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Green Business Spotlight: Celebrating Local Businesses Driving Sustainable Innovation

April 24, 2023by Burnaby Heights0 comments

As we navigate through the challenges of climate change, it has become increasingly important for businesses to lead the way in reducing their carbon footprint. This year, we have seen a tremendous push from companies in the green business spotlight, making significant strides toward a more sustainable future. Let’s celebrate the achievements of these game-changing businesses that are driving sustainable innovation forward.

At the top of the list, we have the leaders:

  • Vancity's green practices include: Using all-natural cleaning supplies in the business’ janitorial applications Discouraging the use of non-recyclable thermal paper receipts Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights, Permitting 1/5 to 1/3 of employees to work from home once per week or more to reduce fuel emissions and road congestion, Providing Enviro Visa credit cardholders with a program that enables them to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from their credit card purchases, Offering planet-friendly loans to fund environmentally-friendly vehicles and home upgrades, as well as an energy advice service aimed at reducing emissions.
  • Chez Christophe's green practices: Selling reusable shopping bags and encouraging customers to bring their own bags, Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights, Using vendors and suppliers that are based locally for at least 75% of the sourcing, which will require less transportation that help reduce carbon emissions, Being a member of the "Too Good To Go" mobile application, which is dedicated to fighting food waste, Selling unsold food items through the app at one-third of the price, Taking an upcycling approach in the kitchen and transforming food scraps into other products to reduce food wastes
  • Palm Dental Centre's green practices include: Implementing a paperless/chartless system in the office to decrease carbon footprint Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights, Using motion sensor lights that consume less electricity, which helps decrease carbon footprint, Permitting 1/5 to 1/3 of employees to work from home once per week or more to reduce fuel emissions and road congestion, Upcycling furniture (making office furniture out of recycled materials), Offering patients the choice between using cloth or paper towels, or paper towels Providing both patients and staff with compostable bamboo toothbrushes, Using a digital X-ray system to eliminate the need for film development, which can release harmful chemicals into the environment
  • Moonstone's green practices include: Permitting 1/5 to 1/3 of employees to work from home once per week or more to reduce fuel emissions and road congestion, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights, Encouraging employees to use electric vehicles; 100% of employees participate in sustainable transportation practices, Carpooling on days where there is more than 1 employee on shift, Discouraging the use of non-recyclable thermal paper receipts, Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Adopting environmentally friendly product packaging practices, Using FSC-certified paper and cardboard materials that are %100 recycled and shopping bags made from fairtrade-certified and/or organic materials, Using gold and silver certified as recycled, Working mostly with a supplier who is a certified member of the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC), which is the leading organization in the jewelry industry that sets standards for sustainability and responsible practices
  • Divine Pharmacy's green practices: Selling reusable shopping bags and encouraging customers to bring their own bags, Using all-natural cleaning supplies in the business’ janitorial applications Discouraging the use of non-recyclable thermal paper receipts, Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Upcycling furniture (making office furniture out of recycled materials), Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights, Installing green-energy infrastructure for the business, Permitting 1/5 to 1/3 of employees to work from home once per week or more to reduce fuel emissions and road congestion, Creating weekly or monthly green challenges for the business, Using vendors and suppliers that are based locally for at least 75% of the sourcing, which will require less transportation that help reduce carbon emissions

Next, we have the level 2 businesses that are making significant strides towards sustainability:

  • Cedar Chiropractic & Physiotherapy's green practices include: Discouraging the use of non-recyclable thermal paper receipts, Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Using all-natural cleaning supplies in the business’ janitorial applications, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights
  • Adapt Spine Centre's green practices include: Discouraging the use of non-recyclable thermal paper receipts, Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights
  • Posh Pantry's green practices include: Selling reusable shopping bags and encouraging customers to bring their own bags, Discouraging the use of non-recyclable thermal paper receipts, Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights

At level 1, we have a business that is just beginning its journey toward sustainability: 

  • Posh Pantry's green practices include: Selling reusable shopping bags and encouraging customers to bring their own bags, Discouraging the use of non-recyclable thermal paper receipts, Using timed thermostats to reduce energy consumption, Converting to LED lights, which are up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights

Burnaby Heights is full of inspiring companies that are driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether they’re leaders, level 2 businesses, or level 1 companies just starting out, these local businesses are making a positive impact on the planet and showing that sustainability is not just good for the environment – it’s good for business too.

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