Filed Under Education

Are you ready to innovate for a sustainable future?

Neil McCallum — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:22:13 -0500

Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) in Karlskrona, Sweden is looking for prospective students for a Master’s degree in Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation (MSPI). Do you know an engineer, designer or product innovator looking to enhance their skills and expertise?

As our world becomes increasingly complex and the need for more sustainable products and services becomes essential, designers and engineers on the cutting edge of sustainable innovative practices are increasing in demand. Industry needs people who understand what the world wants: innovative products and services delivered in the most sustainable way possible.

At BTH, we believe that combining an overarching approach to socio-ecological sustainability with a disciplined focus on meeting market and human needs through product-service systems is the way of the future, and we are doing our part to show the way. By closely collaborating with our industrial partners (to see our industrial partners click here), we are preparing people to be the next generation of innovators. They will be bringing together engineering, innovation, and sustainability competence through this unique master's programme.

The MSPI programme supports the sustainable development of global economy and society. Check out our programme design here.

The design of the MSPI programme has been done in response to the industrial demand for graduates who can combine engineering competence with sustainability knowledge to help deliver new product-service systems. Therefore this programme is in tight and on-going connection with industries. It is necessary to have a structured overview of the system "society in the biosphere" - and this is exactly what we will share with you in this programme.

More specifically, the academic goals of participating students are to be able to:

Analyze sustainability challenges for an organization in a scientific manner.
Introduce a strategic perspective of sustainability to a product innovation process in a company.
Use new methods and tools, and former engineering specialty, to work with sustainable product and service innovation in industry.
Support a transition towards a more service-oriented economy.

Student Life and Experience

The Master's Programme in Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation (MSPI) is hosted at Campus Gräsvik, in the city of Karlskrona, the capital of Region Blekinge in the south of Sweden. The city is situated on an archipelago and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique naval heritage. The programme is designed in a cohort. Check out the current international cohort of 15 students from 9 countries here. If you are ready to innovate and design in a sustainable way, join us in Sweden for an amazing experience academically, professionally and personally. For more information on student life, click here.

Applicants can contact Tamara Connell (tamara(at)kitesh.org) of Kitesh Leadership Development www.kitesh.org for assistance with your application and scholarship information.

To see more about the programme, please visit the website: http://www.bth.se/mspi.

Does Canada Need a Sustainability Literacy Month or a Decade? A Look Back at 2012 and ahead at 2013

Chad Park — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:30:32 -0500

Did you know that November is financial literacy month? My trusted friend Wikipedia tells me that financial literacy is “the ability to understand finance.” More specifically, it refers to the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions through their understanding of finances. Clearly, this is an important capacity to cultivate.

I think we need a sustainability literacy month – or perhaps more realistically a sustainability literacy decade. As hard as it is for those of us who work in this field to believe, many more people need to realize the seriousness of the sustainability crisis we face, the integrated nature of our social, environmental and economic challenges, and the fundamentals of sustainability science. Sustainability professionals still operate in a relatively small bubble of like-minded individuals and/or face major challenges in engaging their colleagues, customers, employees, investors and others who are often not as sustainability literate.

I’ve come to realize that this is The Natural Step’s core capability. Through our learning programs and within our advisory service engagements, we have proven over the years to be extremely effective at helping individuals with diverse worldviews to see the sustainability challenge differently and to understand its relevance to them. Suanne DeBoer, the past GM of DeBoer’s Furniture, expressed her experience of this just this week in an article she wrote for the Sustainability Learning Centre’s newsletter about The Natural Step’s Sustainability 101 eLearning course.

It has been a terrific year for our sustainability learning programs at The Natural Step Canada. Together with our partners at The Co-operators and supported by dozens of other partners in five cities across Canada, we’ve established a fantastic youth sustainability leadership program, IMPACT! Sustainability Champions, which is making an enormous difference in the lives of the 150 young people who have participated to date and the dozens of mentors and community partners who are supporting them. Two successful MBA Sustainability Leadership Bootcamps have had a profound effect on 70 young and mid-career professionals who are now better equipped to play a sustainability leadership role wherever their careers take them. We have run sustainability leadership courses in cities across Canada, and helped raise sustainability literacy levels for hundreds of individuals through training components in our various advisory engagements with businesses and municipal governments. Leaders in two of our best partner companies, The Landmark Group of Builders and The Co-operators, were even recognized for their sustainability leadership at the Clean 50 awards this year. Those two individuals, Barbara and Reza, are terrific examples of what it means to build sustainability literacy. Five years ago, neither of them would have considered themselves a sustainability leader. Barbara had risen up the ranks of a large insurance company and was a specialist in the insurance business. Reza was a home-builder, having built one of the most successful home building companies in Alberta. And yet, each of them in their own way has become highly “sustainability literate” to the point that this insurance expert and home builder are now being recognized as sustainability leaders. Reflecting back to the definition of financial literacy above, Barbara and Reza have developed “a set of skills and knowledge that allows them to make informed and effective decisions through their understanding of… sustainability.” We need many more like them.

So, what is even more important than what The Natural Step has accomplished in sustainability literacy in 2012 is where we plan to go next. We believe that raising the level of sustainability literacy in Canada is both vitally important and an area where The Natural Step can provide issue leadership and build partnerships and coalitions. In doing so, we will put our learning programs and core capability toward the service of a bigger collective mandate. In practical terms, this means that we will seek partnerships that will create opportunities to build sustainability literacy in strategic domains, such as professional associations, corporate boards, and certain high-profile public contexts. We will also be guided by the collective impact philosophy in how we evolve the model for delivering our courses; for example, by creating real opportunity for regional and local NGOs to benefit by offering the courses in their communities. Further details on all of this will be provided in our next newsletter in early 2013.

Since this is our final newsletter of the year, I close my message the same way we do every year – with a humble request for your support. The Natural Step Canada is a charitable not-for-profit organization that accomplishes its goals in part through the financial contributions of many individuals who care about its mission and support its programs. If you believe in the importance of raising sustainability literacy rates in Canada and in The Natural Step’s capacity to play a leadership role in doing so, please consider making a year-end donation to us. Thank you to those of you who have given in the past and who give regularly. Your support makes a big difference for a small organization with big goals.

Canada

IMPACT! Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership: APPLICATION DEADLINE FEB. 4, 2011!

Franco Varriano — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:35:49 -0500

What is IMPACT! The Co-operators Youth Program for Sustainability Leadership?

This one-of-a-kind program focuses on empowering university and college students to be real and effective agents for change in their communities, organizations and businesses. Its national scope inspires a diverse range of students with a passion for sustainability and provides a unique blend of talents and skills.

If, in September 2011, you are between the ages of 19 & 25; attending a Canadian university or college in any discipline; and are passionate about sustainability; this unique bilingual program is for you.

