Change is also coming as more organizations focus on a sustainable future: 'Canada's Greenest Employers' for 2020 are announced
TORONTO, June 16, 2020 /CNW/ - It used to be difficult for people to imagine that the world could change quickly, or that society was taking too long to address issues like sustainability. But if there is a lesson that might be learned from the current period we are living through, it might be the realization that societies can change and respond to crisis in ways never previously imagined.
For over a decade, Canada's Greenest Employers has been documenting employers that have been busy working to create a more sustainable future for all – the best of these initiatives were recognized this morning as this year's Canada's Greenest Employers were announced by the editors of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project at Mediacorp Canada Inc.
"Values and understanding shift with each generation" says Richard Yerema, Managing Editor of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project. "Environmental sustainability was once considered contrary to running a successful enterprise, however, within a generation we have witnessed a complete reversal — a focus on long term sustainability in not only necessary for the health of any organization but for society as a whole."
Now in its 13th year, Canada's Greenest Employers is an editorial competition that recognizes employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness. Winning employers, selected by editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers, are evaluated using four main criteria: (1) unique environmental initiatives or programs they have developed; (2) whether they have been successful in reducing their own environmental footprint; (3) whether their employees are involved in these programs and contribute unique skills; and (4) whether their environmental initiatives have become linked to the employer's public identity, attracting new employees or customers.
The editors singled out a few notable initiatives at this year's winners:
- Established in 1928, furniture manufacturer Nightingale Corporation in Mississauga, Ont., follows the timeless tradition of focusing on durability of its products: all its chairs are sold with a ten-year parts warranty, so they can be easily repaired and when their useful life is complete. The company accepts returns and dismantles components for re-use or proper recycling.
- Foodservice company Aramark Canada Ltd. is making significant progress toward its goal of serving 100 per cent sustainably sourced fish and seafood. The company works closely with NGOs around the world to ensure the food it serves has been sustainably sourced.
- To encourage more of its customers and employees to use electric vehicles, Desjardins Group has installed over 200 charging stations at its branches in Ontario and Québec.
- With operations across the country, Labatt Breweries of Canada has reduced its water consumption by a remarkable 45% in recent years.
- To reduce its employees' commuting footprint, Calgary-based BluEarth Renewables conducts a monthly transit survey among staff to track and encourage more sustainable transit habits – the survey has reduced the number of employees driving to work alone by tens of thousands of kilometers annually.
- Vancouver-based architectural firm Perkins + Will Canada has been instrumental in a remarkable industry initiative to make all new buildings carbon-neutral by the end of the decade. Nearly all the firm's Vancouver staff are LEED-accredited.
Founded in 1992, Mediacorp Canada Inc. is the nation's largest publisher of employment periodicals. Since 1999, the Toronto-based publisher has managed the Canada's Top 100 Employers project, which includes 18 regional and special-interest editorial competitions that reach over 15 million Canadians annually through a variety of magazine and newspaper partners. Mediacorp also operates Eluta.ca, a large job search engine that includes editorial reviews from the Canada's Top 100 Employers project and is used by millions of job-seekers each year.
The full list of Canada's Greenest Employers (2020) is attached; detailed reasons for selection, explaining why each of the winners was chosen, were released this morning and are available via the competition homepage. The editorial reasons for selection include hundreds of photos and stories on the winning employers' environmental initiatives.
Follow the discussion on social media today under the #GreenEmployers hashtag.
https://www.canadastop100.com/green
SOURCE Mediacorp Canada Inc.
Kristina Leung, Senior Editor, at 416-964-6069 x1464.
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