Sustainability Issue

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Sustainability Issue AHEAD BY A CENTURY

MAYOR OF GUELPH & KING OF THE THRIFT

We’re thrifting with Mayor Cam Guthrie INTRODUCING NEW MEMBER: OMNIA PACKAGING INC.

Why Guelph is the perfect home away from Rome | Skyline Group of Companies IN THIS Co-operators Habitat for Humanity | Restore

ISSUE

Valentini’s Hair Design

guelphchamber.com

Court Desautels from The Neighbourhood Group

Never Stop Learning

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce has partnered with OpenEd at the University of Guelph to offer you a discounted rate on non-degree lifelong learning opportunities.

Have you ever wondered what gives Guelph its unique charm? Maybe it’s the small-town community feel, the vibrant downtown filled with artisanal stores, or the university experience that draws people in. All things considered, many agree that Guelph is not only a special place to live and work, but it’s also a great place to learn. Add a brand-new partnership between the Guelph Chamber of Commerce and Open Learning and Educational Support (OpenEd) at the University of Guelph, and lifelong learning has never been easier.

For more than 50 years, OpenEd has been designing award-winning courses and programs that are suitable for a variety of sectors and industries. Through this new partnership, members receive an exclusive discount on OpenEd’s high-quality and locally-based continuing education courses and programs. Courses are facilitated by professionals with industry knowledge, integrating relevant research and rich learning experiences. A diverse selection of courses and programs allows you to choose what you need to continue developing your skills and improving your life.

OpenEd believes in the power of local learning. By supporting professional development within the community, a strong and skilled workforce can be built within the region.

Some of OpenEd’s programs include: • Creative Writing • Facilities Management • Horticulture • Human Resources Management • Plant-Based Nutrition • School Business Operations

Explore new possibilities, all while staying close to home.

OpenEd.uoguelph.ca/GuelphChamber

GUELPH CHAMBER MEMBERS SAVE!

Tap into savings.

MEET THE

Guelph Chamber TEAM Shakiba Shayani President & CEO Mark Mayo Manager of Operations Jane Wielhorski Executive Assistant to the President & CEO Calvin Hyde Membership Sales & Engagement Representative Isobel Adams Program & Event Coordinator

COST SAVINGS WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW YOUR BUSINESS TO ACCEPT PAYMENT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Clover, a global leader in merchant services has partnered with the Guelph Chamber of Commerce to not only offer your business cost savings but equip you with innovative solutions that will allow you to accept payment from your clients anytime, anywhere!

Jason Kalbfleisch Research & Policy Coordinator Markus McDaniel Finance & Database Manager Ellyn Lusis Marketing & Design Lead

Contributors Cooperators Skyline Valentini’s Omnia Packaging Inc. Habitat for Humanity cover photo credit: the neighbourhood group

CONNECT @guelph_chamber

@guelphchamber www.guelphchamber.com

FROM THE CEO

HOW BEING GREEN MAKES

businesses better.

We are used to bad news stories when it comes to corporate sustainability. Whether it’s because of poor environmental standards, exploitative labour practices or huge carbon footprints, businesses are usually in the news because they are not acting in a sustainable way.

But we’re happy to say that Guelph is home to businesses that operate differently. In this issue we have only good news to share. Stories of the businesses in our community that are investing in clean-tech, green tech, reducing their

UP AND COMING November

And although the businesses are diverse in category, their approach to sustainability is a common theme which unites them, and makes them leaders in their respective fields.

- Shakiba Shayani President & CEO, Guelph Chamber of Commerce

Click to find out more or to register for our upcoming event.

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Municipal Budget Breakfast With Mayor Cam Guthrie and CAO Scott Stewart at Cutten Fields.

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carbon footprint and paying it forward to their employees and the community that surrounds them.

November

AGM

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Join us (virtually!) for our Annual General Meeting.

November

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Economic Outlook

Register for this informative look ahead for our region’s economy.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

IN THIS ISSUE

THRIFT WITH MAYOR CAM GUTHRIE, MEET OMNIA PACKAGING INC., COOPERATORS NEW FACILITY

In this issue 4 8

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King of the thrift

Omnia Packaging Inc.

Co-operators

We sit down with our favourite thrift-fluencer - Mayor Cam Guthrie! Read his thrifting tips and why we should all be more sustainably-minded.

We welcome new member Omnia Packaging Inc. all the way from Italy! Read about their innovative products and new facilty in Guelph.

Read about the Cooperators innovative new facility, Impact Investments and how investing in sustainability just - makes cents.

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Valentini’s Hair Salon and Spa

Skyline Group of Companies

The Neighbourhood Group of Companies

Beauty isn’t just skin deep!

Valentini’s sustainable salon practices leave everyone (and the environment) -looking good.

Learn how Skyline’s commitment to community giving, environmental stewardship, and ethical governance is good for business.

Read how a sustainable mindset, community-building initiatives and ethical business practices make this group - Ahead by a Century.

