Since 2012, Metro Vancouver has convened the Zero Waste Conference, an inspiring event that unites passionate circular economy leaders from around the globe, empowering cross-sectoral connections, collaborations, and solutions. 

The Zero Waste Conference returns this November. Exploring the theme, “Innovation and the Business Case for Waste Prevention,” the event offers an engaging program and carefully curated platform for showcasing and discussing innovation in waste prevention and actionable steps toward a zero-waste future in Canada and beyond.

Sparx has attended the Zero Waste Conference for years, and for this upcoming edition, we’re proud to share its story and to be partners of the 2025 iteration of the event.

Back in 2023, we had the pleasure of speaking with Joanne Gauci, Senior Policy Advisor of Zero Waste Collaboration Initiatives at Metro Vancouver, for Make The World Better Magazine, and we’re thrilled to share our recent interview with her, where she shares insights into the Zero Waste Conference, including an inside look at what’s new this year.

For those who may not be familiar, what is the main mission of the Zero Waste Conference, and how did it get started?

We’ve been hosting the conference since 2012, and I think it’s played a really unique role in terms of being at the forefront of Canada’s discussion around waste prevention in the circular economy. It is a key deliverable of [Metro Vancouver]’s solid waste management plan, dating back to 2011. 

At that time, when we were updating the solid waste management plan, we realized that we were doing a good job at effectively managing waste, but we weren’t going to stem the flow of waste unless we worked upstream with businesses, governments, and other sectors of society to design waste out of the system.

So that’s the origin story, not just for the conference, but also for the National Zero Waste Council—and those are intended to be very complementary platforms where we try to advance new solutions around this particular focus area.

We’re trying to provide the space to support action and collaboration, and bring together new, bold thinking and innovative solutions, all with that focus on designing waste out of the system.

What motivates your team to organize the event, and how do you work together to make it a success?

We love working on the Zero Waste Conference! We’re always inspired by the speakers that come, the participants in the room, and the diverse perspectives and bold ideas that are presented. Many people have been with us from the very start, and it’s lovely to see and hear the connections that happen.

We get very excited to curate this program, with the support of an amazing multimedia team, and we work really closely with our partners, elected officials, and others across the organization to do that.

The collaboration with the National Zero Waste Council means that we also get to pull in different partners across the country—ensuring that we are focusing on topics that are regionally but also nationally relevant.

What key themes or topics will be addressed at this year’s conference?

This year, it’s all about innovation and the business case for waste prevention. There’s momentum building, but we’re working in a rapidly changing landscape. Costs and affordability are more of a consideration, and we want to better understand how businesses and entrepreneurs can scale these solutions and create that industry-wide, society-wide change at the level that we need. You’ll see some sessions in the conference that speak directly to this theme, but we expect it to come up throughout the day. We need these solutions to make environmental sense, but we also need them to make economic sense over the long term.

[Our closing keynote] will challenge us all to look up and out to the next horizon and reimagine what is possible through the lens of regenerative design. It will bring together two global thought leaders—a product designer and an architect—to help us consider how the convergence of new technologies, circular design, and science can influence the future of our products and buildings. We hope this final conversation will leave our audience hopeful about what’s truly possible, despite some of the challenges we face today. 

We will [also] have an innovator showcase in the morning. People love to hear the journeys of people who are trying to disrupt the marketplace and present new solutions into the marketplace. Here in Vancouver, we have so many great circular economy success stories for businesses, and it’s always great to see them come back and to understand how they’ve scaled or taken that next step.

How do you select speakers, panellists, and sessions to ensure a diverse and impactful program?

Every year, we try to shine a spotlight on new people who haven’t been featured before. And we work really closely with our elected officials, governments, and organizations across the country—that’s a large part of the collaboration with the National Zero Waste Council. 

We make sure that we choose topics that respond to regional priorities, but we also work closely with others nationally to ensure the discussions are also very reflective and timely in terms of the current economy, and build on other conversations that are going on. 

From your perspective, what makes the Zero Waste Conference unique compared to other sustainability events?

We’re trying to focus on those solutions and new ideas that will help us to design waste out of the system, and the cross-sector collaboration that is needed to achieve this. We have public, private, and not-for-profit leaders from Metro Vancouver and all across the country coming to the event. 

We try to balance local, national, and international success stories [as well]. We want to make sure that we’re shining a light on the innovations in this region, but that we’re also bringing great new ideas home to Metro Vancouver. This work is still very emergent, and that cross-pollination helps us to understand what new innovations and tangible solutions can be scaled and replicated here and across Canada.

