Categories
Make The World Better Magazine

4ocean: Ending the Ocean Plastic Crisis

Our coastlines, beaches, and oceans have become overrun with plastic pollution, a crisis that threatens everyone’s quality of life. Luckily, individuals and organizations have been working hard to clean up our waterways and innovate to prevent plastic from ever reaching our oceans. Now, it’s everyone’s turn.

We spoke with Alex Schulze, Co-Founder and CEO at 4ocean, about how this organization is helping to put an end to the ocean plastic crisis and creating a sustainable future for our planet.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start your organization?

The spark that ignited 4ocean came from a surfing trip to Bali with friend and co-founder, Andrew Cooper. We were out there to surf, but what we found was a crazy amount of plastic. It was everywhere — in the water, on the beaches, even entangled in the reefs. It was heartbreaking to see such an awesome place overwhelmed by pollution. We realized that if we didn’t do something, this problem would only get worse. 

That trip was our wake-up call. We knew we had to take action, and that’s how 4ocean was born in January 2017. Our mission was clear: clean the ocean and create a sustainable future for our planet.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Our biggest success has to be reaching the milestone of removing over 38 million pounds of trash from oceans and coastlines. It’s a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team and the incredible support from our global community. 

One story that stands out is from our cleanup operations in Guatemala. We partnered with local communities along the Rio Motagua, one of the most polluted rivers in the world, to remove plastic waste and provide job opportunities. The impact was incredible — not only did we clean up the environment, but we also helped improve the quality of life for many families. The locals were incredibly engaged and passionate about restoring their environment, and it was amazing to see the community come together to tackle such a massive problem. Seeing the smiles on their faces and knowing that we made a difference in their lives was incredibly rewarding. It’s moments like those that remind us why we do what we do. 

How can protecting oceans and waterways help make the world better?

Protecting our oceans and waterways is crucial for the health of our planet. Oceans are the lungs of Earth, producing over half of the world’s oxygen and absorbing a significant amount of carbon dioxide. They regulate our climate, provide food and livelihoods for billions of people, and support a diverse range of marine life. When we protect our oceans, we’re not just preserving a vital ecosystem, we’re also safeguarding our future. Clean oceans mean healthier communities, more sustainable economies, and a better quality of life for everyone. It’s all interconnected, and by taking care of our oceans, we’re taking care of ourselves.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

One of the biggest challenges we face is the sheer scale of the plastic pollution problem. Billions of pounds of plastic enter the ocean every year, and it’s a constant battle to keep up with the influx. Another challenge is raising awareness and changing behaviours. It’s not enough to just clean up the trash; we need to address the root causes and prevent plastic from entering the ocean in the first place. This requires a collective effort from individuals, businesses, and governments. Additionally, operating in remote and underserved areas can be logistically challenging, but it’s essential to reach these high-impact zones. 

Despite these challenges, we’re committed to our mission and continuously innovate to overcome obstacles.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’d like to share?

We just recently launched our partnership program, where virtually any business has the opportunity to implement a sustainability program and partner with us to clean plastic from the ocean. This has been critical for our cleanup expansion and ongoing cleanup efforts.

What can people do to help support your mission?

The best way to support our mission is for people to get involved in local cleanups, wherever they may be. Not everyone lives by the ocean, but cleaning up rivers, lakes, and other waterways can stop the flow of trash out to the ocean and help raise awareness about the ocean plastic crisis.

We encourage everyone to track their monthly plastic consumption and look for ways to cut down on single-use plastics in their daily lives. Even a small change can make a big difference. Look for sustainable products to help make the transition, so you can start to live a life that is plastic-free or even plastic-negative!

For people who want to make a big difference right away, I’d recommend joining our Bracelet of the Month Club program. Every month, we send out a limited-edition bracelet dedicated to a marine animal like turtles, whales, and sharks. Each bracelet pulls 10 pounds of ocean trash for double the impact, plus includes VIP early access to new products, mystery gifts and surprises, and updates from 4ocean about how your support is helping us put an end to the ocean plastic crises. 

We are also looking for businesses and brands that are looking to partner with us to implement sustainability programs and help us clean the ocean.

This story was featured in the Make The World Better Magazine:

Categories
Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

35+ Purpose-Driven Events to Attend in October – December, 2024

The weather may be growing colder, but opportunities to make a positive difference certainly aren’t going into hibernation any time soon. Purpose-driven events are as abundant as fallen leaves this autumn, covering a wide range of causes, including amplifying Indigenous voices, accelerating the circular economy, protecting our oceans and waterways, fostering accessibility and inclusion, and more.

We’ve tracked down 35+ learning, collaboration, and networking opportunities taking place all autumn long, both online and in-person, in Canada and globally, so you can amplify good.

Keep scrolling to learn all about purpose-driven events happening this October, November, and December.

October

Amplifying Indigenous Stories

Date: October 8, 2024, from 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM EDT

Location: Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, Québec

Description: Following the theme, “Walking Together: Amplifying Indigenous Stories in Public Media,” take part in interactive sessions, keynotes, and panel discussions at this full-day event that will showcase the transformative power of Indigenous voices in media.

Canada’s Corporate Compass: Navigating Emerging Social and Environmental Challenges

Date: October 9, 2024, from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Location: TIFF Lightbox, Toronto, Ontario

Description: At this exclusive event, UN Global Compact Network Canada participants and invited guests will delve into the opportunities and risks of Just Transition, ethical supply chain practices, climate adaptation strategies, and the responsibilities and challenges Canadian businesses face in response to these emerging issues.

