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Jim Godfrey presented with Freedom of Municipality award for applying The Natural Step Framework during Vancouver Olympics

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on October 8, 2010 - 10:41am

The communities of Whistler, BC and Mayor Ken Melamed have worked closely with The Natural Step Canada over the past few years to achieve their community sustainability plan: Whistler 2020.

Jim Godfrey, the former chief administrative officer of the municipality and a Board of Directors member of VANOC, helped Whistler secure a part in the recently passed Olympics, in part due to his adoption of The Natural Step Framework as Stephen Smysnuik reports for Pique magazine.

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CSR Efforts and Employee Engagement Drive Business Results - A weekly blog by sustainability expert Bob Willard

Submitted by Bob Willard on October 7, 2010 - 8:50am

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

Wouldn’t it be great if we could show that companies which embrace corporate social responsibility (CSR) reap financial rewards? Sustainability champions armed with this information would be welcomed by business leaders seeking new ways to get the most from their companies’ resources and efforts. Fortunately, the links between CSR efforts, employee engagement, and business results are becoming clearer.

The Corporate Responsibility Code Book: Revised Second Edition

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on October 6, 2010 - 9:09am

The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire (CSRwire) has recently made a commentary on the second edition of a book entitled: “The Corporate Responsibility Code Book”.  Elaine Cohen wrote that “the value of this book is not in these individual references to individual codes. The true value is the entire collection, all in one place, of the leading initiatives which serve as a basis for the way in which businesses approach, mainly voluntarily, the whole field of CSR and sustainability”.

 

Sustainability for Leaders – Level One, Calgary, Storyteller Blog

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on October 1, 2010 - 2:47pm

Calgary, AB :: September 28th and 29th, 2010

In the realm of sustainability, there is a vast sea of opinions, information and visions of a sustainable society. Amidst these intense waves and unpredictable winds, sustainability leaders can often feel lost and challenged by the direction and purpose in their organization’s move [or lack thereof] towards sustainability. How, then, can one make sense of where to go? In a dynamic and interconnected world, where is the lighthouse to guide our journey towards sustainability?

On September 28th and 29th 2010, eleven diverse and passionate participants gathered in Calgary to answer this question; their motivations inspiring. When asked what motivates them to work towards a sustainable future, responses included:  

Transformational Canadian Nomination: Kelly Hawke Baxter, Sustainability Agent

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on September 29, 2010 - 4:03pm

We are proud to announce that Kelly Hawke Baxter has been nominated for The Globe and Mail's 25 Transformational Canadians.

The Globe and Mail has partnered with CTV and Cyberpresse to celebrate Canadians who have sought to make a difference – not just by doing what they do, but through the demonstrable impact they've made on the world around them, whether in Canada or beyond. Driving the program as the exclusive sponsor is Cisco Canada.

The Sustainability-Enabled Business Value Chain - A weekly blog by sustainability expert Bob Willard

Submitted by Bob Willard on September 29, 2010 - 11:03am

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

In my September 21, 2010 blog, I synergized a generic business value chain. It’s based on several other models and frameworks, and represents the most important elements from each. Why would sustainability champions care? When selling sustainability strategies to business leaders who are preoccupied with ensuring that every link of their value chain is optimized, we need to meet them where they are.

Duluth hotel uses sustainable philosophy every day

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on September 28, 2010 - 11:01am

Early Adopters in Duluth are leading the way to a more sustainable future. Read about Duluth’s Canal Park, one of the participants in Sustainable Twin Ports’ Early Adopters program based on The Natural Step Framework, as reported in the Duluth News Tribune, by John Myers.

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When you sip a cup of coffee at the Inn on Lake Superior in Duluth’s Canal Park, you probably don’t think about what went into it. But Cara Overland, the hotel’s administrative director, will be glad to tell you.

 

The “Down-low” on GONGOs

Submitted by The Natural Ste... on September 28, 2010 - 8:17am

Greening Ottawa’s Non-Governmental Organizations or “GONGOs”-as it is known by a few sustainability leaders, activists, and organizational representatives in the National Capital region-is led in partnership by The Natural Step Canada and the EnviroCentre.

A 15-Link Generic Business Value Chain

Submitted by Bob Willard on September 23, 2010 - 12:31pm

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

The March-April 1994 issue of the Harvard Business Review (HBR) featured a seminal article, “Putting the Service-Profit Chain to Work,” by James L. Heskett, Thomas O. Jones, Gary W. Loveman, W. Earl Sasser, Jr., and Leonard A. Schlesinger. At that time, I was working in IBM Canada’s Leadership Development department.

The article was a welcome reinforcement for the important role that mangers play in building an energizing and empowering work environment for their employees—a foundational link in a chain of value leading to company success.

Welcoming Dr. Robèrt to Canada

Submitted by Kelly Hawke-Baxter on September 15, 2010 - 4:56pm

On behalf of The Natural Step Canada team, I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt, the Founder of The Natural Step and Co-Founder of Real Change, back to Canada this fall. From October 18-21, he will be speaking to diverse audiences at a number of public and private engagements in and around the Toronto area. This is a rare and exclusive opportunity for Canadians to hear Dr. Robèrt—who lives in Sweden—speak in person.

In our latest newsletter, you can read all about the great events we have planned and how you can attend.

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