We want to demonstrate the art of the possible and be that place where you come to be inspired. We also want you to leave with new connections and practical solutions that will help you when you go back to work the next day.

What are some of the biggest zero-waste or circular economy challenges you see right now in BC?

For us, the lens is always the need for greater collaboration and dialogue for those upstream solutions and the focus on waste prevention.

Not surprisingly, single-use items and the transition to reusables are a really big conversation. We’re going to have a session on hospitality and entertainment, which is a great connection point. Food and the built environment are two areas where there is significant opportunity to prevent waste—and these are both topics at the conference.

The other thing we’re hearing a lot is the challenge of making the business case for change. We are 10 plus years into doing this event and advancing this work through the National Zero Waste Council, and we still find that people are having a hard time making the case internally for change. So, how do we articulate what the economic case is for some of these new solutions? How do we bring them to life and demonstrate what these potential solution pathways are, particularly in our current climate, when we have affordability issues?

These are all big challenges, and no one sector, business, or government can tackle this alone.

How does the conference aim to address or spark solutions to these challenges?

In broad terms, we really just want to create the space to nurture those collaborations and those connections across sectors and inspire people to think about some of their challenges differently. It can be very hard work when we’re deep in the trenches, and sometimes you need to come up and look at things with a fresh perspective, and we hope that you get some of that inspiration at the Zero Waste Conference.

Can you share any standout moments or success stories from past conferences?

A very memorable year was when we brought Ellen MacArthur in as the opening keynote. That was in 2013, so it was very early on in her journey, and it was very early on in our journey. I think it speaks to how long we’ve been trying to make this connection to the circular economy as a solutions framework, and also the need for the waste prevention lens to be front and centre. 

Having all of those stakeholders in the room has meant that a lot of those ideas that are generated [at the conference] have been implemented through collaborations, and the National Zero Waste Council has helped to catalyze many of these new connections.

We [also] love hearing from participants in terms of how they have been able to make connections and see new collaborations and actions grow.

What do you hope attendees will take away from this year’s event, and how can they get involved in its mission?

We really want people to leave inspired. We want people to leave feeling empowered to go back to their regular jobs and make some of the changes they feel they can make. And we want them to make those connections that can lead to new actions and new collaborations. We want people to go away feeling like they’ve been able to think about things differently and [to] know that they’re not on their own, that we’re all trying to push this big ball uphill as we think about how to prevent waste and advance circularity.

From Bold Ideas to a Better World: A Review of the 2025 Victoria Forum

Just over 10 years ago, on September 25, 2015, representatives from all 193 member countries gathered at the UN in New York to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with a promise to fix everything from climate change to gender inequality by 2030. 

With just five years left, most countries, including Canada, are falling short of meeting their Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. As the 2025 UN report on the SDGs put it – “progress has been fragile and unequal.” 

While there is clearly lots of work still to be done to achieve the targets set a decade ago, the recent 2025 edition of the Victoria Forum highlighted how much is being done and centred around what can be done, from individuals to businesses to governments, to bend the trajectory towards a better world for all. 

A Quick Background on the Victoria Forum

Founded in 2017 as a joint production between the University of Victoria and the Senate of Canada, the Victoria Forum is genuinely unique among gatherings in Canada. As of 2024, this forum is now an annual event, taking place in late August at the beautiful University of Victoria campus. 

Aside from being a confluence of changemakers working at all levels of government, the economy and civil society, it also offers a rare opportunity to connect and exchange ideas directly with members of the Senate of Canada. It’s safe to say that the Victoria Forum is probably the among most important crucibles of positive impact to be found in Canada. 

As a marketing agency whose purpose is to accelerate awareness and adoption of things that are better for the world, sending Sparx team members Hamish Khamisa and Alexandra Nikitina back to the Victoria Forum this past August again was a no-brainer. 

This was Sparx’s second consecutive year attending the Victoria Forum. Last year, where we were also a program partner, the theme was “Building Trust for a Shared Future” and featured Dr. Victoria Hurth as a keynote speaker. It is also where we showcased Issue 7, the Wellbeing Economy Issue of Make The World Better Magazine. 

The focus of the 2025 Victoria Forum was ‘Towards a Better Future: Shifting the Trajectory’ and centered around the challenges and opportunities in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by exploring three key interconnected themes of building a regenerative economy, equity and social justice, and peace and democracy. 

The forum managed to compress 50 different sessions featuring over 200 different speakers, into (just) two and a half days. There was more on the agenda than we would possibly have time to attend, and with close to 700 registrants composed of systems change advocates, influencers and leaders from Indigenous communities, government, civil society, academia and the private sector, there were more people we would have loved to connect with that we simply couldn’t get to. 