TELUS CSW Double Scoop! – AI: Accelerating Social Impact?

Date: October 9, 2024, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM MDT

Location: AMII (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute), Edmonton, Alberta

Description: Join this community event to connect with members of the social impact, local tech, and innovation communities and learn how AI is shaping impact.

Financing the Future: Conversations on Blended Finance

Date: October 10, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: Learn about blended finance initiatives as a solution for achieving greater impact in Canada at this session organized by Spring, Thrive Impact Fund, and Partnership Investment Program of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Toronto Shelter Network Conference 2024: Innovative Partnerships & Projects

Date: October 10, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM EDT

Location: Daniels Spectrum, Toronto, Ontario

Description: At this conference, discover unique and impactful partnerships and the power of collaborating across sectors to create solutions that address homelessness.

United Nations Global Compact: Join the Largest Corporate Sustainability Initiative in the World

Date: October 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: This webinar will provide you with an overview of the UN Global Compact and how it can help accelerate your organization’s sustainability journey.

The Coast Waste Management Association’s 2024 Annual Conference 

Date: October 23 – 25, 2024

Location: Online & In-Person, Victoria, British Columbia 

Description: Exploring the theme, “The Power of Collaboration,” this conference will bring the waste management community together to build connections, share knowledge, and inspire sustainable solutions.

2024 LIVABLE CITIES FORUM

Date: October 23 – 25, 2024

Location: Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Join this forum to learn about multisolving as a strategic approach to achieving climate action and look at building net-zero, resilient, and equitable communities through a multisolving lens.

B Corp Certification Readiness – Preparing for Your B Corp Journey

Date: October 24, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

Location: Online

Description: Interested in becoming a certified B Corporation? This webinar will help you understand the path to certification, including requirements, barriers, timeline, and process, and determine if you’re submission-ready.

Bloom 24

Date: October 24 – 25, 2024

Location: InterContinental Cali, Cali, Colombia

Description: Hosted by Trellis, Bloom 24 examines the theme, “Accelerating Business Action at COP 16,” and will connect attendees with sessions exploring how companies can halt and reverse nature loss within their operations and supply chains.

SOCAP24

Date: October 28 – 30, 2024

Location: YBCA, San Francisco, California, United States

Description: This conference will convene members of the impact ecosystem from around the world and changemakers from every sector for three days of plenary presentations and panels, facilitated networking, and open dialogue.

VERGE 24

Date: October 29 – 31, 2024

Location: San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, California, United States

Description: Connect with visionaries, experts, and innovators working toward a just and regenerative future at this event focused on deploying climate tech at scale, decarbonizing operations, and integrating climate solutions.

Econext 2024 Conference

Date: October 30, 2024

Location: Delta St. John’s, St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Description: Discover the latest developments in clean energy, green innovation, ongoing environmental challenges, and the pursuit of net-zero in Newfoundland and Labrador at this green economy event.

Raincoast Ocean Science Awards 2024

Date: October 30, 2024, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT

Location: The Polygon Gallery, North Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Celebrate achievements made by individuals and groups to protect marine habitats through science, Indigenous knowledge systems, and public engagement, and take part in meaningful conversations about ocean conservation at this awards ceremony.

Understanding Our Narratives Through an Anti-Racist Lens

Date: October 30, 2024, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT

Location: College of Education (RM 1024), 28 Campus Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Description: At this session for students, learn about the impact of language, how personal biases and misunderstandings impact the school community, and how to make a positive difference.

WiSE 2024!

Date: October 3, 2024, from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM PDT

Location: 555 Seymour Street, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: This Women in Sustainable Energy networking event offers a space for women to connect and learn about women’s roles in sustainable energy and share career paths and industry insights.

RCA’s 2024 Circular Economy Conference: Beyond the Grave, A Circular All Hallow’s Eve

Date: October 30 – November 1, 2024

Location: The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff, Alberta

Description: Enjoy workshops, inspiring tours, plenary sessions and keynotes, networking receptions, a selection of concurrent sessions, and more at the Recycling Council of Alberta’s 2024 Circular Economy Conference, “Beyond the Grave – A Circular All Hallows’ Eve.”

November

Climate Solutions in a Day

Date: November 2, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM PDT

Location: New Westminster Public Library (Main Branch), New Westminster, British Columbia

Description: Hosted by RegenerateBC, this interactive workshop series will empower participants to support, identify, and initiate climate solutions at the household, community, and policy levels. More information is coming soon.

2024 Sustainable Ocean Conference

Date: November 7 – 8, 2024

Location: Dalhousie Student Union Building, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Description: Organized by the Master of Marine Management Students of the Marine Affairs Program at Dalhousie University, this student-led conference will bring together a diverse audience to explore the world’s most challenging ocean issues and spark change.

Benevity Forum London

Date: November 8, 2024

Location: etc.venues County Hall, London, United Kingdom

Description: This social impact event, hosted by Benevity, will unite purpose-driven professionals in the UK for a day of networking and learning, providing insights into best practices for developing corporate volunteering, giving, and sustainability programs.

UN Climate Change Conference Baku (COP29)

Date: November 11 – 22, 2024

Location: Baku Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan

Description: At COP29, countries from around the world will convene to present updated national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, discuss the financial needs required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advance action within the climate movement.