Be inspired by key-note speakers including Dr. David Suzuki, work on tangible sustainability solutions with business and academic leaders; and build lasting networks.

All conference, transportation, accommodation and meal expenses are fully covered. Your contribution is one of time and commitment - time to prepare and collaborate prior to the conference and the commitment to stay networked to other outstanding Canadian student leaders and to initiate change in your community.

When: September 15-18, 2011

Where: University of Guelph, ON

Who: 165 university & college students from across Canada

All conference related expenses covered

Application deadline: February 4, 2011

For more information, please click here.

Canada

Youth Leaders have IMPACT! right now.

Youth Storyteller — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:55:09 -0400

Thank you to Katja Macura, our volunteer storyteller, for capturing this story and photos during the IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training program in Vancouver.

“…young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow, they’re the leaders of today. Their voices matter…the things they do now can have a tremendous impact to change the world, right now.” (Justin Trudeau, Globe and Mail, September 26, 2012)

These words were shared by Josh Snider, Manager of Communications at The Natural Step Canada and one of the facilitators of the IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training Program held in Vancouver, BC, on September 28-29, 2012. He read them at an evening networking event where eager program participants were able to meet local social entrepreneurs and community leaders. Justin Trudeau’s timely words on youth leadership describe the reason this program is so important, and were exemplified in person by the attendees of this workshop.

The IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training workshops are put on across Canada by The Co-operators, The Natural Step Canada, and generous local supporters. The training is available to students aged 19-25 years old and is focused on developing individual leadership potential, as well as tangible sustainability projects in the community. Based on the participants I met in Vancouver, the project is meeting its goals. The energetic and thoughtful participation of these youth leaders (and make no mistake, they are all passionate leaders!) culminated in clear next steps for each participant.

Workshop facilitators, Josh Snider, Tamara Connell, and Sarah Brooks guided participants through two days of training that included sustainability education and the importance of a systems-based approach; the potential of co-operative business models; and practical lessons in developing a project that included tips on funding and budgeting, all the way through to engagement and project management. In addition to learning about practical ways to move sustainability projects forward, the participants I talked to really appreciated the opportunity to connect with one another, as well as with experienced change agents and business people.

Collectively, participants reflected on the need to demonstrate individual leadership; ways to engage, connect, and collaborate to create an atmosphere for action; the importance of the human side of sustainability; and their personal ability to make an impact by starting anywhere. As the designated storyteller for this event, I witnessed thoughtful dialogue and spontaneous collaboration between participants. This included everything from sharing resources and ideas, to the potential for cross-campus collaboration for greater project impact. These inspiring leaders were putting their learning into action on the spot.

The end result was best summed up by the participants themselves, who identified the traits of a good change agent: persistence, strategic thinking, dedication, talent, passion, and a commitment to collaboration. These are traits all the Vancouver IMPACT! Champions exhibited in the 2-days I spent with them. It was truly inspiring to meet these youth leaders and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts they will make in our world—starting right now.

Learn more about the IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training program, including our upcoming sessions across Canada, or contact us at emergingleaders(at)naturalstep.ca or 613.748.3001 x236 to get involved.

Canada

"I am here for my children": A participant's story about the Sustainability for Leaders - Level 1 course, Vancouver, BC

Youth Storyteller — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 10:50:34 -0500

Thanks to Michiah Prull for sharing his experience with The Natural Step Canada's Sustainability for Leaders - Level 1: Foundations.

For pictures from the Sustainability for Leaders course - level 1 : Foundations, please click here.

***

On November 9th and 10th , a large group of professionals gathered in Vancouver to begin a process of becoming sustainability leaders. The participants represented a wide variety of disciplines including professional consulting groups, architectural firms, educational institutions, business associations and various levels of government. Also present were several individuals with no professional connection to sustainability issues, but who wished to learn more and become involved in future efforts.

As the course began, each participant shared their expectations and feelings coming into the course, and it became obvious that this diverse group of individuals was drawn to the same cause for very similar reasons. Almost every participant expressed a profound urgency mixed with a sense of opportunity, and above all a commitment to future generations. As one university professor concluded, “I am here because I see the dark decline of our society if we do not change direction, but also because I see a staggeringly bright opportunity if we skillfully navigate a new course. Above all, I am here for my children.”

With a new familiarly and shared purpose, the course instructors Pong Leung and Alex Magnin led us through the basic principles of sustainability and the associated challenges and opportunities and concluded with an illuminating case study. After an immensely satisfying organic lunch provided by Happy Planet Catering, the afternoon was spent exploring hands-on approaches to sustainability issues. The second day picked up from here with a review of the basic sustainability principles and practices, followed by a step-by-step exercise in strategic sustainability planning.

Throughout both days, the instructors used an exciting and effective mixture of activities and methods that kept everyone engaged and learning through the actual application of the new principles and practices. Ample time was allowed for networking and meeting fellow sustainability professionals. The entire workshop was designed to provide the bare minimum of lecture with the greatest amount of time set aside for group work, creative exercises, and the hands-on application of sustainability principles. This mixture provided the most effective learning environment and also allowed each of us to demonstrate and practice the skills we will need as sustainability leaders in the future.

After two days in this rich environment, we began to see a shift in our own perspectives at a profound level. While reflecting on the previous two days, one participant remarked:

So many of these things seem like a no-brainer once you have done them. It’s like low-flush toilets; it would seem stupid not to install them now. Or littering: no one throws trash in the street without thinking. It seems like the whole challenge here is how we make that transition to seamlessly integrate these solutions that just make sense.

In many ways, that is the challenge this course has prepared us for. We learned of the many obstacles facing our present society, but also the multitude of opportunities. More importantly, we now have a proven framework to put our aspiration into action and make change a reality. As our instructor Alex Magnin remarked, “At the end of the day, it just takes courage and honesty.”

Canada

"Sustainability at home"

Kelly Hawke Baxter — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:42:46 -0500

The Natural Step, in partnership with The David Suzuki Foundation and Light House Sustainable Building Centre, is pleased to announce the launch of our latest creation- Sustainability at home: a toolkit; for British Columbia on November 7th.

Drawing from the expertise, research, and resources of all three organizations this toolkit offers its readers a multitude of fresh, practical ways to reassess the health of their home. Sustainability at home does a room by room inspection of the average household, offering up pointers and best practices for dealing with utilities, shopping, mobility, and waste. Although this toolkit has much to offer any homeowner, the British Columbia spin on it shows B.C. homeowners how to not only talk- the- talk but also walk- the –walk by connecting them with local businesses and services and by inspiring them with B.C. specific stories of success!

If every household, started to make the changes suggested in this toolkit, Canadian communities would take a great step forward toward sustainability. The Natural Step has enjoyed great success with the Alberta Sustainability at Home Toolkit , and can’t wait to get the BC addition out to the public!