Be a part of our next

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MBER AM HA HAM H CE CE CHAM C RCE R RC ERC E MERC MERCE M MER M MM MMER OM OMMER O OMME COMME C F OF O

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

Reach out to ellyn@guelphchamber.com to be a part of our next issue or learn about advertising opportunities.

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RESTORE

King of the thrift.

By: Mayor Cam Guthrie Photo credit: Ellyn Lusis

We’re thrifting at The ReStore with our favourite thrift-fluencer - the honourable Mayor Cam Guthrie.

Read on and find out what makes Guelph a destination city for thrifting.

ReStores are proudly owned and operated by Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington.

Find out how you can shop or donate to make a difference in your community today.

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CONNECT

@habitatrestoreguelph habitatgw.ca/restore/ Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

RESTORE

When did you start thrifting and why?

I’ve been thrifting since I was in my early teens.

I do it because I love the thrill of the hunt—to find a great deal. I also love it because I would do it with other people, so it was a fun time with others. I have a lot of memories and laughs from going out with different people.

What are some of your favourite stores to thrift in Guelph?

I have a route that I take when I thrift in Guelph.

I go to them all in sequence. I start at Goodwill in the north end, then I go to Value Village, then to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, if I need furniture, home decor or renovation materials I drop by the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, then the St-Vincent De Paul Thrift Store on Elizabeth Street, and finish with the Mission Thrift Store on Victoria Road.

What has been your all-time favourite find?

A new kitchen sink and faucet for my house!

As an expert thrifter – what are some pro tips you can give?

One of the things that I like doing is to look for items for other people. If you can find time within your conversations to talk about what other people are looking for then you can keep an eye out for those items when you thrift. It is a truly great feeling to find and give that item to someone who was searching for it.

The other tip is look behind the shelves.

Sometimes other thrifters will hide things they want to come back for, or items will fall behind shelves. So, dig a bit deeper on the shelves and the racks to find hidden treasures.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

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RESTORE

HE’S A BIG FAN! MAYOR GUTHRIE MAKES US LAUGH WHILE THRIFTING

What makes Guelph a destination city for thrifting?

Guelph has so many thrift stores and they provide goods in different categories. Some sell furniture and some of them don’t. Some have a good record collection and some don’t. Each store in the city has carved out their own specialized niche. So, it’s fun to spread the net wide and try them all out. Make a day of it, like I do.

Do you go thrifting *for* a particular item in mind or do you thrift *for the find*?

I do both. I often have things that I need, and I will purposefully go to the thrift stores first. If I cannot find the item there or second-hand, then I will buy it new. It is very, very rare that I will buy anything new.

What does good Thrift-etiquette mean to you?

I have seen people sometimes take an item up to the counter to pay and try to negotiate to get the price even lower. Don’t do that. You are at a thrift store, and many of the thrift store funds actually go to support charitable work. So, the money you are providing to them go to good 6

causes, please don’t to ask for a lower price. Pay what it is and if there is an opportunity to round up to the next dollar or make a donation, please do it. The thrift stores are doing good work in the community other than just being able to recycle used items.

What is your white whale of thrifting?

I have one regret. Once, I missed out on a record player that I literally saw someone grab five feet in front of me before I could get it myself. I remember looking up the record player online later and it cost $400 yet it sold for about $20 at the thrift store. I’m a bit sad to have missed out on that.

There really isn’t any one item that I’m specifically looking for. I do however always keep an eye out for vintage Star Wars items.

Without question, affordable housing has been a top-of-mind conversation in recent times – at Council tables and dinner tables across Canada. It’s something that affects us all.

As we come together to look for solutions, Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington is pushing forward, with more projects underway than ever before. And to get there, we need community support.

For anyone looking to make an impact on affordable housing here in Guelph, there are a number of ways to get engaged:

INVEST Community Level Investment helps to move us forward on our commitments to housing solutions. Our Community Bonds are one way you can put your money to work in support of affordable housing.

CONNECT AND SHARE As we continue to expand our horizons and take on new projects, we are continually looking to expand our connections with families in need of housing. Visit www.habitatgw.ca/apply to learn more about family applications. We encourage you to apply or to share with someone in need of housing.

DONATE Our ReStores are the engines that keep Habitat for Humanity moving forward. Help divert waste from the landfill and help fund affordable housing by donating used building materials, furniture, appliances and household items.

habitatgw.ca

OMNIA PACKAGING INC.

Benvenuto (Welcome) new Guelph Chamber member:

Omnia Packaging Inc. Packaging that thinks outside of the box.

Q & A with Monica Viazzo, Business Development & Marketing - Omnia Packaging Inc. Photo credit: Mr Thomas Odonell

Last month we celebrated Omnia Packaging Inc.’s Grand Opening of their new state-of-the-art facility in Guelph. We sat down with Monica Viazzo, Business Development & Marketing to find out more about one of our newest members.