Convening 2024: Toward Just and Affordable Food Systems

Date: November 11 – 13, 2024

Location: Rialto Theatre, Montréal, Québec

Description: Engage in coast-to-coast-to-coast conversation about Canadian food justice and affordability and explore holistic ways to make progress on critical food systems challenges at this event.

Understanding Social Impact Measurement

Date: November 12 & 26, 2024

Location: Online

Description: Take part in this interactive two-day course to learn how to use impact measurement tools effectively, determine what to measure to best demonstrate impact, and uncover creative ways to articulate impact.

Impact & Transition Investor Summit

Date: November 12 – 13, 2024

Location: The Westin Times Square, New York, New York

Description: The North American edition of this private market conference will offer attendees two days of insight-sharing, networking, and collaboration focused on investable solutions in the transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable world, along with challenges, strategies, and approaches to impact investing.

Jody Wilson-Raybould on ‘Reconciling History: A Story of Canada’

Date: November 13, 2024, from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM EST

Location: Rotman School of Management, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Gain insights from the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould at the book launch for Reconciling History: A Story of Canada, and explore the history of this land we call Canada as told through the voices of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.

PIVOT TECH ’24

Date: November 14, 2024, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST

Location: The Cotton Factory, Hamilton, Ontario

Description: Join organizations and individuals committed to decarbonization via the adoption of green technology in energy, buildings, and manufacturing; connect with solution seekers and providers; and gain the skills, knowledge, and experience to accelerate the green transition.

2024 ESG Summit

Date: November 14, 2024

Location: New York Law School, New York, New York

Description: Attend this summit to uncover tools and insights necessary for nurturing partnerships and collaborative efforts in sustainability and corporate citizenship, and dive into a wide range of critical ESG-related topics.

OceanPredict’24 Symposium

Date: November 18 – 22, 2024

Location: UNESCO, Paris, France

Description: Presented by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (“Ocean Decade”), this symposium will bring together members of the international operational oceanography community for science sessions, discussions, and exhibitions centred around the theme, “advancing ocean prediction science for societal benefit.”

2024 National Gathering for Indigenous Education

Date: November 20 – 22, 2024

Location: Online & In-Person, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Description: This hybrid event will gather hundreds of educators from across the country to share insights and collaborate to improve the educational outcomes of Indigenous students.

Purpose in Business Week

Date: TBA

Location: Online

Description: Help inspire a cultural shift toward a purpose-led economy alongside a cross-industry community of social purpose champions at this annual celebration.

Scaling Up Bio 2024

Date: November 25 – 27, 2024

Location: Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario

Description: Enjoy a deep dive into sustainable bioeconomy solutions to reduce carbon emissions, discover the latest innovations and trends in bio-based industries, and connect with experts and peers at this bioeconomy business conference.

FMB RoadMap Roadshow Workshop – Edmonton

Date: November 26, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM MST

Location: Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton, Alberta

Description: Attend this RoadMap workshop to participate in this First Nations–led initiative, which aims to support Nations in achieving their economic and self-government goals.

Rethinking Disabilities Toronto 2024

Date: November 28, 2024, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST

Location: OneEleven, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Focused around the theme, “The Untapped Talent Pool: Unlocking the Power of a Disability-Inclusive Workplace,” this conference will help attendees learn how they can boost diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace for people with disabilities.

The Sustainable Finance Forum 2024

Date: November 28 – 29, 2024

Location: Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Ontario

Description: Advance the powerful role finance can play in growing a sustainable and inclusive economy, explore how financial markets can drive significant socio-economic and environmental progress, and collaborate on industry standards and government policies to accelerate change at this purpose-driven event.

Third Annual International Summit on Ending Gender-Based Violence 2024

Date: November 29 – December 1, 2024

Location: Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Hear the voices of gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, discover strategies and programs that make a difference, and explore factors that have led to increased GBV globally.

December

CCDI Webinar: Removing Barriers to Accessibility and Inclusion – Panel

Date: December 3, 2024, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

Location: Online

Description: Attend this webinar, presented by the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), to develop an understanding of diverse disability issues, learn how to challenge and dispel ableist myths and stereotypes, and discover tools for improving disability justice and accessibility in Canadian workplaces.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Date: December 3, 2024, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST

Location: St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts and Culture, Ajax, Ontario

Description: Celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities through a special film screening, a panel discussion, and the inspiring stories of people with disabilities.

Green Horizon Summit

Date: December 6, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM AST

Location: Crowne Plaza Moncton Downtown, Moncton, New Brunswick

Description: Co-create innovation solutions to help support small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) in New Brunswick on their green transition journey at this summit.

Global Summit on Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Refugee Crises

Date: December 13 – 14, 2024

Location: Toronto PWA Foundation, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Centred around the theme, “Empowering Survivors, Building Resilient Communities,” this summit on ending sexual and gender-based violence (SBGV) in refugee and humanitarian crises, led by grassroots women and refugee-led organizations, will bring together survivors, experts, advocates, stakeholders, and policymakers to foster a collaborative and inclusive approach to ending SGBV and help create a safer and more equitable future for all.

Mental Health Training Workshops in Canada

Date: December 27, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST

Location: 137 Berkeley Street, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Obtain insights; deepen your knowledge of key topics surrounding mental health, addiction, trauma and crisis intervention, family dynamics, and recovery and prevention; and learn valuable approaches at this workshop.

