Partners in Project Green to drive green economy with new strategic vision

-2012 Partners in Project Green Annual Report showcases growing demand for green collaboration, programs, services and projects-

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 7, 2013 /CNW/ -  Partners in Project Green, a community of businesses working together to green their bottom line by creating an internationally-recognized Eco-Business Zone around Toronto Pearson, has released their 2012 Annual Report. To see the online report, please visit http://www.partnersinprojectgreen.com/2012results.

The report highlights key successes including the launch of an innovative Materials Exchange Program that diverts useable materials from landfills, the People Power Challenge that generated 669 suggestions from employees to improve energy, water and waste performance within their organizations, and the launch of the Energy Leaders Consortium which generated $1 million in savings for participating businesses.

"Partners in Project Green is built upon a foundation of collaboration," said Toby Lennox, Chair, Partners in Project Green Executive Management Committee and Vice President, Strategy Development and Stakeholder Relations - Greater Toronto Airports Authority. "Without our partners, this unique and effective initiative would not exist. We thank those involved for sharing the vision of Partners in Project Green, and look forward with excitement to what the future will bring"

Highlights of this year's report include:

• In total, Partners in Project Green hosted 2058 participants and 888 companies at 29 training events, 2 networking receptions, and 2 tree plantings.
• Overall, 214 businesses were engaged in Partners in Project Green programs.
• Throughout 2012, 789 businesses in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone engaged in energy efficiency projects, conserving 11,568 MWh of electricity and 9.6 million m3 of natural gas.
• In 2012, seven businesses in the Pearson Eco- Business Zone completed water reduction projects, conserving 420 million litres of water annually.
• 1045 people planted: 970 trees, 1540 shrubs, 1000 wildflowers for a total plant area of 7,770 square maters.
• 37 Businesses in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone use Smart Commute, a 19 per cent increase over 2011.

At the Annual General Meeting, held on June 6^th, Partners in Project Green announced a strategy update to ensure that program goals, targets and initiatives are meeting the evolving needs of its stakeholders. The new strategy includes: strengthening of program mix in driving sustainable operational excellence and sustainable innovation by focusing resources on four main performance areas: energy performance, water stewardship, waste management, and communications & engagement; streamlining program delivery structure to enhance accountability and execution by evolving Partners in Project Green's governance structure and revising its performance metrics; and developing new capacity for advancing sustainability innovation and generating new revenues by exploring and developing new self-sustaining revenue streams.

"We believe this new direction will allow Partners in Project Green to provide businesses with the programs and services they need to drive sustainability deeper into their organizations, reaping the benefits of responsible environmental management," said Brian Denney, CEO, Toronto and Region Conservation.

Joel Makower, a well-respected voice on business, sustainability, and the bottom line and Chairman and Executive Editor of GreenBiz Group Inc., provided the keynote address. Makower provided insight on how sustainability increases business resiliency. It's not about being green, it's about being better, better in efficiency and economic stability.

About Partners in Project Green
Partners in Project Green is a growing community of businesses working together to green their bottom line by creating an internationally-recognized Eco-Business Zone around Toronto Pearson. Through new forms of business to business collaboration, Partners in Project Green delivers programming that helps businesses reduce energy and resource costs, uncover new business opportunities, and address everyday operational challenges in a green and cost effective manner. www.partnersinprojectgreen.ca

SOURCE: Partners in Project Green

Media Contact:
Rowena Calpito
Toronto and Region Conservation
416-661-6600 ext 5632
[email protected]