For those of you in Vancouver head over to 2060 Pine Street on November 7th to join in the celebration for both the launch of BC’s Sustainability at home: a toolkit, and the opening of doors to the new Light House Sustainable Building Centre.

Stay tuned to www.thenaturalstep.org, www.davidsuzuki.org, and www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com for more information and for access to the free download of the toolkit after November 7th.

To download more free resources from The Natural Step, click here.

Canada

10 Sustainability Themes Highlighted in Glasslands Collection Video by Mark Raynes Roberts

Neil McCallum — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:08:24 -0400

The Glasslands collection project is a new art initiative focused on communicating environmental issues and the cornerstones for sustainable living. The Natural Step Canada is thrilled to have partnered with renowned Canadian crystal artist, Mark Raynes Roberts on this unique initiative. By supporting the Glasslands collection with educational material, The Natural Step Canada helped the Glasslands project develop 10 sustainability themes, which are highlighted in the video: Interconnection, balance, limits, industry, fragility, urgency, transformation, innovation, cooperation, and harmony.

Canada

3 New Reports Signal We’re Making Progress With Sustainability- A blog by sustainability expert Bob Willard

Stephanie Mindorff — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:27:49 -0500

For the original post and to leave Bob a comment, please click here.

Three recent reports provide positive reinforcement that traction on sustainability is building in the private and public sector. This news reenergizes our efforts. We live on hope that our combined efforts as sustainability champions will accelerate the take-up of environmentally, socially, and economically responsible strategies. Usually, during economic recessions, we lose ground. Strangely, in the current recession, the opposite has happened: sustainability-related strategies have been embraced more strongly.

I attended the GreenBiz State of Green Business Forum 2011 in San Francisco, February 2-3. GreenBiz Group’s Chairman and Executive Director, Joel Makower, reviewed the highlights of GreenBiz’s fourth annual State of Green Business 2011 report, released that same week. Its findings reveal a “sea change in corporate sustainability efforts:” 89% of companies expect their investments in environmental affairs to be the same or larger in 2011 than in 2010; 56% of companies expect their investments in green product development will be greater in 2011, compared to 28% who expected it to be the same as in 2010. That’s encouraging news.

Click on image to access report

Then on February 10, the MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group (BSG) released their winter 2011 research report: “Sustainability: The ‘Embracers’ Seize Advantage.” Based on a survey of 3,000 corporate leaders, the report describes two kinds of companies: “embracers”— those who place sustainability high on their agenda — and “cautious adopters,” who have yet to focus on more than energy cost savings, material efficiency, and risk mitigation. Many of us wondered whether the economic downturn and lack of progress toward international agreement on how to combat climate change would push sustainability off the corporate agenda.

Click on image to access report

The MIT-BSG survey results indicate that the opposite is true: 59% of companies in all industry sectors increased their investments in sustainability in 2010, versus 25% in 2009. Even more striking, almost 70% expect their organization to step up its investment in and management of sustainability in 2011. Impressive.

Similar momentum is happening in municipalities in Canada. On February 16, Joanne DeVries released her Fresh Outlook Foundation’s “Community Sustainability Snapshot: 2010 Survey Results from Local Governments.”

It found that:

44% of respondents have sustainability plans, compared with 23% in 2007
59% have sustainability programs and projects, compared with 42% in 2007
52% have sustainability policies and/or regulations, compared with 34% in 2007
51% have staff devoted to sustainability, compared with 37% in 2007

Click on image to access report

If Canadian municipalities are upping their focus on environmental, social, and economic issues, it’s very likely that a similar dynamic is happening in other countries. Nice.

We are going in the right direction. Let’s take a minute to bask in the glow of these positive reports about how momentum is building around sustainability strategies in the private and public sectors. Then let’s redouble our efforts to contribute to it.

Bob

Canada

A Learning Organization? Evaluating the University of Canterbury's Strategic Transition toward Sustainability

Anouk Bertner — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:25:42 -0500

by Mandy Tew

Institutions of higher educations (IHE), particularly universities, have a significant role to play in the global transformation to socio-ecological sustainability. This study focuses on the strategic planning efforts of one university, the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand where The Natural Step Framework (TNSF) is being used to develop a pan-University Sustainability Plan. Drawing upon the triple helix model of university-government-industry interactions for knowledge creation, and integrating principles of education for sustainable development into strategic organizational learning and change processes within higher education, this study suggests that advocates for sustainability within IHE can use the TNSF to assess institutional barriers and communicate specific opportunities in order to institutionalize strategic sustainable development and promote socio-ecological innovation.

Download the thesis here (139 pages).

A Sustainability Vision for the Automotive Services Industry

Chas Martin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:03:22 -0400

Using The Natural Step Framework to Develop a Plan Toward Sustainability for Automotive Mechanical and Collision Repair Shops
Prepared for the Oregon DEQ

Project Overview

Automobiles have a significant impact on the environment. With the growing concern over global warming, the focus on this environmental impact will only get stronger.

In 1997 Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) began development of the Automotive Eco-Logical Business Program to encourage automobile services and collision repair shops to take extra voluntary steps in protecting the environment. There was a desire in 2000 to expand this program beyond Portland and to investigate the feasibility of enhancing the program by adding a perspective of environmental sustainability based on the Natural Step framework.

Participants from fifteen automotive shops and service organizations were invited to meet in a series of six two-hour meetings in Wilsonville to create a vision of what a fully sustainable automotive service operation might look like if it met the four system conditions of The Natural Step.

With interest in environmental sustainability growing faster in Oregon than most parts of the United States, Oregon has an opportunity to be a model and play a leadership role in the movement toward sustainability.

Download complete Project Summary:

A Sustainable Society: Reframing How We Satisfy Our Human Needs (Webinar)

Kimberley Larocque — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:05:15 -0400

Start: Nov 17 2010 - 1:30pm

End: Nov 17 2010 - 2:30pm

Timezone: Canada/Eastern

Delve deeper into the social aspects of sustainability by examining the foundations of Sustainability Principle 4 and exploring Max-Neef’s 9 Human Needs and Satisfiers framework.

Sustainability Practitioners Series
This event is part of The Natural Step Canada’s monthly webinars for sustainability practitioners that explore various aspects of The Natural Step Framework. Presented by The Natural Step Canada’s experienced Sustainability Advisors and special guests.

Cost:

$30 for the public
FREE for all Members of The Natural Step Exchange (Join the Exchange now)

Canada

A “Golden Standard” develops from collaboration in Dublin

Jennifer Reid — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:56:21 -0400

Caroline Nolan, Mary Ostafi and Mélina Planchenault

In January 2008, Dublin City Council (DCC) began working with RealEyes Sustainability Ltd. and The Natural Step to move toward strategic, organisational sustainability using The Natural Step Framework.

