The Green Zone Initiative (GZI) in Strathcona recognizes the strategic opportunity that sustainability offers business. It aims to create a community of businesses working to reduce environmental impacts through resource efficiency, pollution prevention, green purchasing, and greenhouse gas reductions. By sharing innovative approaches, Strathcona businesses will build and circulate their expertise to green business, green the streets, work collaboratively, infuse the area with economic activity, and build the brand of Strathcona.
The GZI builds on green business activity and collaborative approaches already prevalent in Strathcona. Leaders in the community participate on the SBIA’s Sustainability Committee, which was formed in 2006. Many SBIA members surveyed reported many environmental initiatives already underway – water and energy conservation, greenhouse gas reductions, green purchasing and environmental management systems, green building and others.
The GZI aims to highlight existing activities, educate businesses about the business case for sustainability, build momentum for the Initiative, gain media attention, and attract partners and resources.
To learn more about current initiatives and how we envision the Green Zone click on the following links:
The Strathcona Green Zone Website
Goals of the Green Zone Initiative
Sustainability 3.0: Event Sponsorship Opportunities for Fall 2010
Sustainabililty 2.0: The Evolution of Green
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Reduce the environmental impact of Strathcona as a whole by reducing business inputs, increasing conservation, reducing the volume and toxicity of business effluents, by increasing green space to absorb stormwater runoff, etc.
Improve the environmental performance of SBIA members.
Create new business opportunities for SBIA members.
Increase the collaboration between businesses for environmental management.
Increase green space.
Beautify the area, and green the streets.
Create a community of like-minded businesses.
Create relationships between the area’s businesses.
Improve safety, increasing pedestrian traffic on the area’s streets.
Market the area as a green zone to improve profile for its businesses.
Draw resources to the area’s businesses and the SBIA.
The SBIA has developed a sustainability committee with representatives from local businesses and the City of Vancouver to organize and coordinate green business programs for Strathcona area businesses. In addition to working with local consulting firms we're working to develop programs helping to connect our community and help companies to become more competitive by integrating sustainability into their businesses. It's our goal that not only will companies individually become more competitive through this strategy but also help to improve the area as a whole and begin to address some of the challenging social issues we face through collaboration and community.
If you are interested in joining the committe, please give us a call or e-mail sustainabilitysbia@telus.net.
On September 28, 2010, the Strathcona BIA hosted its third sustainability expo. The event, held at the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Hall, attracted approximately 200 people from all over Vancouver, including many business owners from Strathcona.
Sustainability 3.0 featured a compelling keynote address from Bob Willard. Bob is an expert on leadership, culture change, and organizational development and author of three books - The Sustainability Advantage, The Next Sustainability Wave, and The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook. His presentation urged the audience to see sustainability as an imperative, and take action now to build sustainability into every level of operational planning. He recommended that champions of sustainability stay away from the "Save the World" theme and build a case around Asset Management, that is, managing and protecting your financial, natural, and human capital. Bob's presentation and the spreadsheets he alluded to in his talk, are available here.
There was also an exhibition area featuring booths from 30 organizations including: Vancity, City of Vancouver, Terasen Gas, G&F Financial Group, Metro Vancouver, Saul Good Gift Co., Eclipse Awards International, Mission Possible, Wiens Studios, Agro Cafe, and Tradeworks. Delicious organic catering was provided by One Planet Catering. Our sponsors also donated fantastic (and useful) prizes and giveaways, and nobody went home empty handed.
The evening was rounded-out by a series of mini-presentations and a panel discussion featuring Kira Gerwing, a Planner from the City of Vancouver; Brian Dodd, Executive Director of United We Can; Mark Trotzuk, Founder of Boardroom EcoApparel; and Sophie Agbonkhese, Sustainability Coordinator for the Strathcona BIA.
On April 2nd, 2009 we hosted our second annual sustainable business expo, Sustainability 2.0: The Evolution of Green, where we hosted over 300 area business representatives, community members and political leaders.
MAJORA CARTER KEYNOTE (click for video)
Keynote address from Majora Carter, founder of the Sustainable South Bronx, an initiative that's addressing social and environmental justice in one of the most socially and environmentally challenged communities in North America. Majora's leadership and expertise in social enterprise and community transformation is unprecedented and it was our goal to learn from her in our work transforming Strathcona.
SHADES OF GREEN PANEL (click for video)
Panel discussion : learning from local green business leaders including Peter Joe of Sunrise Soya Foods, a leading North America tofu manufacturer, Toby Barazzuol of Eclipse Awards, a crystal and glass awards company, Saul Brown of Saul Good Gift Co., a green corporate gifts business, Danielle Carrie of Frogfile Office Essentials, a green office supply company and Clay Braziller of Eco Industrial Solutions, an industrial ecology consulting firm who has worked with the SBIA on the green zone initiative exploring the feasibility of launching an eco industrial waste exchange.
EVENT RECAP (click for video)
Vendor marketplace with over 30 representatives from sustainable and green local area businesses including Green One Ventures, Tradeworks Custom Products, Bullfrog Power. Clean air auto show showcased various electric vehicles and sustainable transportation options for businesses including the Cooperative Auto Network, Zip Car, VEVA , ElectricCarBC.
Check out photos from last year! http://sustainabilityexpo2.blogspot.com/