CONNECT

@omniapackagingca omniapackaging.ca

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Welcome to Guelph! We are delighted that you have selected Guelph as your home away from Rome! What made you choose Guelph as your location for your Canadian facility?

MV: Guelph is well-recognized in Ontario as one of the best cities to promote and implement the recyclability processes. Its location is strategic to distribute our products in Canada with easy access to the United States. We supply dairy producers/ co-packers and fresh produce growers with our finished packaging.

Locally speaking, how many job opportunities will you be creating because of your innovative new facility in Guelph?

MV: We are planning to employ 8 to 10 people by Q1 2024 and we will reach 50 people by the end of next year once the full automation of the plastic division is finalized.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

OMNIA PACKAGING INC.

Tell us a bit about your sustainable products this facility will be producing: Mustang by Omnia Packaging and Omnia Plastic by Omnia Packaging.

MV: Our Group (Sunino Group) has acquired the exclusivity for MUSTANG MACHINE to produce and distribute paper trays in Canada. Mustang machine thermoforms and heat seals paper trays so that they are glue-free. The colours we use for printing customers’ artwork are organic with no mineral oil derivates. Our paper trays are smooth inside, clean and sturdy, easily stackable, light for shipping, and food safe. They are completely recyclable, 100%!

Our Omnia Plastic line by Sunino brings to Canada half a century of expertise in injection plastic moulding production. In our new facility in Guelph, we will be producing plastic packaging for fresh dairy products and confectionary. All our tubs are in Polypropylene (PP) mono material with In Mold Labeling (IML) – a mono layer that make our tubs 100% recyclable. The polymer of PP we use, is the purest polymer and the easiest to be recycled.

The automation itself is cutting edge technology providing low energy consumption.

Please tell us about any sustainable features or green/clean-tech you have implemented in this state-of-the-art facility you have built in Guelph.

MV: Our water-cooling system, used for refrigerating machines and moulds, adds the Adiabatic* Dry Cooler to the water chiller.

This system cools the liquid by heat exchangers without direct contact between air and the liquid itself. It is the most efficient way to release heat. It saves water and it helps save energy when used in combination with chillers. * Adiabatic refers to a process in which no heat is transferred into or out of a system.

PAOLO SUNINO, CEO OF ITALIAN COMPANY GRUPPO SUNINO & GUELPH CHAMBER CEO SHAKIBA SHAYANI

What does it mean to you as a company to provide sustainable products?

MV: Sunino Group has always been committed to producing sustainable packaging and plastic product solutions. It is implementing this process throughout all production facilities Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

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OMNIA PACKAGING INC.

across three continents (Europe, Far East and now in North America).

serve Canada and the United States (with a focus on the East coast)

The Groups vision is to reduce carbon emissions, to produce only products that are 100% recyclable and aims to contribute to a greener tomorrow wherever they operate.

MUSTANG BY OMNIA PACKAGING has paper trays for fresh produce so we work with both conventional and greenhouse growers in Leamington Ontario, Niagara, Nova Scotia and British Columbia.

Please share a bit about your customer base.

Who are your customers? What size businesses do you serve and where are they located?

MV: Sunino Group is the third largest supplier of Ferrero (Ferrero Rocher) worldwide and we

Both Omnia Plastic and MUSTANG collaborate with both producers and private labels for retailers.

will be supporting this in Canada as well. We also supply to Lactalis cheese and yogurt (and many other brands under their umbrella). We are pitching to big corporations as well as smaller cheese producers and dairy co-packers. We

NAME

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Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

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CO-OPERATORS

RENDERING OF THE NEW FACILITY AT 101 COOPER DRIVE

Co-operators Q & A with Greg Elliott, CIP, Senior Advisor, Citizenship Photo credit: Building rendering provided by The Cooperators Group Ltd.

The Co-operators Group Limited have taken steps to align their longterm strategy and performance with critical issues and trends that are impacting the world today.

Greg Elliott CIP, Senior Advisor, Citizenship, talks us through their commitment to lower their carbon footprint, Impact Investments and how investing in sustainability just makes cents.

CONNECT

@co_operators www.cooperators.ca

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As an organization, Co-operators has embedded the concept of “sustainability” throughout organizational activities including investments, client relations, purchasing decisions etc.

What are some of the key benefits of making sustainability a core aspect of business operations?

Sustainability at Co-operators considers environmental, social and economic betterment, ensuring that we are building resiliency in all three areas for the long term. Since 2008, we’ve been on a journey to embed sustainability, as a philosophy, practice and guiding principle into our corporate strategy. In this way, we aim to integrate sustainability into everything we do, applied as a lens as we ask ourselves – how will this decision impact the sustainability of our members, clients, communities, environment and our business – today and in future generations?