The format of this forum was also very similar to last year. There was a mix of mainstage programming in the mornings followed by breakout sessions in the afternoons, all of which took place at the beautiful University of Victoria campus. Having done it all once before a year earlier, we were well-practiced when zig zagging between sessions, knowing where to find great seats, and, helpfully, how best to beeline to the food. The evening reception was held once again at the Victoria Museum where we had the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees in a more casual setting as well as meet up with old friends. 

Victoria Forum: A Bold Idea Buffet

In terms of content, the Victoria Forum is a bold idea buffet. 

Headline topics included planetary health and Canada’s role; transitioning Canada to a zero carbon economy; democracy’s digital future; confronting the meta-crises and moving from talk to action on systems change to name but a few. Our strong recommendation is to check out the Victoria Forum’s YouTube channel for recorded sessions from the mainstage for some of the keynote talks. 

Of course, summarizing all of the fascinating conversations and takeaways from all of the presentations would be nearly impossible, even if we limited it to what we attended or found interesting. 

Instead, we’ve taken a slightly different approach by providing three interesting throughlines or arcs that we think could characterize the experience. Additionally, we’ve included some purpose-driven marketing perspectives to understand how we see this year’s Victoria Forum shaping the work we do.   

Arc 1: Progress as a Catalyst for More Progress

Despite there being a rich selection of new topics this year, it was truly remarkable to see how much progress has been achieved on the topics we learned about last year. One story in particular that stood out was the advancement of planetary health and the growing number of opportunities for positive impact well beyond the healthcare system. Seeing the shift in momentum, and rapid evolution of tactical approach over the span of one year is something, as the marketers in the room, we took note of. 

A specific example of the planetary health multisolve opportunity was the campaign for  eliminating desflurane, an anesthetic gas that is approximately 2,500 times more potent in terms of greenhouse gas potential than carbon dioxide.

Thanks to extensive and sustained effort by the Canadian Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), Planetary Health Organizations for Wellbeing, Equity & Regeneration (POWER) and many others, the campaign to remove desflurane has resulted in 100 hospitals across Canada phasing it out or removing it completely from use. 

The progress of getting 100 hospitals on board is a great headline, but with somewhere in the order of 1,100 hospitals and health care facilities in Canada, there is still considerable work to be done. The biggest takeaway, however, is that progress is possible. There is now a clear link between procurement decisions, health systems impact and planetary health all moving in the same direction. The cure shouldn’t be more harmful than the disease.

A second interesting angle on moving away from desflurane (and waste reduction thinking in healthcare more generally) is the cost saving.

It’s worth noting that as well as being far more polluting than than its alternatives, desflurane is about 4.4x more expensive than sevoflurane per bottle and about 15x  more expensive for equivalent anesthetic effect when looking at the cost per hour. Similarly, we learned through discussions on planetary health, that between 85% and 99% of purchased nitrous oxide is estimated to be (and shockingly) lost through piping leaks in Canadian hospitals before it makes it to clinical use. 

Waste, almost by definition, is unnecessarily expensive. However waste or unnecessary use of greenhouse gases, at this point, not only seems irresponsible, but frankly unconscionable, especially against the backdrop of cost pressures faced by the Canadian healthcare system and through the lens of planetary health. 

The compound gains for the healthcare system both in terms of emissions reductions and cost savings make moving away from desflurane or piped-in nitrous oxide as close to a no-brainer for positive impact as possible. Bonus points for being better for the planet (which in turn, has better downstream health outcomes).

Role of Marketing in Advancing the Planetary Health Agenda

Given the cost difference and impact profile of desflurane, it raises a few questions as to why it is in such widespread use to begin with? 

Desflurane rose to clinical prominence in the early 1990s because of perceived speed advantages and illustrates that once a practice is adopted within a healthcare system (especially one that values quick turnaround), changing things that seem beneficial in the short term but are harmful to long-term wellbeing for all can take many (many) more years than it seems like it should. 

One of the culprits for its rise, in some narratives, being pointed out is “marketing” – which is interesting as a conceptual exercise because, if it is true that marketing is responsible for persuading an industry to adopt this particular solution, then it is also true that “marketing” can do the opposite. Marketing is not unidirectional in its importance. 

As a purpose-driven marketing agency, it underscores the necessity of educating those who work in marketing – perhaps one step upstream of procurement or product development – to understand the consequences of the products they help to scale into the market.

Procurement’s role goes beyond just healthcare, however. HP Canada’s Head of Sustainable Impact, Frances Edmonds, in the day two opening plenary panel on SDG progress, took the position that better procurement can be a very strategic lever to advancing positive impact at scale, in particular on SDG 12 for responsible consumption and production. 