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Categories
Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

30+ Oceans and Water Resources for Purpose-Driven Organizations

Life on earth cannot thrive without clean water. No matter how far away we may live from oceans and marine life, they play a vital role in sustaining us. Despite the fact that water is one of our most valuable resources, it faces many threats and challenges, from plastic pollution and contaminants to overuse and inaccessibility.

Keep scrolling to learn more about today’s most pressing water-related challenges with exciting resources that will help you take action toward protecting our oceans and waterways, conserving water, forwarding the blue economy, and positively impacting marine life.

Resources From Changemakers Featured in Make The World Better Magazine 

Check out these resources from individuals and organizations that have been featured in Make The World Better Magazine.

4ocean – Cleanup Guide: Get expert tips on organizing your own shoreline cleanup, including safety tips, steps for each phase, and ways to track plastic pollution at its source to make a lasting impact.

4ocean – Fight to Save the Ocean Blog Article: Learn the connection between the bystander effect and ocean cleanups, the severity of the plastic crisis, and steps everyone can take to fight to save the ocean.

Alan Shapiro (via Foresight Canada) – Mapping Canada’s Water Technology Ecosystem Report: Dive into Canada’s water technology ecosystem with this report and gain inspiring insights into Canada’s Water Technology Ecosystem Map, the current innovation landscape, key economic benefits, gaps to overcome, and more.

Anglian Water – Water Saving Quiz: Test your water-saving knowledge with this interactive quiz by Anglian Water and uncover helpful tips and facts for conserving water in each room of your home.

AquaAction – Freshwater in Crisis Web Resource: Put the freshwater crisis into focus with an in-depth look at the main risks our waterways are facing, including life-threatening contaminants, failing infrastructure, and water scarcity 

Brilliant Blue – Registration Poster: Learn how participants can join the next Brilliant Blue Challenge and share with youth passionate about protecting our oceans.

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster – Blue Economy 101 Toolkit: This resource helps connect blue economy jobseekers with purpose-driven careers, providing insights into in-demand positions in the space, tips for highlighting skills and positioning resumes, sample interview questions, organizations to follow, and more.

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster – Story to Tell Video Hub: Get inspired with the stories of OSC members who are delivering innovative solutions and shaping the future of the ocean in Canada.

CleanHub – Top 6 Ways to Clean Up the Oceans Blog Article: Discover six key ways organizations and individuals can take action and help clean our oceans.

CleanHub – Clean Oceans Survey Results: Find out what consumers in Canada, the US, and Europe think about plastic waste, sustainability, and the impacts on our oceans and how that influences buying behaviours.

David Suzuki Foundation – Make Every Drop Count: Water Conservation Tips: Check out these conservation tips from David Suzuki Foundation to discover ways you can save water and help alleviate Canada’s water crisis at home and while travelling.

David Suzuki Foundation – Canada’s Oceans Need Your Support Petition: Sign the petition to help restore biodiversity in Canada’s coastal waters and put policy recommendations in front of the federal government.

Ocean Ambassadors Canada – Volunteer Signup: Take action to help protect our waterways and support community events, school programs, development and fundraising, and more by signing up to become an Ocean Ambassadors Canada volunteer.

Foresight Canada – waterNEXT Venture Program Application: Apply to join Foresight Canada’s watertech ventures network, waterNEXT, and accelerate your impact.

Pauquachin First Nation – Shellfish Restoration Reports: Deepen your knowledge and help make positive strides toward both reconciliation and protecting marine life by diving into the Pauquachin First Nation’s municipal, provincial, and federal level reports on shellfish restoration.

RainStick Shower – Extreme Decentralized Water Treatment: A Crucial Solution to Meet Demand and Combat Water Scarcity Blog Article: Learn how decentralized water treatment can help turn the tide on water scarcity in this informative article.

RainStick Shower – Save Water and Energy With These Bathroom Shower Ideas Blog Article: Check out these water saving tips you can apply to your bathroom to achieve an environmentally-friendly shower and conserve water.

SHARC Energy – The Power of Wastewater Video: Watch this video from SHARC Energy to learn about how cities can manage their thermal energy footprint and harness the power of wastewater.

Water First – Resources to Learn More Webpage: Water First has put together an extensive library of resources to help individuals develop a greater understanding of the water challenges facing many Indigenous communities in Canada, including books, articles, podcasts, videos, courses, organizations to donate to, and more.

Resources From Other Changemakers

The Blue Paradox – Plastic Footprint Calculator: Discover your plastic footprint with this calculator from the Blue Paradox, a movement to address the global ocean plastic crisis and preserve the environment.

CleanTech Alliance – Wastewater Energy Transfer Report: Deepen your knowledge on the benefits and uses of Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) systems, including how they work, save costs, and reduce water usage.

Delphi Group – Working for Watersheds: Opportunities for Growth in BC’s Watershed Sector Report: Learn more about BC’s Watershed sector, including the scale of the sector, sector profiles, and growth potential and opportunities.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation – Ebbs and Flows: Water and the Circular Economy Podcast Episode: Tune in to this episode of The Circular Economy Show Podcast to hear from global innovators who are changing the ways we interact with water to make this valuable resource more accessible for everyone.

Marine Conservation Institute – 10 Things You Can Do for the Ocean Right Now Blog Article: Check out these tips for actionable ways you can help the ocean in your everyday life.

