Waterloo Region, ON – Sustainability CoLab, a national non-profit sharing a proven approach that engages businesses to set and achieve sustainability goals, is thrilled to welcome two new Members: Windfall Ecology Centre (York Region) and reThink Green (Sudbury) have joined its existing Network, bringing membership to seven organizations across Ontario.
As Members, Windfall and reThink will have access to CoLab’s resources to help them design and launch a target-based sustainability program for businesses: a tailored roadmap, one-on-one coaching, peer learning sessions, templates and partnerships to help them accelerate progress.
Windfall and reThink Green join three other Emerging Members – organizations in the CoLab Network that are working towards developing a similar program in their community – Durham Sustain Ability, EnviroCentre (Ottawa) and Sustainable Kingston. Affiliate Members Niagara Sustainability Initiative and Sustainable Waterloo Region have already launched programs.
Windfall has a strong supporter in the City of Vaughan, which joined Windfall’s application to CoLab, making Vaughan the first municipality in York Region to support this type of program. “’Windfall Ecology Centre is pleased to be working with CoLab and the City of Vaughan to assist York Region businesses in reducing their carbon footprint at a time when conditions seem right, particularly in light of Ontario expecting a carbon price this year” says Windfall’s Executive Director Brent Kopperson.
reThink’s Executive Director Rebecca Danard says northern communities stand to benefit. “We believe that this project has the potential to position Greater Sudbury as a leader in linking environmental sustainability with economic development for businesses in Northern Ontario”.
Mike Morrice, CoLab’s Executive Director notes, “Both York Region and Sudbury have all the ingredients: strong lead organizations, with support from all sectors, bringing an innovative program to their communities at just the right time. We’re thrilled to work with both Windfall and reThink Green as they launch target-based sustainability programs for businesses in their communities”.
CoLab shares the proven approach of Sustainable Waterloo Region’s program, the Regional Carbon Initiative (RCI), for Members to adapt to their own communities. The RCI supports businesses to set targets to reduce their carbon impact and publicly report back on results. Today the RCI has 65 member organizations – representing 15% of the Region’s workforce. Businesses have collectively committed to carbon reductions of 53,000 tonnes, which is the equivalent of taking almost 12,000 cars off the road.
About Sustainability CoLab
Sustainability CoLab provides direct support and a proven approach for Member organizations to launch and grow target-based sustainability programs for businesses. These programs build local networks of businesses that are setting and achieving sustainability goals. Through participation in CoLab’s Network, organizations receive benefits such as coaching, access to tools and resources and peer learning.