they are forced to make public facing statements and commitments towards sustainability. In the process of developing a CSR report organizations will also take stock of their current progress, have a means for showcasing these efforts to stakeholders while developing a structure and plan for moving forward.

For organizations that have yet to develop a CSR report it can seem like a daunting task but like anything, it’s important to start small and build from there.
Here are some tips for getting started:

Assess key impacts, risks and opportunities:
This can be done by asking a few simple questions. What are the key impacts the organization has on the environment, its community and its people? What risks and opportunities does this present? When looking at key sustainability trends such as climate change, resource depletion etc., what impacts, risks and opportunities will this present?

Develop a Sustainability Vision:
What is the […]

By Brett Wills|October 16th, 2014|Sustainability, Workshop|Comments Off

Permalink Gallery
Stainless Steel Water Bottles: Is Yours Safe?

Stainless Steel Water Bottles: Is Yours Safe?

When it comes to reducing waste, saving money and being healthy, stainless steel water bottles are most definitely one of the first and most important steps you should take.

Statistics
If tap water cost the same as bottled water, the average monthly bill would be about $9,000!

If you traditionally purchase bottled water, switching to a reusable water bottle and simply using water filters will save you tons of cash, up to $200 a month depending on your current buying habits.

It also means safer water, since bottled water is not required to meet the same standards as municipal water, meaning you don’t know what you’re getting.

And of course, it means far less waste: 30 billion plastic water bottles are thrown away each year, it takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to produce all that plastic and it takes about 1,000 years for the bottles to decompose.

But decomposing plastic has its own risks. Plastics contain harmful chemicals, such as BPA (bisphenol A – an endocrine disruptor linked to cancer, neurological issues, diabetes, reproductive issues and more). Consuming these is bad enough; distributing them to the Earth in the form of 30 billion plastic water bottles a year is pretty scary.

You can read more about the impact of bottled water just about anywhere. So, let’s move onto the solution.

Choosing the Best Stainless Steel Water Bottles
For starters, understand that you’re going to want more than one. You’ll need one for every member of the household, then maybe 1-2 more for hiking trips, guests, replacements for a lost or dirty bottle or just to have on hand.

Thee reusable water bottles will cost a little bit more, in terms of initial investment, but they pay for themselves very, very quickly. However, you might be […]

By Brett Wills|September 17th, 2014|Greenliving|Comments Off

Permalink Gallery
Water Conservation: 110+ Ways To Save Water

Water Conservation: 110+ Ways To Save Water

Water conservation not only saves us money, it saves energy as well and ensures the health and well-being of our bodies and our environment.

Consider this:

Only a little over 2% of the world’s water is fresh water and only 1% is accessible drinking water.
Our bodies are approximately 70% water; our brains are 85% and our bones 10-15% water.
If the water in our bodies drops 2.5%, our efficiency drops 25%.
We can only live without water for approximately 10 days.

And we are not the exception. Our bodies, as well as every living thing on Earth, including everything that ensures our survival, depend on an abundance of clean water.

And nearly all of the water we get from the tap has to undergo a lengthy, energy- and resource-consuming process to make it clean and safe for our consumption.

Water conservation not only decreases energy and resources being consumed by purification or transportation methods, it also decreases pollution to nearby lakes, rivers and reservoirs, as overloaded systems can create backflow into natural habitats. It will also lower your monthly bill and lengthen the life of your septic tank, if you have one. And many of the tips below will decrease (or even eliminate) your reliance on the water grid.

Water Conservation in Your Home
General:

Find and fix leaks.
One small drip per minute is almost 53 gallons of water wasted per year. Tighten pipes and talk to your water company on how to check for hidden water leaks and leaking pipes.
Buy water-efficient appliances.
Compare water usage on dishwashers and washing machines and get the most efficient machine possible.
Turn the water off before a vacation.
This water conservation tip will prevent any bursting pipes or new drips while you’re away.
Water houseplants with ice cubes.
Ice cubes will absorb slowly, […]

By Brett Wills|August 31st, 2014|Greenliving|Comments Off

Sustainability 101 in Milton, Ontario | April 8th 2014 – 8:30 am

Sustainability 101
A Better Way to Make a Bigger Profit
Increase Revenue ● Cut Costs ● Gain Global Competitiveness