The bottom line: sustainability is just good business. Our financial security, our collective resilience, depends on the health and well-being of our planet and the communities in which we Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

CO-OPERATORS

work and live. As we help Canadians anticipate and reduce risk, mitigate damage, and become more resilient, we are also ensuring our long-term financial strength and ability to meet our clients’ needs and maximize the benefits we create for our stakeholders. It’s a virtuous cycle of mutual benefit. This belief is at the heart of our vision to be a catalyst for a sustainable, resilient society.

our financial strength to support the long-term financial security of our clients and communities.

All our invested assets adopt a sustainable investing lens, which analyzes environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues of our portfolio and provides a deeper understanding of potential risks and opportunities of our investments.

Sustainability is a journey full of challenges and complexities, and while we’re proud of our progress, we have so much further to go.

Through our various roles as an insurer and

Can you tell me more about impact investing?

Have there been any Impact Investments in Guelph or the surrounding region which you could tell our readers about?

financial services organization, as an investor, as a business and fundamentally, as a co-operative, we can support our members, clients and communities towards a more sustainable future.

Our invested assets are one of the most significant levers we can use to catalyze climate action for a net-zero future, and so we are actively de-carbonizing our portfolio, setting interim targets along the way. By 2025, we will reduce the economic emission intensity of our investments by 25% from 2020 levels and 50% by 2030 (including public equities and publiclytraded bond portfolios). As mentioned, by no later than 2050, our entire investment portfolio will be net zero.

Impact investments are investments that both generate Last year, the market-rate financial returns projects we while also generating positive environmental or social impacts invested in generated that can be measured, tracked and reported. We’ve been over 86 recognized as a global leader in million MWh this space, with close to 25% of of renewable our total investment portfolio energy, or $2.69 billion in 2022 – invested in projects or initiatives that are enough to power 7.5 having a positive sustainability impact. Currently, 75% of our million homes impact investments are funding for one year. climate solutions – things like renewable energy projects, green bonds, or sustainable transportation. Last year, the projects we invested in generated over 86 million MWh of renewable energy, or enough to power 7.5 million homes for one year. By 2026, 50% of our total invested assets will be impact investments or those that support the transition to a sustainable, resilient, low-emissions society.

By 2030, we will increase this to 60%.

This investing philosophy is how we can use

We also leverage the assets of Co-operators

Co-operators is taking steps to reduce the organization’s carbon footprint and is moving towards its net-zero targets. Can you give our readers a sense of how sustainable investments work and can contribute to a low-carbon future?

We became carbon neutral in our operations as an organization in 2020 and have since set targets to achieve net zero in our operations (by 2040) and our investment portfolio (by 2050).

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

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CO-OPERATORS

Community Funds (CCF), our charitable entity, to invest for even greater positive impact in our communities, including Guelph and the surrounding area. In 2023, through CCF’s impact investing efforts, we were excited to invest in a new, social impact Community Bond offering through Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington, which will further expand support of affordable housing in Guelph and Wellington County.

Community Bonds are an investment tool for organizations or individuals looking to create social impact through an investment portfolio.

With the community impact investment from CCF, alongside a wide range of investments from individuals and organizations throughout the community, Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington’s first Bond offering has successfully raised $750,000 to secure the land for their upcoming builds.

Co-operators has said it is committed to equipping and supporting its clients and communities to build resilience to climate risk and extreme weather. Can you give our readers some details about how you’re doing this in local communities?

Climate change is a direct threat to the financial security of Canadians. As the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters increase in frequency and severity across Canada, we’re committed to increasing our focus on lossprevention and adaptation We know there is a need for better education so that Canadians understand their risks. In 2021, we funded a study in collaboration with University of Waterloo’s Partners for Action research group, which showed there is a lack of awareness related to flood exposure in high-risk 14

areas. According to the study 94% of 2,500 survey respondents did not know they were living in a designated flood prone area. To help increase Canadians’ flood risk awareness, we launched a personalized flood risk assessment tool, where anyone can enter their postal code to understand the risks they face and find out about available coverage at water.cooperators.ca.

We also work in close collaboration with groups like ICLEI Canada, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction to further climate adaptation and resilience in communities from coast to coast to coast, advocating all orders of government to co-create a ‘whole-of-society’ solution to build the infrastructure we need to ensure our communities can withstand the changing nature of climaterelated impacts.

It’s important to highlight that climate change does not affect all communities or groups of people equally. Vulnerable populations and people who have been marginalized are disproportionately impacted by these risks and events. We are working with Partners for Action (P4A) at the University of Waterloo in a threeyear, $500,000 partnership to reduce floodrisk vulnerability in our communities. Building on P4A’s census-based socio-economic vulnerability index, we’re exploring how to incorporate equity considerations into flood and disaster risk foresight, planning and management in Canada.

Co-operators is actively contributing to repurposing and the circular economy through waste generated by the insurance claims process.

Can you tell me about your sustainable insurance initiatives?

Construction and demolition waste is one of the largest contributors to municipal solid waste in Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

CO-OPERATORS

Canada, and 45% of global carbon emissions are generated through the manufacture of new products. As well, 98% of insurance waste goes to landfills in North America and the overwhelming majority of rebuilds use traditional, emissions-intensive materials.

