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7 Reasons That it’s Time for a Gold-Standard Benchmark

Submitted by Bob Willard on October 16, 2013 - 10:00am

In my last blog, I outlined five benefits of a gold-standard ESG benchmark for sustainable companies. Ten years ago, it would have been too soon to develop this benchmark. Ten years from now, it may be too late. Here are at least 7 reasons that now is the right time to create a gold-standard benchmark for ESG performance.

The Power of Issue-centred Collaboration - a message from the Executive Director

Submitted by Chad Park on September 30, 2013 - 11:56am

Put the issue in the centre.

A year and a half ago, former Habitat for Humanity and Pathways to Education CEO David Hughes addressed The Natural Step Canada’s board and staff. Amidst all the wise counsel he shared about scaling up the impact of “for-impact” organizations like ours, that simple message - put the issue in the middle - was the one that resonated most strongly.

It’s no secret in the sustainability/social innovation/environmental/social justice communities that the problems posed by global sustainability challenges are too great and too complex to be addressed by any individual organization.

Amazing Possibilities for a Gold-standard Benchmark for Sustainable Business

Submitted by Pong Leung on September 30, 2013 - 11:16am

Every so often in life you take part in a unique and transformational experience. On September 11th in Toronto, an inspiring group of individuals representing a who´s who of organizations working to help business achieve breakthrough sustainability performance came together to create such an experience.

They were invited to explore an issue of importance to all of us there, but that we knew could not be solved by any of us alone. It would require collaboration. Here is the issue in a nutshell: 

The Case for a Carpool

Submitted by Our Storyteller on September 26, 2013 - 10:20am

In 2012, Terry Sidhu participated in the IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training in Vancouver and has since received a grant from The Co-operators IMPACT! Fund to support his newly launched project around sustainable transportation. Congratulations Terry!

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Through my networks I found out about the IMPACT! Sustainability Champions program and felt that this would be a great opportunity for me to connect with other young people who had similar ideas about sustainability.

Animating the way we grow our food

Submitted by Our Storyteller on September 17, 2013 - 10:12am

In 2012, Paul Wartman participated in the IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training in Guelph and has since received a grant from The Co-operators IMPACT! Fund to support his newly launched enterprise around sustainable farming. Congratulations Paul!

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Have you ever ended a really long day by going home and scooping the biggest scoop of peanut butter into your mouth and just letting it take you?

Learning to make a difference.

Submitted by Fiona Wright on September 11, 2013 - 2:14pm

We’re all about making a difference for the better. Environmentally, socially, personally. Whatever you want to do, your impact will be greater if you’re informed, strategic and sustainable in the way you do it!

IMPACT! Alumnus Moves

Submitted by Our Storyteller on September 9, 2013 - 9:07am

Stephanie Brown has recently launched a new social enterprise built around an understanding of core environmental & social operating principles that she learned at the 2012 IMPACT! Sustainability Champions Training in Ottawa. Congratulations Stephanie!

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From the Ground Up: The Story of Sweet Pea Essentials

Sweet Pea Essentials provides handcrafted, all-natural soaps for infants and children. 

A budding entrepreneur from an early age, Stephanie Brown juggled multiple babysitting jobs for local families while pursuing her undergraduate degree. One of the toughest challenges she faced was keeping children excited about personal hygiene. More often than not, requests to wash hands before dinner or take a bath before bedtime were met with reluctance. There had to be a better way to make kids excited about cleaning up!

The Art of Resilience, The Resilience of Art

Submitted by Alexandre Magnin on September 4, 2013 - 10:37am

On July 1-3, I attended a meeting on Wasan Island (Muskoka Lake, ON) hosted by the Breuninger Foundation, Musagetes, and the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation (see graphic recording posted on July 9th). As a follow to this meeting, a paper was written on the contribution of art and culture to urban resilience and livability: The Art of Resilience, The Resilience of Art.

First TNS Workshop in Mexico

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on September 3, 2013 - 8:52am

Written by Itzel Orozco

On June 27, 2013, the first TNS Level 1 Workshop was hosted in Mexico. This workshop was organized and hosted by Itzel Orozco, Strategy & Sustainability Consultant, and led by Pong Leung, Senior Associate at The Natural Step Canada. The course was delivered in Spanish and had a great turn out with 20 enthusiastic attendees. The group represented the for-profit, non-profit and education sectors. All of the course participants had a deep interest for social and environmental issues, which set the stage for wonderful conversations, as well as great networking.

Charmian Love - Systems Change: How To Get To Breakthrough Outcomes (Accelerate 2013)

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on August 27, 2013 - 8:51am

Adam Kahane and Charmian Love joined Dr. Bryan Smith at the Accelereate: Collaborating for Sustainability Conference to share their wisdom around the question 'How do systems actually change?' Some of what was shared included that mapping out systems and organizations is extremely useful for understanding the leverage points and linking pins, so you can get good people into key positions

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