Workshop Objectives
Understand the end game of Sustainability – meeting the needs of today’s generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Become familiar with the common terms, lingo and language of Sustainability
Understand the business case for sustainability and how organizations are strengthening their
long term viability by doing the right thing.
Discuss their ability to participate in driving sustainable change both at home and in the
workplace.
Become familiar with the history of the modern day sustainability movement.
Be able to discuss the leading thinkers and influencers driving this revolution.
Be introduced to the core concepts, tools and techniques being utilized to drive sustainable
change.
Become familiar with various resources available to help guide the journey towards
Sustainability.
This Workshop provides you with some great tools to help gain a better understanding of Sustainability
which can help in getting your organization moving forward to the next step. We welcome your inquiries.
We can be reached at 519 893 6260 or by email at info@hpsinc.ca for more information and to put you in
touch with the facilitators directly.
Engage
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1451590651742945/

Twitter Hashtag: #sustainability101

Brett’s Twitter Handel: @greenintentions
more►
While organizations have attended to Social, Environmental and Economic performance for
decades, it is traditionally economic performance that receives attention. Sustainability is a
revolutionary business model in that it elevates social and environmental performance to the
same level of economic performance, unlocking a vault of hidden opportunities. In other words,
instead of simply focusing on a single bottom line of economic performance, with token social
and environmental initiatives, the sustainable business model focuses on the triple bottom line
of People, Planet and Profits to enhance overall performance.

This half-day, interactive workshop cuts through all the rhetoric and clears the air around
Sustainability. It […]

By Brett Wills|March 8th, 2014|Events, News, Workshop|Comments Off

Embedding Sustainability into Strategy (Webinar) Feb 20th 2014

Course
Date
Price

Embedding Sustainability into Strategy (Webinar)
Location: ON-LINE WORKSHOP

Feb 20, 2014
12:00 – 13:00
35.00 CAD
Earlybird discount expires 2014-02-17

Course Code
SC 107

Duration
1 hour Webinar, 12 noon – 1 pm EST

Lunch & Learn Webinar

Location
ON-Line Webinar

Webinar Description
Practically, embedding sustainability in large, medium and small companies isn’t easy. In this webinar, Brett Wills shares his experience working with companies in numerous Sustainability Consortia across Canada.

This webinar provides participants with a proven model for developing a strategy that embeds sustainability in your operations.

Regardless of your organization’s experience in sustainability or strategic planning, Brett’s simple, powerful approach will enhance your ability to compete, manage risk and increase profitability by improving social, environmental and economic performance across the entire value chain.

Starting with a purpose, developing the vision of a future desired state, and all the way through to tactical execution; this process provides organizations with a roadmap for finding a better way to make a bigger profit.

This session is packed with real life examples and supported by practical tools and resources.

Learning Objectives
In this webinar attendees will:

Examine a proven and dynamic approach to embedding sustainability into organizational strategies.
Understand the steps involved.
Appreciate the importance of an “organizational purpose” to rally around.
Learn why and how to align sustainability (and other initiatives) to drive the business.
Examine how organizations are leveraging this approach to drive performance.
Gain access to practical tools that support the process.

Trainer and Subject Matter Exper

Workshop Leader

Brett Wills
Director, Sustainability
Brett has over 13 years of experience in the Sustainability Arena and first-hand experience leading teams in the implementation of Sustainability and Continuous Improvement initiatives.

Brett is the author of “Green Intentions: Creating a Green Value Stream to Compete and Win” (Productivity Press July 2009).

Brett helps organizations across North America profitably accelerate their journey towards Sustainability. As facilitator of 4 Partners in Project […]

By Brett Wills|February 12th, 2014|Events, News, Workshop|Comments Off

Sustainability Training : SC 170 Sustainable Procurement I

Sustainability Training
Sustainable Procurement I

Below is a list of all courses that are currently open for registration. Click on the course name to proceed.
(more…)

By Brett Wills|October 10th, 2013|Events, News, Workshop|Comments Off

Thought Leaders Duke it Out in the Sustainability Ring!

PARTNERS IN PROJECT GREEN FALL NETWORKING SESSION – A SUSTAINABILITY DUKE OUT!

Thursday 26 September 2013, 05:30pm – 08:30pm

Join Partners in Project Green for their annual networking reception as thought leaders duke it out in the sustainability ring! Leading business and environmental representatives will be taking their corners on hot topics that are facing the sustainable business movement at this exciting event.Lots of laughs, along with great food and good fun are on the agenda for the evening. Reserve your ringside seat now!

(more…)

By Brett Wills|September 17th, 2013|Events|Comments Off

Sustainability Applied 2013 October 1-2

Sustainability Applied 2013 is all about challenging the status quo, re-thinking what is possible, and unlocking hidden value.

(more…)

By Brett Wills|July 24th, 2013|Events|Comments Off

Workshop Leader of Sustainable Procurement 101

Brett Wills will be leading the workshop “sustainable Procurement 101” – on April 17th 2013

(more…)

By Brett Wills|April 10th, 2013|Events, Uncategorized, Workshop|Comments Off

Previous 12