Tania Ferlin

Insightful thoughts on Budget 2024 and what it means for carbon dioxide removal in Canada from the very talented Lucy Hargreaves. Worth a read!

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Out of the 3 million tonnes of plastic waste produced in Canada, only 9% is recycled. The rest ends up in landfill or a waste to energy facility. When I first read the statistic, I could not believe what I was reading. A developed nation, not so populated, with the financial capability and room to build the correct infrastructure was recycling a mere 9%. Turns out, the infrastructure is there, but it's missing a key component - the recyclers. This can only come from behavioral change - without dedicating resources to build the knowledge and understanding of your audience, whether you're a nation or a business, achieving high levels of success, be it recycling or energy reduction is a pipe dream. Key takeaway: Invest in people related programs to build awareness of how to reduce, reuse and recycle and the rest will follow. #earthday #beatplasticpollution #earthday2024 #reducereuserecycle #sustainabilitymatters

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Is it the beginning of the end for plastic pollution? The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment is happening in Ottawa, from today until the 29th. #plastic #pollution #sustainability #oceans #change https://lnkd.in/dETXHwBj

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The The Hill Times had an interesting piece on environmental and energy policy in Europe. This quote was notable: “In Germany, we had a big consensus that we want cleaner energy, and I still believe that there is this consensus, but there have been some policies that made it very difficult,” Luther conceded. “We always told them, ‘clean energy is great and we will make it in a social way and you’re not going to pay for it.’ And the first thing we did? We made them pay for it.” -Manon Luther, an SPD candidate for the European Parliament One might ask: Who else was going to pay for it? Whether through taxes or energy rates, citizens were always going to pay for these projects. Building new energy infrastructure means paying for - materials, workers, regulatory processes, etc. The author of this piece spills a lot ink focusing on the problem of "far-right messages and conspiracies" - when he and others should be taking the cost issue more seriously. The bottom line is that transforming energy systems has to be paid for and "who pays," and "how fast" are the key questions. A solution to this discussed in Energy for a Secure Future 's recent discussion paper - Getting Canada's Energy Future Right: a Consumer Lens on Energy - involves keeping Energy Fundamentals (affordability, reliability, safety, resilience and security) front and centre in the pursuit of environmental policy. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ec7j5ZPU #energy4people #EnergyFundamentals #leadership https://lnkd.in/eEy4t4tj

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Canada is cracking down on greenwashing from U.S. companies with new regulations aimed at curbing misleading environmental claims in marketing materials. U.S. companies doing business in Canada must adapt their marketing strategies to comply with the new regulations or risk facing severe penalties. This includes ensuring that any environmental claims are thoroughly documented and verifiable according to recognized standards. Companies found guilty of greenwashing can face substantial fines. The penalties for misleading environmental claims can reach up to $10 million CAD (approximately $7.3 million USD) for the first violation, and up to $15 million CAD for subsequent violations. Alternatively, the fines could be three times the value of the benefit derived from the deceptive conduct or 3% of the company's annual worldwide gross revenues, whichever is greater. https://lnkd.in/eit4kawZ #environmentalcontent Forbes Greenpeace Habits of Waste Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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🌍The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was just approved by the EU and will affect many large and small Canadian companies doing business in Europe.🌍 It sets out obligations for companies to identify and *mitigate* impacts on people and planet - ranging from child labour to slavery, to pollution, emissions, and ecosystem damage, This directive covers the company's own operations and those of the the upstream supply chain and downstream distribution, transport, or storage of products. How will this affect companies in Canada? ➡️ If you have a company operating in Europe with more than 1000 employees and 450 million euros in turnover or 22.5 million in royalties you are within the scope of CSDDD ➡️ If you are in the SUPPLY CHAIN of any company obliged to report under CSDDD you may be asked to provide information regarding your environmental and human rights impacts. When does the directive take effect?  It will start applying to the largest companies and their suppliers for financial years starting on or after Jan. 1, 2028. See the link in the comments for the pdf of the directive. #CSDDD #sustainability #sustainablebusiness 