Certainly HP Canada’s story of sustainability progress – and bold (but, as we were told, legally defensible stance) proclamation as Canada’s most sustainable tech company, reflectsthe work that would have had to be done to support that claim. As a recognizable figure in the technology landscape, this particular story of progress will hopefully light the way for other adjacent firms to see what’s possible. 

Fortunately, changes in how purchase decisions are made, as we often point out, don’t have to be big. 

Case in point, this year the Victoria Forum switched their transportation provider to the Community Action Bus. The coach bus last year was functional and typical. This year, however, it was (more) fun, memorable and better for the local community. The result of putting procurement alongside purpose and getting people where they needed to get to was a much more memorable and engaging experience – and doing so on used french-fry grease felt like a bio-diesel bonus.

Arc 2: Co-Creation as a Hidden Force for Positive Change

Another key element to the Victoria Forum which maybe didn’t get as much attention is the presence and power of co-creation. 

Almost from the outset, co-creation surfaced at this year’s forum during the opening day session which was held in the beautiful Songhees Wellness Centre of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. Hip hop artist Zoe Slusar aka ZHE the FREE infused music and freestyle into a room filled with people that didn’t quite match that music’s typical youthful demographic, and that seemed to be precisely the point. 

Though she typically works with marginalized youth through freestyle and cypher – a powerful application of the concept of being in circle and embracing different ideas and forms – bringing freestyle hip hop to the forum opening offered an energetic activation of the Victoria Forum crowd and drove home the point that different approaches to engagement can invite in an emotional connection to the task of building a better world. Too often working against ‘doom and gloom’ narratives is taxing at best, so injecting positive energy and music (and, dare we say fun?) into the work was a welcomed shift.

Co-creation also took centre stage at the day three opening keynote panel on digital democracy. This session featured a mixture of pre-recorded message, livestream video attendance, on stage panelists and a real-time technology-driven exercise in stakeholder engagement through the Ethelo software platform. 

While the session itself was a great reflection of co-creation in action, some of the campaigns highlighted by one of the panelists, André Côté, Director, Policy and Research, and Head, Secure and Responsible Tech Policy program at Toronto Metropolitan University, pointed to the role that marketing will undoubtedly play to advance participation in democracy via activation in the workplace and driving healthier lives through improvements in managing screen time, particularly among youth. 

Arc 3: Leadership – Spoken and Shown

From Indigenous elders and leaders to former Canadian Prime Ministers to CEOs and senior executives from impact driven organizations to changemakers of all stripes, another remarkable aspect of the Victoria Forum was the critical mass of wisdom and impactful leadership in attendance.

Certainly on stage and in panel discussions, it was in plain view. However, as is often the case, it was the smaller moments of leadership we noticed that spoke loudest to us. 

From senators running mics for Q&As to CEOs teaming up to tackle ventilation issues in unusually hot classrooms to making spaces for voices that don’t often get the chance to speak first, the countless examples of small acts of support reflected the character that so often defines leadership. Seeing leadership surface in these tiny, unscripted actions, gives us hope that our fellow attendees will ultimately be out in the world combining and compounding small actions to shift the trajectory toward a better world. Progress, not perfection, is the way forward. 

It is also important to note the critical role of wisdom in the room. From Indigenous and non-Indigenous elders as well as from the voices of youth that were intentionally incorporated into the agenda, the rich tapestry of lived experiences, offered participants of the Forum opportunities to reflect on the common threads that challenge and inspire leaders. And, if there was a common thread in many of their stories, it was simply this: seeing a need and simply going about trying to address it. 

One session, as a purpose-driven marketing agency, that we were keen to attend was the session on building the purpose economy. This was the second consecutive year in which building the purpose economy was on the agenda and there were many familiar faces in the audience. 

This year’s panel was moderated by Spring co-founder Keith Ippel, and featured Coro Strandberg, co-founder of the Canadian Purpose Economy Project, Bianca Freedman CEO of Edelman Canada and Janet Austin, former Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. 

The panel explored stories of businesses taking a leadership role in advancing a better way of doing business and doing so in a way that doesn’t sacrifice financial sustainability. Janet Austin’s experiences leading the YWCA Vancouver as CEO, for example, offered some truly fascinating windows into the decisions that purpose-driven organizations are better able to navigate as well as the resulting outcomes.