In November 2008, Dublin City Council kicked-off its new “Sustainable Dublin” effort with Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt, founder of The Natural Step, providing inspiration through the keynote address. To date, the City of Dublin has already made significant strides with strategies to improve energy efficiency, waste management and protect biodiversity.

This past spring, Caroline Nolan, Mary Ostafi and Mélina Planchenault joined this collaboration as a thesis dissertation team from the Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) program at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden. Their goal was to help the city envision an optimal planning and governance process, referred to as the “Golden Standard”, for achieving long-lasting cultural change from within the local authority. The “Golden Standard” acts as a process based on principles of success to lead local authorities through a transformational process while moving toward a sustainable vision. Backcasting from the ideal “Golden Standard” planning process, the team was able to analyse the current planning practices and generate key recommendations to help DCC move Dublin towards sustainability.

Feedback on the research results from Dublin City officials has been positive thus far:

“The City of Dublin was fortunate on two counts, firstly to have such competent ambassadors for The Natural Step who chose the Dublin City Development Plan as the practical focus for their master’s dissertation,” noted Dick Gleeson, DCC’s Lead City Planner, of the students’ work. “Secondly through a rigorous application of the Framework, the development of the Golden Standard establishes an inspirational and legible blueprint, which exploits the central role of a City Development Plan in forging a sustainable city.”

“In moving towards a sustainable Dublin we are committed to exploiting fully the platform provided by The Natural Step,” added Michael Stubbs, DCC’s Assistant City Manager. “The Catalytic City Development Plan dissertation is particularly timely and helpful in tackling the challenge of extending a set of principals into a strategic framework and implementation methodology.”

With more than half the world’s population now living in urban areas, city governments and planning agencies are a critically important part of addressing the world’s social, economic and environmental challenges. The “Golden Standard” offers a macro blueprint for planning in today’s complex urban systems. Caroline, Mary and Mélina hope that other cities will be able to benefit from the “Golden Standard” they developed through the DCC case study and happy to answer questions about their work.

To download the team’s full thesis, please click here.
To download the full Golden Standard table synthesis, please click here.

ABCD... & E? Evaluating Your Sustainability Efforts (Webinar)

Saralyn Hodgkin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:08:01 -0400

Start: Oct 20 2011 - 1:30pm

End: Oct 20 2011 - 2:30pm

Timezone: Canada/Eastern

Explore how to evaluate the effectiveness of your sustainability program. What indicators and evaluation techniques can help you demonstrate the environmental, social, and economic benefits to your stakeholders and the community at large.

Cost:

$30 for the public
FREE for all Members of The Natural Step Exchange (Join the Exchange now)

Canada

Advanced Specialty Certificate in Sustainable Business Leadership at British Columbia Institute of Technology

Neil McCallum — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:45:48 -0400

The Natural Step Canada Principal Advisor Pong Leung will be teaching an upcoming course called Sustainable Organizational Change and Leadership this fall at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) as part of the Sustainable Business Leadership (SBL) program. The goal of the program is to develop sustainable business leaders, providing them with the technical and scientific skills, and the business management training, who can effectively promote sustainable business approaches within organizations. As organizations continue to shift to a more balanced approach of the triple bottom-line (people, planet, profit), the knowledge of these sustainability programs will continue to be in high demand.

The course starts in September and is a great continued education opportunity for students graduating with a diploma from BCIT. Students with diplomas from other post-secondary institutions are also welcome to apply.

For more information about the program visit Sustainable Business Leadership Program at BCIT. There will also be an information session with more details about the SBL program coming up on June 15.

Canada

Alberta Sustainability Champions Gear up for Success

Brendan Seale — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:06:02 -0400

On October 13 and 14, nineteen professionals gathered in Edmonton to build their capacity as sustainability practitioners by participating in The Natural Step Canada’s Sustainability for Leaders Course - Level 1: Foundations (join us at the next session coming up in Vancouver).

Participants included professionals from Enermodal Engineering, Worley Parsons, Edmonton Airports, Stantec, Bullfrog Power, AIMCO, Landmark Group of Builders, EIDOS Consultants, Servus Credit Union and Earth Legacy, municipal leaders from the City of Red Deer and the Town of Stony Plain, and educators from Bow Valley College, Grant McEwan University, and NAIT. I had the pleasure of facilitating the course with my colleagues Sarah Brooks and Colin Baril.

The University of Alberta’s downtown location Enterprise Square offered a central location that was easy for participants to reach using city and regional transit options. Fantasia Caffé, housed in the facility, provided delicious, locally sourced catering with no packaging or waste destined for landfill.

Our two days together began with a discussion of what motivates each of us to work for sustainability, a recap of the core concepts of sustainability that were covered in the e-learning pre-work, and some concrete examples of how The Natural Step has worked with its clients. A key component of the discussion explored the fundamental difference between incremental improvement and working towards a vision of achieving sustainability. Many in the room were touched by a video about the late Ray Anderson, who led Interface - the company he founded - on its journey up “Mount Sustainability”.

From this point on, participants applied the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development to a case study of a mountain resort. Working in small groups, we began by identifying key sustainability challenges and drafting strategic goals. Noting the internal and external forces that would help or hinder sustainability progress, we then developed action plans for selected strategic goals. “It made me realize there is a lot of planning involved in sustainability and it needs to be very well thought-out in order to be successfully implemented”, observed Laryssa Warne of Bullfrog Power.

Over the two days, we often returned to the question: “In service of what?” This question helped us maintain our focus on achieving success – sustainability. We select “key performance indicators” in service of measuring progress toward our short and mid-term targets. Those targets are established in service of moving us toward the achievement of our strategic goals. And finally, our strategic goals together describe an outcome that aligns with principles for sustainability.

Participants also delivered a presentation about the core concepts of sustainability to a small group, reinforcing the learning by communicating the material to others.

“The benefits of a system of thought around sustainability in business were top drawer”, said Trevor McIvor of Bow Valley College. “Also, the networking opportunities were so relevant to going concerns in my own work.”

The course concluded with participants discussing the challenges of leading change toward sustainability, and sharing how they can deploy what they’ve learned in their organizations. All agreed that path to sustainability is undoubtedly both long and complex, and a commitment to ongoing learning and innovation is required.

Want to advance your sustainability learning, too? Join us for our next Sustainability for Leaders Course - Level 1: Foundations in Vancouver from December 8-9. Register by November 21 to take advantage of our early bird discount.

Visit The Natural Step's sustainability learning opportunities for more information on our sustainability courses, workshops, webinars, eLearning courses, and free resources.