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'“The Earth got used up, so we moved out” -- Malcolm Reynolds, S1 E5, Firefly' is NOT how tomorrow's Ottawa Product Management & Marketing Association product sustainability presentation will start. I'm NOT going to share that 56% of 16-25 year olds think humanity is doomed, an example of doomsday thinking that Hannah Ritchie discourages in her book "Not the end of the world". And I'm NOT going to reflect on how I've abandoned both the defeatist, unenlightened perspective that planet Earth is our starter home, not our forever home. Nor that I've stopped believing that things are getting worse for our species. I'm NOT going to talk about the "Earth First" ideas that Kim Stanley Robinson introduce me to and the technological advances that make it possible for humans to have great lives while protecting the planet for future generations. No, sir/ma'am/mx. Tomorrow evening, at 6pm on May 29th, I WILL focus on how to consider sustainability when performing four types product management activities - defining product strategy, performing competitive analysis, defining requirements and constructing messaging. I WILL provide a set of steps that product marketers and product managers can use to reduce costs while improving outcomes and improving competitiveness. Replying that you're coming will help boost visibility of this event and, hopefully, put some new, greener ideas into the busy brains of Ottawa's product leaders. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gfP_k3h7 #OPMMA #productinnovation #productmanagement #productmarketing #productmanager #ottawaevents #ottawacanada

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"Countries have made important progress in Canada with constructive discussions on what the treaty will actually do, but the big decisions still remain: will we get the strong treaty with common global rules that most of the world is calling for, or will we end up with a voluntary watered-down agreement led by least common denominator values? Negotiators need to recognise that plastic pollution is an accelerating global crisis that cannot be solved with fragmented national approaches. Governments must now employ all possible means to step up progress between the meetings on measures that will have the biggest impact on addressing plastic pollution across plastic’s full lifecycle - in particular, global bans on high-risk products and chemicals, global product design requirements and a robust financial package to secure a just transition,” Eirik Lindebjerg, Global Plastics Policy Lead, WWF International. #inc4 #notimetowaste #globalplasticstreaty

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Very important and productive discussions at the UN #PlasticsTreaty negotiations in Ottawa. I’m here as part of the Business For A Plastics Treaty delegation, calling on governments to adopt a legally binding treaty covering the full lifecycle of plastic products. We believe a global plastics treaty underpinned by mandatory, global rules is necessary to end plastic pollution. The regulatory environment we face is increasingly fragmented. Harmonising this through global rules will help us simplify supply chains, scale the existing solutions we have and spur further innovation. These global rules should build on existing voluntary action, from which we have seen good progress. Unilever is doubling down on plastic as one of the four priorities in our renewed sustainability framework. We have seen firsthand that it takes all stakeholders to make real progress. And while we have made strong voluntary progress (we've reduced our virgin plastic use by 18% and increased our recycled plastic use to 22% of our global packaging portfolio), we need binding rules to go much faster – and level the playing field for all companies. Read here to find out exactly what I’ve been talking to governments about during my time in Ottawa: https://lnkd.in/e2P77kXQ #GlobalPlasticsTreaty

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🌍Are you struggling to make progress on your sustainability initiatives? Time- or resource-strapped? Expect to be short-staffed over the summer? Let Achieve Sustainability help you meet your sustainability goals. We can assist you with GHG inventories, decarbonization road maps, sourcing incentives, regulatory overviews, and climate risk assessments. We work with businesses in the following three ways: 🌍Custom projects to meet your business' goals and objectives 🌍 Packages of advisory hours to help you navigate your sustainability journey 🌍Long-term, part-time fractional sustainability support for resource-strapped businesses ➡️Interested in learning more? Reach out to info@achievesustainability.ca to set up your complimentary consultation. #sustainability #sustainablebusiness

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There are just a few weeks left until the Halton Foundation opens its grant application process! Mark your calendars for Monday, July 1st, 2024. If you are connected with a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and improving human well-being in indoor environments, or one that develops innovative solutions for better indoor environmental quality, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Please share this information with relevant organizations and help spread the word by sharing this post! #wellbeingbyhalton #grantopportunity #fundingopportunity #research #iaqresearch

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The Superior Court of Quebec has given the green light for a class action lawsuit over the misleading sale of reusable plastic bags. This means that anyone who has purchased these bags from several prominent Quebec retailers can now be part of the lawsuit, potentially impacting millions of Quebecers. The defendants include: Dollarama Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) Rona Inc. and Lowe’s Metro Inc. McKesson Canada (Uniprix pharmacies) Toys R Us Costco The lawsuit alleges that these stores have been selling bags labeled as recyclable when, in fact, they are not. According to Tricentris, one of Quebec's largest recycling facilities, these plastic bags cannot be recycled in Quebec or anywhere else in Canada. This case underscores the urgent need to focus on #WasteReduction and the prioritization of a truly #CircularEconomy, rather than adopting alternatives that create even worse pollution. What are your thoughts on this development? https://lnkd.in/e7_juMhy #ClassAction #ConsumerRights #EnvironmentalJustice #QuebecNews #MYP #PlasticFreeLandAndSeas