Another series of interesting points on the state of the efforts to grow the purpose-driven economy came from Coro Strandberg. Specifically, she cited the recently published TSX60 Social Purpose Report Card, prepared by the Canadian Purpose Economy Project, that reviewed some of the largest, publicly-traded companies in Canada, in particular those on the TSX60, to assess the degree to which they have any form of social purpose in their corporate communications or governance. 

Encouragingly, 24 out of the 60, or 40%, of those organizations reviewed had what could be considered to be a social purpose, and further, of the 24 who were deemed to have a social purpose, nine have social purpose integrated in some way into the governance at the board level. 

The takeaway here is that social purpose, whether or not it is explicitly labelled as such, is making its way into business of all sizes across the country. Over 300 business and civil society leaders have signed the Call to Purpose as a signal of their support for a world in which business can be a force for positive change, and hopefully the leadership shown by companies willing to pursue or integrate social purpose into a public-facing position, serves as a catalyst to peers and adjacent organizations and boards to consider following suit. 

Role of Marketing in Advancing Social Purpose

The task of leading a change in the system requires a certain comfort with building public view. Because “purpose businesses” have not been well-established, there is a perception of risk – and that is precisely the point. By challenging the existing way of operating, the system that seeks to keep things the way they are (i.e. business as usual) would push back with a narrative of “this might not work.”

From a purpose-driven marketing viewpoint, it is encouraging to see larger companies publicly positioning themselves to work for a better world. Like claims related to sustainability, however, the true measure of how purpose surfaces in a company will be measured in actions as well as words. 

Purpose isn’t something you opt into and out of based on convenience. Rather, it adds clarity as to who would be a good fit for the company (and who would not). Ultimately, other companies, clients, employees and the rest of society, will be paying attention to actions over time, not single events or intermittent activities. 

Marketing, therefore, will be central to creating cohesive narratives of how purpose, specifically, enables the organization to unlock and create additional value. What a great story that would be for the future generations of shareholders to get as part of the quarterly and annual reporting. 

Parting Thoughts

With so much at stake, it’s tempting to view the shortening runway to 2030 in a pessimistic light. After all, “missing” the goals and targets doesn’t seem like a win. We have a different point of view, however. 

While there is still much work to be done domestically and internationally to achieve meaningful progress on the SDGs, we cannot discount what has been accomplished to date. As we know, progress is not always linear and based on the imagination, efforts, achievements and momentum of the purpose-driven leaders at this year’s Victoria Forum, there are considerable forces at work looking to shift the trajectory in the right direction.

As marketers, one of the core principle questions to ask in relation to the SDGs is how we can create the conditions for that better world to come to be?

Certainly, creating spaces like the Victoria Forum can help. Convening purpose-driven leaders who can provide progress updates and insights on work that matters is regenerative to those who are travelling along a similar path. Community is an affirmation that they’re not doing this work alone. 

Amidst an overwhelmingly positive forum, however, there are some cautionary notes and if there is room for improving the recipe for the Victoria Forum, it might be found in working to include more diverse perspectives and to include more action-oriented sessions. 

As the former Canadian Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, said as he reflected on his greatest lesson learned from his time in politics: “We all depend upon people with whom we disagree.” Progress requires listening to different, and at times, dissenting opinions and working towards consensus. 

Also, convening in and of itself is not enough to achieve meaningful progress. The Victoria Forum still had a lot of dialogue and discussion, however it would be interesting to explore more hands-on opportunities to solve problems, raise questions or address new challenges, all in real-time. Creating spaces for solutions – perhaps akin to the wildly fun session run by POWER – that result in knowledge-translation resources that can help train “the others,” would offer another great ingredient for future conferences.

This year’s Victoria Forum created an enabling environment for those doing important work to be able to report on it effectively through compelling stories, embedding co-creation and demonstrating leadership. In so doing, the Forum is creating the conditions to accelerate awareness and adoption of the myriad bold solutions to addressing pressing global issues that formed the agenda for this conference. The visionaries at the Victoria Forum, with the support of the Senate of Canada, have created something very special. 

Like many others, we’re keen to see what other ingredients are part of the mix next year. And, we’re probably also not alone in our excitement to bring with us our own interesting updates in the world of purpose-driven marketing to add to the medley. 

Certainly we left this year’s conference reaffirming our thesis of the important role better marketing can play in shifting the trajectory towards a better world. And, as we disperse again to push, in our own ways, to bend the world towards better, we do so with the renewed optimism that we might just succeed.

As summer heats up, so does the momentum behind purpose-driven events. From climate summits to conversations on reconciliation, sustainable innovation, and inclusive leadership, the next few months are packed with opportunities to connect, learn, and take action.