Canada

Alcan: Clean solutions for today and tomorrow

Kirstin Piirtoniemi — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:15:05 -0500

(DISCLAIMER: The work portrayed in this document was undertaken with the former Alcan, prior to its acquisition by Rio Tinto in 2007. Rio Tinto Alcan remains committed to sustainable development. As such, the work begun with The Natural Step as described below was folded into larger efforts centrally directed by Rio Tinto in London, UK. The specific partnership between The Natural Step and the former Alcan’s Bauxite & Alumina division was halted in 2007 within the above-mentioned context.)

The Opportunity

Committed to sustainability and increasingly reliant on projects based in lesser-industrialized countries, Alcan’s Bauxite & Alumina (B&A) division saw an opportunity to develop a sustainability vision that brought social and environmental concerns even more into focus for the business.

The Response

In 2007, The Natural Step principles and process were put into action at Alcan’s B&A sites in the Pacific Region to help reduce risks and increase the company’s competitive advantage in alignment with their sustainability vision.

The Process

In 2007, The Natural Step Canada advisors Chad Park and Joe Herbertson held a workshop with the Alcan management team in Montreal, Canada. The workshop had two main goals:

To develop a sustainability vision that would guide Alcan’s B&A sustainability strategy moving forward.
To align the management team with a shared definition and understanding of sustainability, and to build buy-in for the sustainability vision.

Early in the workshop, participants identified Alcan’s top sustainability challenges, two of which were viewed as critical: meeting company growth expectations and addressing the issue of emissions associated with bauxite mining and alumina production. To address these challenges, the participants proceeded to develop a sustainability vision facilitated by The Natural Step’s science-based approach to sustainability and developed through backcasting from sustainability principles.

After the success of the Montreal workshop, a second session was held in Brisbane, Australia, not only to create the space for a cross-functional sustainability conversation, but more pragmatically to operationalize the vision in Alcan’s largest bauxite mining and alumina refining operation in Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory of Australia.

With Gove in mind, workshop participants were asked to brainstorm potential social, environmental, and management innovations that might lead them toward their envisioned future. Ideas were then discussed and divided into prospective long-term and short-term measures, some of which led to outcomes. These included: the use of sustainability metrics in monthly and quarterly reporting, research and development explicitly using sustainability to guide innovation, the integration of sustainability objectives and approaches within greenfield projects, and a cross-functional working group quantifying the business value of Alcan’s sustainability investments.

Although the specific work described in this case was halted, sustainability principles remain embedded in Rio Tinto Alcan’s current business systems and processes, ensuring that economic, social, and environmental considerations are considered in its day-to-day operations as it drives toward its vision of a sustainable future.

The Feedback

“The Natural Step Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development is useful because it provides a shared mental model and vocabulary. Sustainability doesn’t seem overwhelming and incomprehensible any more—everybody gets it!”

-Kariann Aarup, Alcan B&A Social Sustainability Team

View full case study

Learn more about The Natural Step Canada’s Service Path for Sustainable Business and how we can help your business develop a bold sustainability vision, strategy, and action plan. Please contact us to discuss your unique needs or join our next FREE Introduction to Strategic Sustainability for Business in Canada webinar.

Written by Talithea McInnis

Canada

An Alberta Toolkit Symphony

Alaya Boisvert — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:08:41 -0400

What do a symphony orchestra and two exciting new toolkits from The Natural Step Canada have in common?

Both require a collection of diverse talents, a tremendous amount of preliminary practice, and are meant to move their audiences so that they leave forever changed.

Over the past eight months, I have helped develop two new resources for Alberta organizations. To me, the Sustainability Primer and Planning for Sustainability: A Starter Guide represent an extraordinary collective achievement that has drawn on the expertise of TNS’ sustainability advisors, communications team, top management, administrative staff, as well as that of an external editorial committee.

I liken the process of creating these resources to that of a group of classical musicians coming together to perform at their very best. It was as if each person who contributed to these toolkits in smaller and greater ways brought their own musical specialty – based on their background experience working with communities and businesses on strategic sustainable development. Each one offered unique sounds from his or her instrument, and added to the melody of creative ideas that have made these resources not only useful products, but also a testament to what’s possible when co-creation is practiced.

It is my hope that these toolkits will inspire Alberta organizations to embrace a vision of a sustainable future, and equip them with the tools they need to begin that journey today.

With the toolkits launching this week at the Pathways 2 Sustainability Conference, the orchestra is ready to deliver its best. Let the music begin!

Click here to download the toolkits.

Canada

An Interview with our Founder on Think Globally Radio

Richard Blume — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:55:58 -0400

Brought to you by Think Globally Radio: A unifying framework for social and ecological sustainability: with Professor Karl-Henrik Robèrt, MD, PhD, Founder of The Natural Step.

Recorded in March 2010, you can now listen to our Founder discuss the history, development and future of The Natural Step and the movement uniting around the framework for strategic sustainable development.

Stream online from the episode archive on www.thinkgloballyradio.org.
Download and Listen

Background to the Interview:

Recently elected as one of Sweden’s first two Ashoka Fellows - leading social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to social problems and the potential to change patterns across society – Karl-Henrik Robèrt is the founder of the international NGO The Natural Step, professor of sustainability at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Chairman of the international research program Real Change and recipient of the Blue Planet Prize, the ‘Nobel prize’ for ecological sustainability.

In launching The Natural Step, he has facilitated the outgrowth of a unifying framework for strategic sustainable development, and built a global institutional platform that unites with a coalition of universities, companies, industrial groups, municipalities and larger government entities to pioneer new ways to achieve a world that is socially and ecologically sustainable. This movement includes some of the world’s leading institutions, corporations and communities advancing sustainability, including the host ski resort of the Vancouver / Whistler 2010 Winter Olympics.

Think Globally Radio is heard every Sunday evening at 19:00 on THS Radio 95.3 MHz in Stockholm, and on K103.1 in Gothenburg at 16:00. An extensive archive of past programs can be listened to on demand on the completely redesigned www.thinkgloballyradio.org. Podcasts can also be downloaded via iTunes.

Feel free to join the “Think Globally Radio” group on Facebook.

For more information, contact Eric Paglia eric@rocket.fm or Dave Trouba dtrouba@gmail.com.

Please forward this to anyone who might be interested in issues of the environment or sustainability!

Applications Open - Leading Change for a Sustainable Chemical Industry 2012

Richard Blume — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:13:18 -0500

Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) and The Natural Step (TNS) are once again running a unique 10-month customized industry course for business leaders and working professionals in the chemical sector and related value chains.

Commencing April 2012 and now entering its third year, the Leading Change for a Sustainable Chemical Industry course combines theory with implementation of projects in the participating organizations or with customers and suppliers. The schedule and course content is specifically designed for professionals working in the industry to apply sustainability concepts in their day to day work.