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Understanding the Impact of E-Bike Incentives To be clear, I'm not advocating for climate change, but I found the University of British Columbia's study intriguing in terms of encouraging physical activity and reducing traffic congestion through e-bike incentive programs. For those concerned about global warming, it presents a compelling case. The study aimed to explore the positive effects of e-bikes, spurred by the increasing popularity of e-bike rebates in North America. Researchers at UBC's Research on Active Transportation (REACT) Lab conducted surveys in the District of Saanich, British Columbia, among participants of an e-bike incentive program. Results showed sustained e-bike usage even a year post-purchase, leading to decreased car trips, particularly among low-income households, and subsequently reduced emissions. The rebate program, tiered by income, showed promising adoption rates, with a significant portion of users being new to e-bikes and cycling. Participants reported 48 kilometers (29.8 miles) less car travel per week, resulting in an average reduction of 16 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions weekly. Principal investigator Alex Bigazzi emphasized the cost-effectiveness of e-bike incentives compared to electric car incentives, highlighting additional benefits such as increased physical activity and reduced air pollutants. Beyond environmental benefits, e-bikes can positively impact health, as demonstrated by scientific studies. One study compared cardiometabolic responses between regular and e-bike rides, showing e-bike riding required lower effort levels consistent with recommended physical activity standards. Another study compared physical activity levels of e-bike users to cyclists, indicating increased activity among e-bikers, especially those transitioning from private motorized vehicles to public transport. These findings underscore the potential of e-bikes as a sustainable transport option with health benefits, advocating for infrastructure improvements and subsidies to encourage adoption. #transportation #ebike #mobility

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On my way to Ottawa for INC 4 of the #plasticpollutiontreaty negotiations which start next week. Hopeful that this is the meeting where we start to lock in some meaningful outcomes. It is sometimes too easy to forget about what's happening in the world out there when you're sitting in the conference rooms fighting for your own national or organisational interests. But the outside world is drowning in plastic pollution and we all agree that we urgently need to do something about it. So let's not sweat the small stuff, let's agree on the few big things that we need to get across the line in these negotiations. Let's start with a strong set of global rules to help us eliminate the most problematic plastics and start aligning all countries around the world on some key measures like EPR and design rules for reuse and recycling. These are imminently doable, so let's do it #noplasticsinnature Business For A Plastics Treaty

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Starting the weekend inspired by the linkages between innovation and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thanks to Tiffanee Scorer for highlighting the links, and the opportunity for Canada to take a leading role. A few things to extend on this discussion from my perspective: First, always start with your company Why. This will ensure that your SDGs align to your vision and mission. Second, always listen to your customer to know how to lay our your product roadmap and prioritize what your team is going to develop. Third, link your roadmap to your SDG goals to dig deeper on how you can scale your impact while responding to the needs of the customer Fourth, how can you measure the results against those SDGs, whether drawing from The Global Impact Investing Network IRIS+, Project Drawdown, or other relevant impact frameworks. Finally, get feedback from your customers, partners, supply chain, and investors on the alignment, progress, and relevance to remain on point. I love how Tiffanee links her work to SDGs, and directly to R&D for her clients. #whatinspiresme #innovation #Canada #techforgood #businessforgood #impactinvesting

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Productivity Concerns Permeating The Canadian Economy The continued saga of Canada’s productivity problem that is damaging our economy. The Glode & Mail article below further exemplifies the problem. Secondary the Bank of Canada has echoed its concerns that are delaying the decrease in our interest rates. Productivity is a key to lower the inflation rate which in turn will lower interest rates. Finally the Liberal government has further implemented a hurdle to increasing productivity with the change in capital gains increas from 50% of the gain being taxed to 66.7% of the gain now being taxed. Through these actions as stated above, Canada will continue to see business leave. The concern is that Canada is no longer a place that is business investment friendly. As a reminder to business unit leaders, by increasing productivity will directly have a positive impact on attracting increased investment sales by lowering costs and be able to lower prices. https://lnkd.in/gGw8Rtjs

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