We’ve tracked down over 25 learning, collaboration, and networking opportunities, both online and in-person, in Canada and globally, so you can stay engaged and inspired all season long. 

Keep reading to learn all about the purpose-driven events happening this July, August, and September.

July

Building 2SLGBTQIA+ Safety and Inclusion Across Canadian Workplaces: A Panel Conversation

Date: July 8, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Location: Online

Description: Amid rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric, this panel explores the barriers 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals face in the workplace and offers strategies to foster equity, dignity, and inclusion across all levels of employment.

Traceability & Sustainability Conference

Date: July 9 – 10, 2025
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Description: This event explores how apparel and footwear companies are advancing supply chain transparency to meet ESG goals, protect brand integrity, and drive ethical, sustainable growth.

Global Citizen NOW: Detroit

Date: July 10, 2025
Location: Detroit, Michigan

Description: Join the brightest minds, influential decision-makers, and the biggest names in pop culture to drive immediate action on pressing issues like climate change, gender inequality, and the global food crisis.

PNW Climate Week
Date: July 16 – 25, 2025
Location: Various Pacific Northwest cities in Canada and the United States

Description: This week-long series brings together innovators, advocates, and climate-curious citizens in over 10 cities to celebrate regional climate leadership, spark new ideas, and inspire collective action. 

AHA Sustainability Summit

Date: July 19, 2025, from 7:00 AM – 5:15 PM CT
Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Description: Healthcare and sustainability leaders will gather for a one-day summit focused on cross-functional strategies to advance decarbonization and sustainable hospital practices.

Carbon Literacy Training for Professionals

Date: July 24 – 25, 2025
Location: Online

Description: Learn the fundamentals of climate science and low-carbon action in this introductory course designed for professional services, with the opportunity to become certified as “Carbon Literate” upon completion.

International Conference on Climate Change & Global Sustainability

Date: July 24, 2025, from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET
Location: Montréal, Québec

Description: Global experts, innovators, and policymakers gather to explore transformative climate solutions, from renewable energy to circular economy models, at this collaborative summit on sustainability and resilience.

International Conference on Water, Waste and Sustainable Energy Management
Date:  July 30 – 31, 2025
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Description: This event brings together researchers, policymakers, and industry experts to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and explore emerging trends in water, waste, and environmental management.

Reconciliation in 2025: Understanding the Post-Federal Election Landscape in Canada

Date: July 31, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Online

Description: Explore how Canada’s new federal mandate is reshaping reconciliation and Indigenous workforce strategies in 2025, with insights on emerging policies, funding priorities, and practical steps for organizations to strengthen Indigenous partnerships and employment initiatives.

August

Resource Recycling Conference

Date: August 4 – 6, 2025
Location: Denver, Colorado

Description: This three-day conference gathers over 500 recycling professionals to explore market trends, policy developments, and practical strategies for advancing resilient and effective municipal recycling programs.

Understanding the Importance of DEIA in Canadian Environmental Challenges

Date: August 5, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Location: Online

Description: Explore how integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles with ESG and traditional ecological knowledge can help organizations enhance corporate social responsibility, drive sustainability, and build community resilience in the face of Canada’s environmental challenges.

The Green Summit

Date: August 14, 2025
Location: Toronto, Ontario

Description: This one-day virtual event convenes cross-sector leaders to explore sustainability, ESG, green tech, inclusive climate action, and the role of media, marketing, and commerce in accelerating the green transition.

32nd International Cartographic Conference
Date: August 17 – 22, 2025

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Hosted by the Canadian Institute of Geomatics, this global gathering explores the future of cartography and GIScience with a focus on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. It unites professionals across disciplines to share insights, advance technology, and shape how we map and understand our world.

Tennessee Sustainability Conference
Date: August 20 – 22, 2025

Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Description: Bringing together environmental leaders and professionals, this three-day conference features sessions, panels, workshops, and tours focused on advancing sustainability practices and fostering collaboration across sectors.

Victoria Forum 

Date: August 24 – 26, 2025

Location: Victoria, BC

Description: Co-hosted by the University of Victoria and the Senate of Canada, this forum gathers global leaders, academics, and changemakers to foster dialogue and collaboration around impact investing, reconciliation, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Aligning With Indigenous Self-Determination: Strategies for Nation-Led Partnerships and Workforce Engagement

Date: August 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Online

Description: As Indigenous communities assert self-determination across Canada, Senior Consultant Nicole Huska explores how organizations can build authentic, respectful relationships by aligning practices with Nation-led priorities.

Global Conference in Climate Change and Environmental Engineering
Date: August 28 – 29, 2025
Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Description: This interdisciplinary conference brings together researchers, scientists, policymakers, and industry experts to share innovations, discuss challenges, and collaborate on solutions in environmental engineering and climate change.