Past participants have come from a range of leading companies in various parts of the chemical sector such as Beckers, Dow, Omya, Chemson, BASF, Hydro Polymers, Akzo Nobel, Tarkett and Baerlocher. In the 2012 course we will be seeking to encourage participation and collaboration from companies tackling sustainability at various positions in a value chain.

Help us spread the word!

Schedule: The next course will run from April to December 2012. Course participants should allow 8-10 days for webinars with experts and three industry workshops in Europe, plus time for project work with coaching from a Sustainability Advisor.

Apply: Register interest at www.thenaturalstep.org/lcsci or by contacting Richard Blume at The Natural Step (richard.blume@thenaturalstep.org, +46 768 32196). The deadline for application is 24 February 2012.

Learn more: visit the course website at www.bth.se/lcsci.

Sweden

Applying The Natural Step Framework

Chas Martin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:53:50 -0400

Are you the next sustainability leader?

Anouk Bertner — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:48:05 -0500

Online applications for the Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) and Master’s in Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation (MSPI) at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden, will be open until January 15th. Both these leading-edge international master’s programmes are based around The Natural Step Framework, and integrate practical, applied course work to empower and enable graduates to make positive change in the world.

This year’s MSLS class consists of 67 students from 21 different countries. Will you join us in the next class?

The MSPI masters will have its inaugural intake in 2010. It builds off BTH’s strong reputation in education for sustainable development, and will incorporate the cutting-edge research conducted at BTH within Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation.

To apply, you will need to complete the online application form at www.studera.nu, and then mail your supporting documents by Feb. 15th, 2010. Spaces in both programmes are limited and successful candidates can receive their decisions in May, with a starting date of classes in late August 2010.

BTH looks forward to receiving your application…

Sweden

Are you the next sustainability leader?

Kelly Hawke Baxter — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:20:34 -0400

Swedish Masters in Strategic Leadership for Sustainability accepting applicants as of December 1st

The Blekinge Institute of Technology’s Sustainability Masters program is taking applications for the 2012 year starting December 1. Located in Karlskrona, a beautiful town on the south eastern coast of Sweden, BTH’s Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) one-year Masters program teaches future leaders using innovative learning and leadership practices combined with the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (developed by The Natural Step).

This groundbreaking program recognizes that the global challenge of achieving a sustainable society requires cooperation across borders and disciplines and through its students brings together a rich diversity of perspectives and experiences to explore in the stimulating environment.

The program is organized around two main themes:

Strategic Sustainable Development- a science based, strategic approach toward planning for sustainability; and
Organizational Learning and Leadership-practicing leadership to effectively create change needed for sustainability.

To date more than 300 students, conversant in more than 30 languages and representing over 50 countries have graduated from the 1 year program which is taught in English.

"I am amazed at the depth of learning I experienced, especially around the theories and practices of strategic leadership. Such a rich environment to create your own learning journey and accelerate your skills in guiding clients through the change process toward sustainability. I don't know where in the 'outside world' I could have had access to the top practitioners in the fields of sustainability, leadership and organizational change than those offered through MSLS. My clients will certainly benefit from this deeper level of understanding, consciousness and knowledge I can now bring to our shared work." -Tracy Meisterheim, Blue Heron Sustainability Associates

The feedback from students illustrates not only the strength of the programme, it also reinforces another important element that of co-creation, co-learning and the sharing of experiences. Many people say their year in Sweden changed their lives, providing a valuable learning environment where strong and lasting friendships are created where there is space to explore the beautiful surroundings and conversations to explore what we can positively do to help build a more sustainable world.

Using a solid scientific foundation, the program begins by assessing and understanding society’s current sustainability challenges. Building on this foundation, the curriculum introduces complementary skills in strategic management, organizational learning and change, economics, engineering, and effective collaboration. Through both their internal expertise and partnerships with external organizations, the MSLS program draws on the latest research and expertise from world-leading sustainability practitioners and guest lecturers, including Natural Step Founder Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert and Canadian sustainability expert Bob Willard.

This program is exceptional and a once in a lifetime opportunity. To find out more visit the website at www.bth.se/MSLS and download the brochure. Applications open December 1, 2011 and close January 15th, 2012.

If you’d like to talk to an alumni about the program, please feel free to contact Dana Pearlman (Class of 2011) at danapearlman@gmail.com.

Axiom News: Natural Step Bootcamp Trains MBA Students to be Sustainability Leaders

Josh Snider — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:43:22 -0400

30 MBA Students from across Canada convene for 5-day experiential learning

On the fourth day of a five-day Sustainability Leadership bootcamp hosted by The Natural Step Canada, some of the 30 MBA students attending were asking for more homework and longer days.

According to The Natural Step principal adviser Pong Leung, this is one example of how the organization that helps companies embed sustainability into their operations was able to achieve its goal of engaging a critical stakeholder group — future leaders of tomorrow.

“The passion and the energy of the students I think were really amazing,” says Pong, adding it was one of the reasons The Natural Step wanted to engage business students who are already interested in sustainability practices.

Held in Calgary, the first-ever Sustainability Leadership Bootcamp took place Feb. 22-26 and saw business students from across the country convene to learn from The Natural Step about how to become sustainability champions in their future workplaces.

The bootcamp used a teaching approach called dialogue education, which recognizes people learn best when they’re engaged in the material they are trying to understand. Students were both participants and educators, learning through dialogue, visuals, touch and group work.

“We find it very powerful to honour the knowledge in the room,” says Pong, adding the learning approach also gets away from traditional PowerPoints.

Students would learn theory and then be asked to apply the knowledge to real-world challenges.

The event was sponsored by three of Canada’s largest energy companies Suncor, Cenovus and ENMAX, who participated by sharing the sustainability challenges they were grappling with.

For Ashley Hilkewich, who is an MBA Student at Schulich School of Business, the opportunity to sit down with a company’s leaders to co-create sustainability action plans was valuable.

“We’re all finishing up MBAs so sometimes it can get really academic and this was a really practical look at how you take these concepts about sustainable and responsible business and actually put them into practice,” says Ashley.

“It’s not very often you get to sit down with the VP and see how they are trying to tackle (a sustainability challenge).”

Ashley says the experience helped prepare her to view sustainability as a long dialogue as opposed to something she can jump into and change right away.

“It’s really more about being a change agent more so than anything and we we’re given a lot of good insights and training on how to start those conversations and make that happen,” she says.

Bob Willard, a board member at The Natural Step Canada and author of Sustainability Champions, presented on the final day of the bootcamp. Bob, who was named a leading thinker on corporate responsibility by The Globe and Mail, shared what can derail sustainability initiatives, as well as tools to gain organizational buy-in.

For Houston Peschl, who is an operations manager at DIRTT Environmental Solutions, hearing Bob’s experience was “phenomenal” and taught him new approaches he can use in his work.