MIT Technology Review Insights – The Blue Technology Barometer Report: Dive into this report to learn about the need for blue technology, how different countries and territories rank in their progress toward protecting ocean sustainability, innovation in the space, and more, including a partner perspective from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.

Ocean Networks Canada – Ocean Science Webinar Video Series: Explore Ocean Networks Canada’s library of webinar recordings for a deep dive into valuable topics, including the impacts of underwater noise on marine life, the importance of community observatories for coastal ecological studies, building true Indigenous partnerships in ocean science, and more.

Ocean Wise – Join or Lead a Shoreline Cleanup Signup Form: Make a meaningful difference by creating a listing for your own shoreline cleanup event or by joining a cleanup near you.

Patagonia – Protect Wild Oceans Where You Surf Webpage: Discover and support environmental grassroot groups working to protect surf breaks, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities, plus make an impact by signing various purpose-driven petitions.

Sea Smart – Free Educator Resources: Feel more empowered to teach ocean conservation with these educator resources, including lesson plans for students in grades K–12, presentation slides, educational videos, and partner resources.

UN Ocean Decade – Podcasts: Listen and learn from the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’s vast podcast library, with episodes from three water-themed shows, including recordings from the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference.

Water Research Foundation – Residential End Uses of Water Report: Get insights into current residential water use to better understand issues and the potential for conservation.

World Wildlife Fund Canada – Help Us Turn Down the Volume of Underwater Noise Interactive Resource: Help turn down the volume of underwater noise, a serious issue impacting marine life, by increasing your knowledge and adding your voice to champion change in Canada.

Sparx PG’s Resources 

Key Takeaways from Circularity 24 Blog Post: Read our event takeaways and be sure to spend time at the “Marketing is Critical for the Circular Economy” section for insights and thought-provoking stats from the immersive Blue Paradox exhibit we visited while in Chicago.

Together, We Can Make The World Better Blog Post: At the “Cleaning up the Shoreline” section of our 2023 Make The World Better Day recap blog, learn about our Sparx-hosted cleanup, including how much waste we prevented from entering the water and for an example of how your organization could participate in a cleanup of your own.

Sparx Joins Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup Social Post: Check out photos and stats from a collaborative shoreline cleanup we participated in, hosted by It’s Your Time, and get inspired for your own event.

Amplify Your Purpose-Driven Story With Sparx

We would love to increase support and awareness around your efforts to protect our oceans and waterways and solve water-based challenges. Want to team up? Give us a shout for a free consultation. Together, we can amplify your impact.

Categories
Events

Key Takeaways from Circularity 24

What happens when a pair of purpose-driven marketing agency team members from Canada land in one of the United States’ most interesting cities to attend one of the world’s biggest circular economy conferences?

A lot of learning, networking, and reaffirmation that a community of changemakers is dedicated to building a better and more regenerative world.

Earlier this year, Sparx team members Hamish Khamisa, President, and Alexandra Nikitina, Head of Growth, travelled to Chicago to attend Circularity 24, a three-day conference presented by Trellis (formerly GreenBiz Group), that brought together a growing community of individuals, businesses, and organizations passionate about creating a more sustainable future.

With our focus on accelerating awareness and adoption of regenerative and sustainable solutions, we attended plenty of events in the circular economy space. Circularity 24, however, was an entirely new experience for us.

From the sheer scale of the event to the diverse cross-section of individuals and organizations in attendance to the palpable FOMO (fear of missing out) from not being able to attend many of the 130+ talks, activities, and experiences, things felt large and moved fast.

The conference provided a unique opportunity to gauge the circular economy’s current state from a variety of business perspectives, engage with a wide range of changemakers, and gain insights into the role of marketing in accelerating the circular economy.

We can’t possibly do an event of this scale justice in one brief recap, but we’re eager to share several key reflections from our experience at Circularity 24 that we hope provide valuable circular economy insights. Suffice it to say, we understand why people like Garry Cooper, CEO of Rheaply, continue to come back each year. 

Read on for our highlights from Circularity 24, including key takeaways from insightful panels and intriguing exhibits, changemakers we connected with, lessons learned from attending large-scale sustainability events, and more.

Scaling the Circular Economy

Regardless of the company’s size, from large multinational corporations to startups, there was considerable consensus that “scaling up” the circular economy is crucial for a more sustainable world.

Of course, the devil is in the details. Answers to questions like “What is the circular economy?” often had similar components but were different enough to warrant some concerns by various private and public sector representatives. The lack of precise, agreed-upon standards for what constitutes a “circular solution” creates considerable friction when scaling. As a result, many stakeholders who want to take action are moving forward cautiously, using bespoke standards and approaches rather than globally applicable ones.

Encouragingly, when speaking with representatives from large multinational corporations like McDonald’s, Iron Mountain, and L’Oreal about their path to more circular practices, we learned larger businesses recognize the need to adapt to conducting business more sustainably and at scale. Of course, there are complexities and costs associated with reconfiguring their business structures and workflows and the desire to take action as a business is highly dependent on the clarity of standards. However, regulatory pressures, changing procurement requirements, and shifting consumer sentiment are influencing businesses toward a more sustainable direction.

At the other end of the spectrum, we spoke with many early-stage entrepreneurs and business leaders eager to scale their circular economy solutions. Companies such as Refillable, Green Standards, and Sway offered interesting examples of businesses that, if scaled, could redefine everyday consumption. 