To influence a more sustainable construction and demolition waste cycle, we contributed $350,000 in 2022 to launch the Zero Waste Economic Transformation Lab in partnership with the Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad (COIL) and the City of Guelph, Ontario.

The Lab identifies new markets for salvaged building materials and determines how and where they can be repurposed, keeping waste out of the landfill, and reducing the emissions and resources required to build new materials.

In 2022, we also launched two resilient and sustainable claims options for clients, to reduce the environmental impact of our claims processes. The first option is drying-in-place, where instead of ripping out wet drywall dampened by clean water, we bring in highpowered fans to begin the drying process. This prevents mould, drastically lessens disturbance and inconvenience to clients, reduces

Did you know the City can help your business save water and money?

Since 2018 the Water Smart Business program has provided over $80,000 in incentives to Guelph businesses investing in water-saving projects.

Don’t miss out!

environmental impact, and saves money. The second is soft contents cleaning, where instead of throwing away, clothing, and other soft material items, special cleaning equipment can be used to return the items to their original state — or better.

Co-operators helps enhance the local community through the organization’s Advisor Community Funds. Can you share any examples of donations to local community organizations and if there have been any in Guelph?

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

guelph.ca/watersmartbusiness

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CO-OPERATORS

Locally, from the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital, to Food4Kids, to the Childrens Foundation of Guelph Wellington, our local Advisors in Guelph-Eramosa have donated over $83,000 to a number of local initiatives. In addition to our Advisor donations, Co-operators supports several Guelph-based initiatives, including United Way, Habitat for Humanity, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital and the Special Olympics, contributing approximately $185,000 in 2023 to these initiatives and more.

Your corporate headquarters currently being built in Guelph has earned a Zero Carbon Building Design standard. Can you tell our readers about some of the building’s sustainable features and why other businesses should consider designing their buildings in this way?

Our new head office reached a major sustainability milestone when it achieved a Zero Carbon Design certification from the Canada Green Building Council, making it the first corporate headquarters in Canada to secure the designation. The building is also on track to receive LEED Gold and WELL Platinum certifications, further demonstrating our commitment to sustainability, and the health and wellness of our people.

A zero-carbon building is highly energy-efficient and offsets any remaining annual carbon emissions using clean renewable energy. The facility at 101 Cooper Drive will feature an all-electric design ensuring there will be no direct carbon emissions from any onsite source, eliminating the need for any future retrofits or decarbonization plans.

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Highlights of the zero-carbon design also include: • 40% greater energy and greenhouse gas savings beyond the Ontario Building Code’s all-electric baseline • 60% heating load reduction beyond the code-minimum for new office builds • 282 kW rooftop solar array will generate approximately 9% of the total annual building energy consumption • Automatic tinting windows will eliminate glare and reduce energy consumption • Highly insulated and airtight building will conserve energy • High-efficient water-source technology will recover and redistribute heat throughout the building • High-efficiency dual-core Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) equipped with CO2 sensors for demand control ventilation • LED lighting equipped with occupancy and daylight harvesting sensors only turn on when needed.

This building is a compelling demonstration of imagination and innovation that will be required as we build for a more sustainable future in Canada. We have an important role to play in mitigating the risks of climate change in a direct and meaningful way, helping move Canada and the world towards a net zero emissions future.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

VALENTINI’S HAIR DESIGN

A Cut Above

Q & A with Julio Rodriguez & Derrick Rutherford Photo credit: Valentini’s Hair Design & Spa

Julio Rodriguez and Derrick Rutherford of Valentini’s Hair Design, champion a healthy planet for now and future generations. All while keeping us, and our planet beautiful.

Tell us a little about Valentini’s Hair Design and why it was important for your Salon to implement sustainable initiatives?

The environment and this planet which is ever changing so rapidly is very important to us.

Anything we can do to help shrink our carbon footprint to help in the cause we will do. Being leaders in our industry we love spreading the message to other salons to join the initiative to be more eco-conscious.

Can you share with our members what becomes of some of the salon waste since partnering with Green Circle Solutions?

CONNECT

@valentinihairdesign valentinis.ca Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

Since partnering with Green Circle Solutions, the salon beauty waste is converted for use within several sustainable programs and initiatives.

Excess hair is used in the creation of composite bins and combs, as well as mats and netting for clean up of oil spills. Metals are sorted by grade and type, then cleaned and combined with other metals to produce new sustainable materials and equipment. The hair colour goes through a 17

VALENTINI’S HAIR DESIGN

process in which the oil and water components are separated, then the remaining liquid portion of the waste is put through a closed-loop incineration process where they are converted into clean energy which is injected into the power grid to power homes and businesses. The separated water components are cleaned and re-used as greywater and the oil components can be broken down and blended into fuel. Paper products are broken down into pulp and are used to make new paper products and cellulose insulation. Plastics are cleaned, broken down into smaller pieces and remade into new plastic products such as shampoo bottles.