While DIRTT is already a progressive organization, Houston says its clients, which include Facebook, Google and Bank of America, are demanding increasingly high-levels of sustainability and proof of the practices.

“Bob’s ability to start moving some of these processes was very valuable and he presented it in a very simple non-complex format,” says Houston, adding business must embrace its role in leading sustainability.

"Business has to be a leader in this, and businesses that don’t are going to go the way of the dodo bird."

The Natural Step plans to run future Sustainability Leadership bootcamps in Toronto and Montreal later this year.

Written by Camille Jensen for Axiom News.

Canada

Axis Performance Advisors, Portland, Oregon, USA

Chas Martin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:42:36 -0400

A Natural Step Network Case Study

Background
Axis Performance Advisors was started in 1990 by Marsha Willard and Darcy Hitchcock as an organizational management consulting firm, specializing ins self-directed work teams. As of today, November 2003, about 53 percent of Axis' work is directly related to sustainability.

Inspiration
In addition to its consulting work, Axis would, on occasion, host one-day think-tank meetings. In 1996, having heard about the concept of sustainability, it hosted a meeting on the subject. At that meeting Hitchcock had an “aha” experience when she realized that Axis was showing companies how to be more efficient and effective in depleting the planet’s resources. She decided that she and Willard had to do “something.” Shortly thereafter Hitchcock was introduced to The Natural Step (TNS) at a Business for Social Responsibility meeting. She says she felt a great relief, because TNS offered the “something” that Axis should do. In 1998 she went to the TNS conference in Chicago and began doing volunteer work for the Oregon Natural Step Network as a speaker and as a contributing writer for the Tool kit.

Action
Upon learning about TNS, Axis first examined the impacts of its own business on the environment. Hitchcock and Willard quickly realized that as a service business, their greatest impact was through their consulting services and the influence they had on their clients. Since they had experience in organizational change, they could help companies become more sustainable.

Axis also examined its internal practices against the four systems conditions. It determined that its greatest impact was greenhouse emissions from energy use, especially transportation, but it was able to take action to reduce its impacts in all four system conditions.

System Condition One (Taking Substances from the Earth's Crust)

Willard and Hitchcock measured their greenhouse gas impact and purchased carbon offsets to be climate neutral with a cost of approximately $20 per year per person (see Appendix 1 for measurements, including tracking alternative transportation).
Hitchcock moved her home office from Vancouver, Washington to Portland, Oregon to reduce travel.
Both Hitchcock and Willard use bicycles and public transportation whenever possible, resulting in 43% of business travel through alternative transportation (up from 0% before 2000)
Hitchcock and Willard both work from their homes, they purchased Green Power for both work and personal consumption.
Hitchcock purchased a Toyota Prius for business and personal use.
Axis purchased Energy Star rated computers (MAC G3s and monitors) and chose not to buy a copying machine.

System Condition Two (Use of Synthetic Substances)

Switched overhead transparency markers to ones that wash off with water instead of isopropyl alcohol.
Decided not to purchase certain products (e.g., glues) that had volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

System Condition Three (Preservation of Natural Resources)

Committed to buying recycled content paper, using 100% post-consumer recycled paper for company stationary.
When copier broke, did not purchase new one. This reduced the number of copies Axis makes.
Transitioned services like its newsletter and Team Booster product to an electronic service to save paper.
Axis does small print runs of the Sustainability SeriesTM booklets so as not to build up a large inventory, which might need to be scrapped later.
Axis has also chosen ShoreBank Pacific for their banking services.

System Condition Four (Meeting Human Needs)

Offered no- or low-cost services for targeted non-profits which would otherwise not be able to afford consulting services and which had a mission related to sustainability (Housing our Families, Planned Parenthood, Oregon Environmental Council, OMSI).
Provided pro bono facilitation services for the Oregon Natural Step Network’s Climate Change Peer Learning Group.

Results
Axis’s expenditures have mainly been in time, although it has paid for some training as well. It characterizes the time and training as R&D because Axis’ goal has been to transform the business to sustainability consulting.

That said, just operating its business more sustainably has saved Axis money over all. It has spent less money on parking fees, equipment not purchased, and printing and postage and has less wear and tear on its vehicles. The combined effect of its transportation efforts resulted in an annual reduction of 4,000 pounds of CO2 emissions. Axis has also learned that measurement does change behavior. It helps inform decisions and makes an immediate impact.

Challenges
One irony is that the more successful Axis becomes the more Hitchcock and Willard have to travel, which will actually increase their environmental impacts. They will address these impacts through the use of offsets.

Because sustainability is the focus of Axis’s business, the biggest challenge is creating a market to sustain all those who want to work in this field. It appears that sustainability is still at the early adopter phase in most sectors so the list of potential customers is limited. Also in tough economic times, people tend to pull back from exploring new options (even if they could save time or money) because they are already feeling stressed and stretched. That said, the challenge for consultants is always: to provide value to customers.

This case study was prepared by Regina Hauser for the Oregon Natural Step Network. For more information contact Darcy Hitchcock (503) 288-7704, darcy@axisperformance.com, or Marsha Willard (503) 284-9132, marsha@axisperformance.com, or visit the Axis Performance Advisors’ Web site, www.pacifier.com/~axis.

Appendix 1

Benchmarking our Progress Toward Sustainability (Webinar)

Kimberley Larocque — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:18:38 -0400

Start: Feb 3 2011 - 1:30pm

End: Feb 3 2011 - 2:30pm

Timezone: Canada/Eastern

Discover ways to document the progress that you are making in implementing your Sustainability Plan, to communicate your successes, and to support continuous learning.

Cost:

$30 for the public
FREE for all Members of The Natural Step Exchange (Join the Exchange now)

Canada

Building CSR Commitment Through Stakeholder Engagement Panels (Webinar)

Neil McCallum — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:31:09 -0400

Start: Sep 22 2011 - 1:00pm

End: Sep 22 2011 - 2:00pm

Timezone: Canada/Eastern

External CSR Advisory Council or Stakeholder Engagement Panel can be a vital business strategy component. These groups can help companies identify new opportunities, promote innovation, and mitigate risks. Join CBSR for a look at some leading practises in optimizing your use of Stakeholder Engagement Panels.

Participants will:

Hear how Stakeholder Engagement Panels can further a company's CSR commitment
Learn about the type and functions of Stakeholder Engagement Panels
Understand the benefits and challenges of Stakeholder Engagement Panels for project planning and operations
Gain some strategies companies have used to build trust and foster better relationships with their stakeholders
Learn what to include when determining terms of reference and the logistics to manage an Stakeholder Engagement Panel

Who should attend this webinar?

CSR practioners
Communications Managers
Stakeholder Relations Directors

Speakers:

Marie Jurcevic, CSR Advisor, CBSR
Chad Park, Director Programs and Strategies, The Natural Step
Jayne Russell, CRMP, Manager, Public Relations, The Co-operators Group

This webinar is free for CBSR members. Non members may join for $75.

