Santropol Roulant EcoChallenge
Sustainability has hit the mainstream and with good reason. Stretched to the limit, our planet is showing signs of wear and tear. Looking out for the environment is no longer the exclusive domain of environmentalists. Everyday citizens are realizing the importance of reducing their consumption and lightening their impact on the earth. There is an increasing realization that healthy communities and vibrant economies are dependent on the natural ecosystems that support them. Santropol Roulant understands this connection and is seeking to move beyond short-term food security and towards long-term economic, social and environmental sustainability.
Last year, we launched an Eco-Challenge, working with the Natural Step Canada to conduct a full fledged sustainability assessment of our organization. This has been a unique endeavour for a group whose core mission is the delivery of a social service, in our case the meals-on-wheels. The Natural Step is known for its work with large companies such as Nike and IKEA, or here in Canada with municipalities such as Whistler. Never before had The Natural Step worked with such a small organization so deeply anchored in its immediate community.
The Eco-Challenge has provided us with an action plan for a truly sustainable Santropol Roulant, giving us a set of short, medium and long term goals. Some have already been achieved, such as switching to 100% post-consumer paper, replacing paper towels with cloth ones and hiring a full-time Sustainability Coordinator. We’ve replaced plastic bags with reusable ones made from old clothes found in our friperie. We’ve also secured a gas-electric hybrid for our larger delivery route.
Our first meeting
Our ideal vision
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