How long has Valentini’s been a Certified Sustainable Salon?

Valentini’s has been with Green Circle for 11 years.

What are some other ways your Salon practices sustainability?

We use and retail eco-friendly and cruelty free products like Kevin Murphy, Biolage, Matrix, and Swartzkoph. We also use LED lighting and we use eco head faucets installed in our wash basins.

We had a special dual water softener system installed for the water use and osmosis system for drinking. We serve all our hot drinks in recycled paper products and cold drinks in biodegradable cups. We also use reusable thermal strips for high-lighting hair called Luminat Kwikway (up to three times). These strips are made of 80% recycled material.

What advice would you give to other salons or businesses that are looking to implement Sustainable practices?

Our advice would be that we only have one earth and we have to take every initiative that we can to keep our home clean and safe. Switching to sustainable recycling and waste programs like Green Circle Solutions is easy and the impact it has on the longevity of our environment is so much greater than the effort it requires. Don’t hesitate to take the leap in the direction of sustainability and use every opportunity to be a champion for positive change.

Make a difference by choosing to book an appointment with a Certified Sustainable Salon today. Valentini’s is conveniently located in beautiful downtown Guelph at 259 Woolwich St.

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Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

VALENTINI’S HAIR DESIGN

Valentini’s has proudly partnered with Green Circle Salons to manage their waste with sustainability in mind. Here’s a breakdown of how much Valentini’s saves from landfills and waterways every YEAR and what is done with the waste.

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• Composted with other organic waste.

lbs of Hair

• Turned into bio-composite plastic to make new products • Used to research and develop new environmental technology • Made into products to be used for Humanitarian efforts

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lbs of Hair Colour

149

lbs of Metals

• Sorted by grade and type

lbs of Single Use Items

• Used in a waste-to-energy process to create clean renewable energv

18 147 61

• Turned into clean energy • Be separated into water and oil • The water is cleaned and returned into the water system • The oil is blended into fuel!

lbs of Plastics lbs of Paper

• Melted down into aluminum sheets or bars (called ingots) • Used to make new products like car parts and bicvcles!

• The left over ash can be used as a filler in asphalt!

• Sorted by type and cleaned • Ground into small pieces • Used to make new products like shampoo bottles!

• Sorted by grade • Broken down into paper pulp • Used to make new paper products or cellulose insulation

492

A total of lbs of waste has been saved from landfills and waterways so far this year.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

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SKYLINE GROUP OF COMPANIES

SKYLINERS PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY CLEAN-UPS IN SUPPORT OF EARTH DAY

Skyline Group of

Companies PROVING SUSTAINABILITY IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS By: Ellyn Lusis Photo credit: Skyline Group of Companies

CONNECT

@skylinegroupofcompanies skylinegroupofcompanies.ca

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“Sustainability is a must-have in any forwardthinking organization. It denotes a company’s ability to see the bigger, long-term picture and take action on its responsibilities as part of that picture.”

These words from R. Jason Ashdown, CoFounder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Skyline Group of Companies, illustrate the strength of Skyline’s commitment to community building, environmental stewardship, and ethical governance.

Founded and headquartered in Guelph, Skyline is originally rooted in real estate ownership and management (although it’s also been making waves in Canada’s clean energy sector since 2018). It adopted the phrase “Recognizing our Responsibility” to denote its duty to effect positive change for its stakeholders and the greater community.

To Skyline, sustainability is where policy meets practice - a results-driven effort that sets a precedent for the expectations of the organization and its stakeholders.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

SKYLINE GROUP OF COMPANIES

By employing sustainable innovations, practices, and initiatives throughout the company, Skyline can create efficiencies that generally flow through to increased value for investors. Over the years, it has found that the efficiencies and cost savings derived from improvements to properties often provide a return as good as or better than purchasing another building—with those efficiencies often providing an environmental benefit as well.

aligning with eight SDGs, and the company’s sustainability goals for 2023 were based on these commitments.

Ashdown emphasized that sustainability should be viewed as an investment that provides multiple benefits.

“For Skyline, it has helped drive profits, attract the best staff, create alignment with lenders and business partners, and provide investors with opportunities to put their money to work.”

“Those benefits extend not only to the company, but also its customers, as well as the greater community and environment: a win-win-win situation,” he said.

Setting up for sustainability success Skyline has always believed that sustainability must involve buy-in from all its Sustainability Partners—staff, tenants, suppliers, investors, and communities—as well as putting the right infrastructure in place. It created a dedicated Sustainability department headed by Ashdown, as well as a Sustainability Taskforce to ensure that all parts of Skyline are equally heard, engaged, and committed to sustainability. These groups collaborate to strengthen Skyline’s businesses and long-term strategy.