Registration Closes: Sep 22, 2011 01:15 PM

Canada

Building Toward Sustainability, Literally

Jennifer Reid — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:18:53 -0400

The Landmark Group of Builders is a residential construction company further comprised of seven individual companies with offices in Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary. In the fall of 2008, in collaboration with The Natural Step, Landmark embarked on a journey to identify their key sustainability challenges, key innovation goals to overcome those challenges, and to develop a road map for embedding sustainability into their business. TNS advisor Sarah Brooks commends Landmark for “taking a long term perspective in their strategic planning for sustainability.” She points out that by “benchmarking progress from full sustainability rather than compliance regulations, [The Landmark Group] are taking an approach that is rigorous enough to answer the question “how will we know when we’ve arrived there [at sustainability]?””

To date, TNS has been involved in facilitating the Awareness, Baseline, and Visioning phases of TNS ABCD process. This has been accomplished through a series of workshops and webinars held with various members of senior management and members of Landmark’s Green Team. With support from TNS advisors, Landmark Group of Builders has prepared a baseline analysis of their company. This baseline analysis, along with a governance report drafted by TNS representatives, provided a means for the critical review of the company’s business practices which is integral for strategic planning. In preparation for sustainable action, a draft of a sustainability vision has been created by the company’s internal “Green Team”.

This partnership with TNS is only one of many initiatives making Landmark a strong corporate leader in Alberta. Dave Nasseri, the director and coordinator of the “Landmark Sustainability Initiative”, along with a group of dedicated visionaries, have a number of systems and assets in place from which to build. These programs, such as Landmark’s culture of learning, have greatly contributed to the progress made with TNS.

“Landmark is setting a solid foundation to move towards sustainability in a robust, efficient, and comprehensive way while staying viable in the market”, commented Sarah Brooks; “This is a foundation that will help to shed light on the sustainability journey and provide ‘proof of possibility’ for other construction companies interested in taking a similar path.”

Canada

Calgary Level One Pilot Takes Off

Sarah Brooks — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:04:56 -0500

www.flickr.com

Last week, I, along with my colleague Pong Leung, had the privilege of joining 24 people in Calgary, Alberta, to spend two days unpacking and playing with application of The Natural Step Framework.This was the first of our Level 1 Learning Programs and as such, really the pilot of our pilot program.

Participants came from a range of backgrounds both public and private and included people experienced in using the Framework and also some that were brand new to it. There were participants who had excellent working knowledge of building and delivering sustainability initiatives, but who were not familiar with the Framework, and there were those that were new to sustainability in general. We had representatives from municipalities, small business and large corporations... Fertile ground in which to play! Click here to see the photos.

As facilitators, the challenge was to make the content relevant for a diverse audience, something that is always interesting, both as facilitator and participant-observer. What was clear, however, particularly once we dove into application of the content, was that the generic nature of the Framework – its ‘scalability’ over place and space appropriate to context – really shone. We had an opportunity to explore how the sustainability challenge and concurrent opportunities may impact organizations – everything from an energy company, to a café, to a small municipality. We explored how to use fundamental principles of sustainability to create innovation goals (a desired future) for an organization or community; confirm these goals against key sustainability challenges (identified through analysis by the sustainability principles); and how to translate that into day-to-day actions over the short- and medium- term so that the goals become operational in practice. The goal of the workshop was to add value to the great work that participants are already doing or considering doing, and to provide tools, techniques, lessons learned and advice to enable use of the Framework in their own context.

There was some excellent output from the session, and we are looking forward to seeing how participants put the Framework to use for themselves and the organizations that they represent. We’re also anticipating our upcoming sessions in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa. Stay tuned!

Canada

CanadianUnderwriter.ca: The Co-Operators launches sustainability toolkit

Neil McCallum — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:37:32 -0500

The Co-operators has launched a toolkit offering guidance for leading more environmentally sustainable lives.

Sustainability at Home: Decision making help for your everyday choices was released in partnership with The Natural Step Canada.

The toolkit presents Canadians with practical tips and ideas on how to "green" their homes on a room-by-room basis. It is designed as a guide for all sizes of home, and includes sustainability advice on everything from grocery shopping to landscaping to disposing of medication.

"By using the new Sustainability at Home toolkit, Canadian homeowners and tenants can make strategic decisions to advance sustainability in their homes, save money and create a healthier living space for their families," said Kelly Hawke Baxter, executive director of The Natural Step Canada.

Available in French and English, the toolkit is a free resource available for download at www.cooperators.ca or www.thenaturalstep.org.

Source: CanadianUnderwriter.ca

Canada

Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC)

Jennifer Reid — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:32:48 -0500

Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) is a private non-profit housing organization that owns and operates 48 buildings around Ottawa providing over 2,000 residents with affordable housing. Their mission is to create, maintain and promote housing for low and moderate income people. In 2008, CCOC received a grant to undertake an education campaign on behaviour change to promote sustainability and achieve measurable greenhouse gas emissions reductions. As a tenant and volunteer led organization it was natural for CCOC to include the day-to-day decisions their tenants were making into their overall sustainability efforts.

PACE Consulting, EnviroEconomics and The Natural Step were all enlisted to help CCOC in creating a more holistic approach through the Go Green Initiative. EnviroEconomics delivered a detailed quantitative and qualitative footprint survey for tenants, and PACE Consulting used the results to develop targeted behaviour change strategies through contests, events and promotions.

In order to ensure that staff and tenants had a clear and common understanding of sustainability and the ways in which current practices are unsustainable, The Natural Step was contracted to conduct introductory workshops with several groups of tenants. Additionally, all CCOC staff partook in two days of training in The Natural Step Framework. By engaging tenants and staff directly, The Natural Step empowered participants to understand and respond to sustainability challenges, to take personal action and to develop capacity to change organizational practices.

“As an organization focused on the social sector, CCOC is in an exemplary position to build the capacity of their organization and tenants to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by sustainability in an accessible, results-oriented way. Their Go Green Initiative did exactly this”, said Senior Natural Step Advisor Sarah Brooks.

In 2009, CCOC signed up as one of the 25 organizations that participated in the pilot project for TNS’s “Greening Ottawa’s NGOs” project. Through this initiative they gained a valuable network of companions with which they were able to problem-solve, learn, and engage to discuss the trials and tribulations of going-green/sustainable.

Congratulations are extended to CCOC who, in November, was awarded the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association’s “Going Green award”, for their “Go Green” initiative. On the ONPHA website, this award is described as an honour to be bestowed on “a non-profit housing provider who has taken innovative steps to reduce their impact on the environment” – an award for which CCOC is certainly deserving.

Canada