Interestingly, smaller companies consistently reported that “leading with sustainability” wasn’t resonating with potential customers. Typical considerations like cost savings or competitive differentiation were more appealing to their target clients than sustainability or circular impact.

Of course, scaling circular solutions and businesses inherently requires capital and resources. One of the most interesting sessions was the panel “Unlocking the Capital Stack for Circular Transformation,” featuring Hanna Friedman, Founding Principal at Planeteer Capital; Jennifer Louie, Managing Director of Closed Loop Partners; and Bill Caesar, President of Generate Upcycle, which delved into the mindset of large-scale investors focused on regenerative or circular businesses. 

One key theme Bill Caesar highlighted was the crucial need for companies that turn waste into resources to ensure a reliable feedstock supply, significantly impacting the economic viability of circular business models.

Conversations, Connection, and Community

While we gained many insights from the sessions we attended, Circularity 24 was also a remarkable platform for making meaningful connections.

With over 1,400 visionaries, thought leaders, and practitioners from different countries, backgrounds, and industries converging around a shared interest in the circular economy, we were thrilled to participate in both structured and spontaneous opportunities to connect with fellow attendees.

From conversations in lunch lines and on elevator and escalator rides across multiple floors of the venue, to digital interactions through the conference app, and even during an early morning run to the iconic Bean, everyone brought  a sincere and inspiring eagerness to connect and potentially collaborate.

The structured networking sessions were excellent for meeting diverse groups of people, such as first-time attendees, women, BIPOC attendees, and more, as well as creating a sense of belonging.

Sparx  also had the chance to organize a brief meetup of nearly 20 fellow Canadian attendees, including representatives from GEOTAB, Green Standards, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Quantum Lifecycle Partners. It was great to share insights on the circular economy landscape in Canada and explore ways to support each other in our purpose-driven endeavours.

Marketing is Critical for the Circular Economy

Among the many conversations at Circularity 24, we were particularly interested in exploring the challenges and best practices related to circular economy marketing, and jumped at the chance to attend relevant sessions.

The “More than a Megaphone: Communicating and Collaborating for Circular Success” panel explored how sustainability communicators can facilitate the faster, smoother adoption of circularity as a business strategy. 

Jeffrey Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer at Levi Strauss, noted that directly talking about sustainability did not have the impact on clothing sales that the team expected. Instead, a campaign that focused on durability as the value proposition of Levi’s jeans performed much better. This suggests that promoting environmental sustainability indirectly can lead to more sustainable outcomes. Several entrepreneurs echoed this sentiment, stating that “sustainability” is not a primary purchasing driver; traditional factors like price, reliability, and convenience still shape business decisions.

Suzanne Shelton of ERM Shelton, who facilitated part of the session, shared research data showing that most consumers equate the circular economy with recycling, a result of decades of recycling education and awareness building. While we should recognize where people currently are and meet them there, scaling up awareness and understanding means more work is needed in conveying other aspects of the circular economy. 

Finally, Nazlican Goksu, Design Director at IDEO, highlighted the significant impact designers can have in determining sustainable products and solutions at the point of inception. To drive home this point, Goksu shared a story about an IDEO-designed toothbrush that later washed ashore on a beach and was brought back to their offices as a reminder of the consequences of designers’ actions. This anecdote also underscored the importance of storytelling as a powerful tool for impactful communication.

Another excellent example of effective storytelling was “The Blue Paradox,” an immersive exhibit held at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.

The Blue Paradox movement aims to inspire collective action by vividly communicating how plastic pollution affects marine life and our daily lives. It encourages individuals, businesses, and governments to protect our oceans by improving how we produce, use, reuse, and recycle plastic.

As we took a detour to navigate the exhibit, we encountered several thought-provoking facts:

  • Around the world, 1 million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, and up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used annually.
  • On average, a single gallon of tap water contains 34 microplastic particles.
  • The Great Pacific Garbage Patch spans 620,000 square miles, more than ten times the area of Illinois.
  • Around 30% of all plastic on the world’s ocean surfaces forms the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which has increased exponentially over recent decades.

Overall, our experiences at Circularity 24 emphasized the critical role marketing plays in shaping the narrative around sustainable business practices. However, it also became clear that marketing alone is not enough. For sustainable products and services to outperform established offerings, they also need to do so on key parameters like price and convenience. 

Amplify Your Circular Economy Story With Sparx

Circularity 24 was an incredible opportunity for our team to lean into our purpose of amplifying voices that catalyze positive change.

Though this was our first foray into a circular economy conference of this size, it certainly won’t be our last. We learned the value of pacing ourselves and reminding each other to prioritize wellbeing; with so much on the agenda, we had to be selective in how we spent our time and ensure we took breaks to recharge.

Overall, Circularity 24 left us feeling encouraged about how we can help accelerate the transition to a more circular economy. Yet, the most inspiring takeaway is knowing we are part of a community of like-minded businesses and organizations that believe in a better world and work daily to make it a reality. These are the stories that we believe need to reach a wider audience in order to accelerate a shift to a more circular economy.Are you looking to share your circular economy story? We would love to team up and amplify your impact. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

Categories
Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives

30+ Purpose-Driven Events to Attend in July – September, 2024

Want to add purpose-driven events to your summer schedule? Sparx has compiled a list of networking and learning opportunities taking place this July, August, and September.