In 2022, the Taskforce undertook a workshop facilitated by SDG Cities to determine which of the 17 UN SDGs Skyline best aligned with (the SDGs, or Sustainable Development Goals, were developed by the United Nations to provide a globally aligned blueprint for sustainable development). The workshop resulted in Skyline Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

Skyline also releases an annual Sustainability Report, setting its standards and benchmarks for sustainability with new initiatives and goals. The report is shared with all partners.

“A strong sustainability plan will set a business apart,” said Ashdown.

Sustainability as a worthy investment Businesses must be agile, adaptable, and openminded to change, when that change is good for the business, its customers, its investors, and its communities.

Wherever possible, Skyline chooses to invest in technologies and processes that not only drive value for its investors, but also benefit its tenants, staff, the environment, or the greater community.

For example, it invested in an ISO-14001-aligned Environmental Management System (EMS) and software that tracks Skyline’s portfoliowide consumption data to develop carbon, energy, water, and waste reduction targets and strategies. This investment not only creates efficiencies resulting in greater investor value, but also clear environmental benefits and an initiative Skyline’s tenants and staff can feel good about.

Additionally, earlier this year, Skyline submitted its first Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) application - the product of a cohesive effort to inventory its ESG-related policies, 21

SKYLINE GROUP OF COMPANIES

SKYLINE DIGGING IN AND BUILDING COMMUNITIES

processes, and operations.

“GRESB will score us by a globally recognized benchmark,” said Ashdown.

“Understanding how we measure up will undoubtedly drive our efforts to find efficiencies and better processes to stay on top of our game.”

Leveraging a spectrum of resources While financial support and donation is fundamentally important, businesses can get creative when it comes to the type of resources they can leverage to effect positive change. This includes utilizing in-house services, expertise, time, partnerships, and influence to have the greatest possible impact.

“Employers have so much to offer through the many diverse areas of expertise within their organizations,” said Ashdown.

“Non-profit and community organizations often greatly need specialized experience like accounting, HR, legal, marketing, IT - even business planning. We encourage our people to roll up their sleeves, get involved, and find ways to help the 22

organizations that make our communities better and stronger.”

Sustainability is good for the community – and good for business When a company contributes to building a resilient community, it is helping to contribute to prosperity, a healthy workforce, a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and reduced demand on social services. Skyline aims to lead by example and set the benchmark for companies to take action and prioritize sustainability in lockstep with profitability —because doing good is simply good for business.

“The results are proven, and the movement of acting responsibly will only continue to gain momentum,” said Ashdown.

“Sustainability is a must-have to be at the front of the pack in any industry. People are watching, and people care.”

To learn more about Skyline’s sustainability initiatives and to find out how it is driving positive change, read its 2023 Sustainability Report.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUP

THIS PAST JUNE, THE GUELPH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NAMED COURT DESAUTELS OUR FIRST EVER RECIPIENT OF THE FRANK HASENFRATZ AWARD OF EXCELLENCE. THE AWARD CELEBRATES AN ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL WHO EMBODIES BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

Court Desautels has a lot on his plate.

Ahead by a Century By: Ellyn Lusis Photo credit: The Neighbourhood Group

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

Court is President and CEO of The Neighbourhood Group of Companies, a company of restaurants including The Wooly, Borealis, Miijidaa and Park Eatery, all of which have garnered the favour of Guelphites over the years with delicious food and great service. Yet it’s the things you don’t see that are making the biggest difference in the day-to-day operations.

An environmentally focused passion for the local, paired with a belief in ethical business practices, makes the Neighbourhood Group an industry leader.

A conversation with Court Desautels about this approach to business highlights how these values are quite *literally* packed into every bite of food, every glass, every plate, and every uniform. There is nothing that hasn’t been audited and 23

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUP

reaudited from a sustainable perspective.

made into tables for the Borealis concept.”

In fact, The Neighbourhood Group has been a sustainability pioneer among the restaurant industry, and setting precedents long before this concept was ‘trending’.

This focus on local economies also includes the beer, wine and other alcohol purchased for Neighbourhood Group restaurants. In addition to buying beer from Ontario craft and small batch breweries, the Neighbourhood Group also invests in Ontario wineries based on the business philosophy that the more money that goes into these vineyards, the better the wine becomes. “We’re never going to make a Cabernet Sauvignon that rivals one from California with our Ontario climate. But we’re great at making Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Rieslings”. Once again, the concept is straightforward. Invest in the local economy and producers, consumers and the environment can all benefit.

Ahead of his time, Court’s father has always had the mindset of sustainability - from river restoration to repurposing the second schoolhouse built in the Waterloo Region in 1889. It was in the 90’s, while most were sipping cosmopolitan’s, the Neighbourhood Group started to get local - hyper local- in their thinking. They began thinking about the impact we have on our local environment, the importance of supporting local producers, and the value of helping restore environmental ecosystems where possible.