September

Sustainability LIVE: London

Date: September 9 – 10, 2025
Location: London, United Kingdom

Description: Join sustainability leaders from global corporations to startups to share insights, foster collaboration, and drive innovation shaping the future of sustainable business worldwide.

ACCP Annual Conference

Date: September 15 – 17, 2025
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Description: Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this premier event brings together corporate social impact professionals for inspiring sessions, workshops, and networking focused on actionable strategies to navigate societal shifts and embed social impact into business success.

World Diversity in Leadership Conference

Date: September 18 – 19, 2025
Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Description: This conference addresses the challenges and opportunities of building diverse and inclusive workforces, focusing on overcoming barriers to equality and empowering underrepresented voices for organizational growth and innovation.

Climate Week NYC

Date: September 21 – 28, 2025
Location: New York City, New York 

Description: Bringing together government leaders, business innovators, academics, and civil society, this week-long event fosters collaboration and discussion on clean tech investments, competitive strategies, and urgent climate action in a rapidly changing world.

Concordia Annual Summit

Date: September 21 – 24, 2025
Location: New York City, New York 

Description: Marking its 15th year, this inclusive, non-partisan forum convenes global leaders from government, private sector, and NGOs alongside the UN General Assembly to foster dialogue and collaboration for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC

Date: September 22, 2025
Location: New York City, New York

Description: This CPD-accredited event gathers global sustainability leaders and innovators for a day of insight, collaboration, and impact, offering opportunities to influence dialogue, build partnerships, and earn CPD points while shaping the future of sustainable business.

Carbon Capture Canada

Date: September 23 – 25, 2025
Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Description: Canada’s national CCUS convention brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators for strategic sessions, workshops, and an extensive exhibition to advance carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies critical to accelerating decarbonization.

Carbon Literacy Training for Professionals

Date: September 25 – 26, 2025
Location: Online

Description: Learn the fundamentals of climate science and low-carbon action in this introductory course designed for professional services, with the opportunity to become certified as “Carbon Literate” upon completion.

Ten Years of Truth, a Lifetime of Action: Part Two – Panel Discussion

Date: September 25, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Location: Online

Description: Marking a decade since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, this panel webinar examines the shift from truth-telling to long-term, systemic action, and explores how individuals and organizations can advance reconciliation over the next ten years.

Community-Focused Reconciliation

Date: September 25, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Online

Description: Senior Consultant Nicole Huska leads this webinar on place-based reconciliation, exploring how aligning organizational strategies with community priorities fosters stronger partnerships, sustainable relationships, and Indigenous-led workforce development.

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How do we accelerate Canada’s transition to a circular economy? That’s the challenge and opportunity that brought changemakers together for the Canadian Circular Economy Summit (CCES).

In April, Sparx Publishing Group team members Hamish Khamisa, President, Alexandra Nikitina, Head of Growth, and Meghan O’Neil, Copywriter, travelled to Montréal to attend this year’s summit, organized by Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC) and the Circular Innovation Council (CIC). The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and researchers to share strategies and align sustainability efforts on a national scale, all working toward the common goal of advancing the circular economy.

This marked Sparx’s second time attending the summit, and it was our most involved yet. Keep scrolling for key highlights, from the launch of Circular Economy Magazine to top takeaways from panels, workshops, and immersive textile and sensory experiences that brought circularity to life.

Advancing Canada’s Circular Economy 

The sold-out, three-day CCES welcomed over 900 delegates and 550+ organizations from across sectors and industries. The summit featured a dynamic mix of keynote speeches, solution-focused panels, thematic workshops, cross-industry roundtables, and immersive experiences, all aimed at accelerating Canada’s transition to a circular economy.

As highlighted by the Council of Canadian Academies’ Turning Point: The Expert Panel on the Circular Economy in Canada report, Canada is among the world’s highest consumers of materials, energy, and water, with 73% of its waste ending up in landfills or incinerators. The urgency to reduce waste, shift toward circularity, and redesign our current economic system is clear. For Canada, adopting a circular economy model is a critical pathway toward environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and social equity.

Showcasing Sparx’s Mission at the Summit

As an official sponsor, Sparx was proud to play an active role in this year’s event. Our dedicated networking lounge served as a hub for dialogue, idea exchange, and meaningful connection between sessions. We welcomed entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders, helping to spark new conversations and collaborations.