July

Indigenous Innovators in Tech Showcase

Date: July 4, 2024, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM MDT

Location: Social Innovation Hub, Calgary, Alberta

Description: Part of the BIPOC and Rural Tech Founders event series, this showcase is dedicated to spotlighting and empowering Indigenous innovators, providing insight into the barriers Indigenous innovators face, and championing Indigenous perspectives and groundbreaking solutions within Alberta’s tech ecosystem.

Social Innovators Breakfast Club

Date: July 8, 2024, from 9:00 AM –10:30 AM MDT

Location: Social Innovation Hub, Calgary, Alberta

Description: Enjoy breakfast while connecting with social purpose innovators and learn about RadiCare’s purpose-driven journey during an inspiring presentation and Q&A session.

CCDI Webinar: Glottophobia

Date: July 11, 2024, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT 

Location: Online 

Description: This Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) webinar will help attendees learn more about linguistic discrimination in Canadian workplaces.

Brands for Better Summer Party!

Date: July 13, 2024, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT

Location: The Beaumont Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: At this fun summer gathering, celebrate the Brands for Better impact-driven community, connect with purpose-minded brands and individuals, and make a positive difference.

Reconciliation: When History Becomes Truth

Date: July 14 – 19, 2024

Location: Charles Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Part of the Toronto Pursuits festival, this seminar will explore how contemporary writing lends itself to thoughtful investigations of the struggle of Indigenous communities with the legacy of the Indian Act and the role of non-Indigenous Canadians in the process of reconciliation.

Indigenous Paths and Presence

Date: July 21, 2024

Location: Bedford Park Community Centre, Toronto, Ontario 

Description: Presented by Heritage Toronto and TD Ready Commitment, this tour will engage with pre-colonial Indigenous histories in understanding the natural creeks and park systems in the Bathurst and Lawrence area.

Impact Red: Suit Up and Sparkle with United Way BC

Date: July 24, 2024, from 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM PDT

Location: McCarthy Tétrault, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Enjoy a night of fireworks, food, and festivities and discover how to make a positive impact in British Columbia and support United Way BC and its communities.

Carbon Literacy Training

Date: July 25, 2024

Location: Online 

Description: Become “Carbon Literate” certified with this virtual workshop, hosted by The Better Business Network, an inclusive UK-based network for purpose-driven business owners and leaders looking to grow their impact.

SDG Impact Reporting: Understanding and Sharing Local SDG Impact

Date: July 26, 2024, from 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EDT 

Location: 10C Shared Space, Guelph, Ontario

Description: Hosted in partnership with SDG Cities and 10C Shared Space, this workshop will help purpose-driven organizations communicate how their work aligns with the SDGs, use tools to describe their SDG impact, plan data collection and interpretation for SDG reporting, and more.

August

Annual Anti-racism University Forum 2024

Date: August 1, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM ADT 

Location: École des Bâtisseurs, Fredericton, New Brunswick 

Description: Combat systemic racism, gain insight into the challenges faced by Black communities, discover initiatives that promote racial equality and social justice, and engage in meaningful discussions at this annual forum, organized by New Brunswick Provincial Council for People of African Descent, in collaboration with local partners.

CCDI Webinar: Voices of strength: Supporting mental health in the DEI space

Date: August 8, 2024, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Location: Online 

Description: Attend this CCDI webinar for a discussion around priorities, challenges, implementation strategies, and lived experiences that connect mental health and effective DEI practices and initiatives.

The HeadLamp Awards

Date: August 11, 2024, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT

Location: City Hall, Brampton, Ontario

Description: Celebrate the inspirational work of social enterprises, individuals, and projects that are forging impactful change, addressing critical challenges, and fostering significant progress within African communities.

Floatable Waste Collaborative Action in Toronto’s Inner Harbour: Clean-up

Date: August 11, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM EDT

Location: Queen’s Quay, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Help work toward swimmable, drinkable, fishable water in Toronto and improve your water literacy by taking part in this water and shoreline cleanup.

Workforce & Newcomer Summit 2024 and Diversity Gala

Date: August 16, 2024, from 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM ADT

Location: Fredericton Convention Centre, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Description: Centred around the theme, “Bridging Borders: Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce,” this event aims to support newcomer integration into the workforce, celebrate the contributions of newcomers and immigrants, and provide a platform for diverse voices.

2nd Global Conference on Climate Change and Global Warming

Date: August 16 – 18, 2024

Location: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia 

Description: Join a diverse and multidisciplinary group of experts, researchers, social activists, and community advocates from across the globe at this conference focused on fostering collaboration, championing solutions, and tackling pivotal climate change issues.

B Corp Certification Readiness – Preparing for Your B Corp Journey

Date: August 22, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

Location: Online 

Description: Interested in becoming a certified B Corporation? This webinar will help you understand the path to certification, including requirements, barriers, timeline, and process, and determine if you’re submission-ready.

BREAKING THE SILENCE ON HIV/AIDS STIGMA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2024

Date: August 23 – 24, 2024

Location: The Parkdale Hall, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Challenge the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in African Communities, gain insights into building a more inclusive and supportive society, uncover the latest research and treatment advancements, and connect with like-minded individuals at this empowering conference.

Victoria Forum 2024

Date: August 25 – 27, 2024

Location: Business and Economics Building, Victoria, British Columbia 

Description: Exploring the theme “Building Trust for a Shared Future,” this forum, hosted by The Victoria Forum and co-hosted by the University of Victoria and the Senate of Canada, serves as a collective call for action to combat the erosion of trust across various divides so we can forward unified action, promote reconciliation, and build a regenerative economy. Be sure to catch the keynote from Dr. Victoria Hurth, global thought expert and collaborator on the Wellbeing Economy issue of Make The World Better Magazine, and say hello to the Sparx team! We are proud to be a community partner for this event.