The Neighbourhood Group had a chance to put this theory into practice with the opening of Borealis in 2008. According to Court, “The Boreal concept was us trying to define what does local actually mean? It must go beyond food and drinks.” The idea began with what foods were available locally and seasonally in Ontario.

Then began the audits; where they bought their plates, cutlery, where their uniforms were made, which wines and vineyards they purchased from and so much more. But that only scratched the surface for them. “We really went down a big rabbit hole in trying to track everything as much as possible to being sourced within Ontario, Canada, or at least North America”. From the napkin you wipe your mouth with, to the table you are seated – every detail was considered.

“We had a Black Walnut Tree at The Wooly that we had to cut down and had it all planed in the parking lot. We stored all the wood for about two years in our attic so it could cure which we then 24

The Neighbourhood Group’s commitment to supporting local economies and sustainable food producers is also reflected in their FeastOn certification (a program managed by the Culinary Tourism Alliance that supports Ontariogrown food and drink sourcing requiring 25% of the products purchased within Ontario) and Ocean-Wise Certification (ocean wise accredited restaurants need to have 75% of the fish from Sustainable sources). The Neighbourhood Group purchases around 80% of its food locally in Ontario, and 100% of their fish is from sustainable sources.

With a passion for local food and a watchful eye on food waste, it makes sense that the first-ever off-farm full circular meal was spearheaded by the Provision Coalition and coordinated by The Neighbourhood Group. In collaboration with Smart Cities and the Provision Coalition; this innovative project revolved around the conscientious use of food by-products. It began when spent grain from Wellington Brewery Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUP

THE FIRST-EVER OFF-FARM FULL CIRCULAR MEAL WAS SPEARHEADED

BY THE PROVISION COALITION AND COORDINATED BY THE NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUP.

was repurposed as feed for insects at Oreka Solutions. These insects were fed to locally raised trout at Izumi Aquaculture. The waste produced by the trout was sent to Smoyd Potato Farms to serve as a natural fertilizer.

Simultaneously, the same spent brewery grain found a second life in the hands of a skilled baker (Grain Revolution Bakery in Miijidaa) who transformed it into delicious sourdough bread. The synergy of bread, fish, potatoes, and beer culminated in the creation of a full circular meal that was proudly served at three of the Neighbourhood Group’s restaurants (The Wooly, Miijidaa and Park Eatery) in Guelph and Wellington County. This initiative not only satisfied appetites but also raised awareness of the concept of circularity and resource optimization in the agriculture and food industries.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue

While the Neighbourhood Group’s environmentally focused approach to local makes them unique, their ethical business practices sets them apart from most of their competitors in the restaurant industry. 2011 was a milestone year for how the group runs their businesses with two key events taking place.

First, they opened the Borealis in Kitchener thereby expanding their concept of a hyper local restaurant. Second, during a management retreat the Neighbourhood Group team became inspired by the book - Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, by Yvon Chouinard. This would forever change the business practices for The Neighbourhood Group because in that book they first learned about B- corporations. When Court went through the application process on behalf of the Neighbourhood Group in 2011 he realized that 25

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUP

become carbon neutral in terms of energy output.

“WE WERE DOING THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I FELT THAT WE WEREN’T DOING ENOUGH FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.”

It should be noted that the Neighbourhood Group is widely regarded as one of the most socially-minded, community-driven and reconciliation-focused leaders in business.

The group has raised over 250k for the local riverways like the Grand and Speed Rivers and raised over $500,000 for local non-profits like Guelph Chamber members: Anishnabeg Outreach, Kidsability, Food4Kids and Women In Crisis.

again - they had just scratched the surface. “We were doing a lot for the environment. We were doing things for our community, but I felt that we weren’t doing enough for our employees.” The Neighbourhood Group started by introducing a living wage and health benefits for their staff and remain one of the few restaurant groups to do so. “My argument was, if we attract better people, it makes our operations even better, which will make us more profitable.” However, not all the investors were on board, which led to them buying out some investors in 2015. They officially became a certified B-Corporation in 2016.

When asked what’s next for the Neighbourhood Group? Court says ‘it’s back to basics’ for the Part of a B-Corporation certification relies on company. They’re education focused for right an organization’s environmental impacts. Over the years the Neighbourhood Group has heavily now and trying to get back to ‘why we built it this invested in solar and wind energy, to lighten their way and what we’re doing’. They don’t want the ideology behind why they started the business to carbon footprint. Today all their electricity and get lost or diluted. “How do we concentrate the gas are Bullfrog powered in the locations they values into the people that are in the company own. In the case of a restaurant being a part of before we can expand and start building the larger location– plaza or otherwise (where they had less control); they began purchasing carbon next restaurant where we might be?” No doubt whatever is next for the Neighbourhood Group offsets. They consulted with Guelph Chamber will be ahead of the others (by a century), good member Shared Values Solutions to work with for everyone, and it tastes – delicious. an Indigenous carbon offsetting company to 26

Guelph Chamber of Commerce Magazine - Sustainability issue