At the summit, we also launched the inaugural edition of Circular Economy Magazine, presented by Sparx’s Make The World Better Magazine and published in collaboration with CELC and the CIC. This new publication spotlights the exceptional organizations, governments, and businesses driving awareness and adoption of circular economy practices across Canada. To celebrate the launch, we hosted an intimate dinner at LOV in Montréal, bringing together contributors and supporters to reflect on the magazine’s debut and the momentum built during three impactful days at the summit.

Learning From Insightful Panels and Workshops

We attended many sessions during the summit, and one standout was the “SME Showcase: Canada’s Circular Economic Engine.” This panel highlighted small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of Canada’s economy, which contribute over 50% to the nation’s GDP. Speakers shared how SMEs are driving the shift to a circular economy by designing low-carbon products, rethinking supply chains, and building more resilient business models.

One highlight came from Rashmi Prakash, CEO of Aruna Revolution. Based in Nova Scotia, this company is transforming the disposable hygiene sector with compostable, high-performance natural fibres. Rashmi shared how her background in biomedical engineering and sustainable materials helped shape a company that’s securing major funding, launching B2B partnerships, and pushing an industry toward regenerative design. Her energy and vision for scaling circular solutions left a lasting impression on us.

Another highlight was the panel, “Tech-Driven Transformation: Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution for a Circular Economy,” which explored how emerging technologies like AI, robotics, digital platforms, and bio-based materials are driving new circular business models. Eric Camirand, CEO of Waste Robotics, spoke about transforming the recycling industry through AI-powered robotic solutions that are redefining efficiency and sustainability. His passion for automation and his vision for scaling smart waste management globally underscored the critical role technology will play in building a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

One thought-provoking session was “Identity Crisis: The First Step in Solving for Textile Circularity,” which tackled one of the biggest challenges in the textile industry: understanding what garments are truly made of. Amelia Eleiter, Co-Founder and CEO of Debrand, shared how the complexity of modern textiles, often made from mixed materials and adorned with embellishments, makes recycling and reuse difficult. Amelia’s insight into solving the “identity crisis” was a standout moment. Her take on how brands need to rethink how they design, use, and repurpose products, including sharing Debrand’s journey into circular economy initiatives, was definitely a highlight.

Understanding the Impact of Textiles and Apparel

The Textiles & Apparel Track, hosted by Fashion Takes Action, was a transformative conference held alongside the summit and focused on advancing circularity specifically in the textiles and apparel industry. With 85% of textiles ending up in landfills, these sessions were well-attended, with many delegates eager to explore sustainable practices, ecodesign frameworks, circular business models, and innovations in recycling and materials. Discussions also delved into policy development, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and extended producer responsibility (EPR).

To see circular design in action, we got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Cirque du Soleil’s Atelier, where over 400 artisans create more than 25,000 pieces for their performances. This rare experience gave us insight into their textile innovations, intricate dyeing techniques, and sustainable garment life cycles. The tour also included a visit to Vestechpro’s mechanical recycling facility, where textiles are transformed into new materials, along with a lab focused on testing garment durability and performance.

Experiencing Circularity Through Five Senses

RECYC-QUÉBEC hosted a special edition of its Québec Circular Economy Conference during the summit. ​Under the theme “Experience the Circular Economy Through Your Five Senses,” this unique event offered a hands-on perspective on circularity across sectors, led by a provincial organization managing recycling and recovery programs.

At the Centre de transfert technologique en écologie industrielle (CTTÉI) booth, we were able to touch a fascinating library of materials and objects produced through circular strategies. One standout was the wave-breaking concrete blocks made from crushed clam, lobster, and crab shells, created at CTTÉI’s pilot production plant in the Magdalen Islands, Québec. As part of its Green Concrete program, this innovative use of residual materials saves virgin raw materials and offers a more economical alternative to importing.

We also had the chance to taste food products made through circular strategies, with delicious offerings from La Transformerie, The Pretty Ugly Company, and more. A unique standout was TriCycle, a Montréal-based edible insect farm, which creates sustainable snacks using by-products from the agri-food sector, organic fertilizer, and more. It was eye-opening (and surprisingly tasty!) to see how these companies are innovating in food production while supporting sustainability.

Applying Key Takeaways to Future Strategy

The summit left us energized and optimistic about Canada’s potential to lead the circular transition. While the work is well underway, collaboration across businesses, governments, and organizations is crucial to unlocking its full potential.

This experience also reinforced our belief that content is a catalyst for change and that storytelling belongs in the sustainability space. We’re inspired to integrate circular thinking into even more of our own creative and strategic processes, driving impact both within our work and the broader community.

Ready to tell your circular story? Sparx can turn your vision into impact. Contact us for a free marketing consultation today.