September

Sustainable Finance Summit 2024

Date: September 12, 2024, from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM EDT

Location: EY Tower, Toronto, Ontario  

Description: This summit brings together over 250 banks, credit unions, lenders, investors, and fintechs to advance Climate Risk Stress Testing and Sustainable Finance in Canada, and explores a range of purpose-driven topics, including ESG ratings, Canada’s net-zero journey, and supporting SMEs on the path to decarbonization.

International Workshop on Financial System Architecture and Stability (IWFSAS) 2024

Date: September 13 – 14, 2024

Location: UBC Robson Square Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Advance the dialogue on the great energy transition, spotlight innovative financial solutions and economic policies, identify opportunities and challenges, and propose solutions to help overcome financial barriers to sustainable energy adoption at this forum.

Women Empowerment Awards

Date: September 13, 2024, from 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM EDT 

Location: Park Hyatt Toronto, Toronto, Ontario 

Description: Honour and celebrate the women entrepreneurs, professionals, and changemakers who have made remarkable contributions to their communities and diverse industries at this inspiring awards show.

Global Conference on Autism and Disability Studies (GCADS)

Date: September 13 – 15, 2024

Location: 9850 King George Boulevard, Surrey, British Columbia 

Description: Gain valuable insights from leading experts, share experiences with peers, and discover effective strategies for supporting individuals with autism and disabilities at this global conference.

The New Face of Inclusion Summit 2024

Date: September 14, 2024, from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM EDT 

Location: Online & In-Person, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Focused around the theme, “Being Intentional About the Business of Inclusion,” this leadership development summit will help attendees enhance their inclusive leadership abilities, acquire practical tools and frameworks, drive organizational change, and expand their professional network.

CCDI Webinar: Ageism: Building age-inclusive workplaces

Date: September 17, 2024, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Location: Online 

Description: This CCDI webinar will help participants question assumptions about age and will introduce an intersectional lens to better understand ageism, define the impacts of ageism in the workplace, and share inclusion strategies.

2024 Atlantic Indigenous-Led Energy Symposium

Date: September 18 – 20, 2024

Location: Fredericton Convention Centre, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Description: Discover Indigenous-led projects that are defining the energy landscape in Atlantic Canada and join leaders from First Nation communities, utilities, government, and industry, for conversation and collaboration focused on advancements in the energy sector.

11th Annual Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards

Date: September 19, 2024, from 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM PDT

Location: PARQ Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Enjoy engaging presentations, thought-provoking discussions, and networking opportunities while celebrating BC’s employers and individuals who are leading the way in disability inclusion and accessibility.

The Global Conference on Substance Use, Addiction, Suicide & Mental Resilience

Date: September 20 – 22, 2024

Location: 237 Sackville Street, Toronto, Ontario

Description: Following the theme “Navigating Paths to Wellness,” this conference aims to provide a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and learning; address complex challenges; promote mental resilience within the African Canadian community; and harness shared knowledge and experiences to foster a culture of understanding, support, and wellbeing.

UN Global Compact Leaders Summit

Date: September 24 — 25, 2024

Location: The Nest Climate Campus, Javits Center North, New York City, New York, United States

Description: At the UN Global Compact’s dynamic conference, meet with hundreds of sustainability leaders, participate in targeted actionable breakouts, engage with peers, discover companies driving impact on accelerating the SDGs, and access the tools, network, knowledge, and inspiration you need to scale up your impact and shape the future of responsible business. Plus, stick around for Forward Faster Acceleration Day and join high-intensity workshops that will help you meet targets in five action areas: gender equality, climate action, living wage, water resilience, and finance and investment.

Canadian Stewardship Conference

Date: September 24 – 25, 2024

Location: Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, Ontario 

Description: Attend this extended producer responsibility (EPR) conference to uncover the latest EPR trends, equipment, services, emerging programs, and regulations; promote dialogue and understanding; and learn from and connect with industry experts, waste management and recycling professionals, government representatives, stewardship program operators, and all segments of the EPR community.

Make The World Better Day

Date: TBD

Location: Online & In-Person, Vancouver, British Columbia

Description: Sparx’s annual in-house purpose-driven event. More information coming soon!

SPC Advance 2024

Date: September 30 – October 2, 2024

Location: Hilton Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States 

Description: This SPC Advance members event will explore the theme, “Further & Faster Carbon Reduction with Better Packaging,” and will include sessions based on innovation, recovery, and packaging design and policy, bringing together attendees from across the packaging supply chain to accelerate sustainability and reduce emissions.

RSVP for a Free Consultation with Sparx

On a mission to make the world better? Our marketing experts can help make your impact story shine. Let’s talk purpose.

Categories
Make The World Better Magazine

Canadian Purpose Economy Project: Uniting Purpose Businesses

Social purpose businesses have the power to create a better world. Unfortunately, our well-established systems often hinder would-be changemakers from taking the leap. By collaborating and educating others, we can change our economic thinking and inspire those interested in social purpose to act.

We spoke with Mike Rowlands, President & CEO at Junxion Strategy and one of the Founding Champions of the Canadian Purpose Economy Project, about how the Project is uniting businesses to accelerate Canada’s transition to a purpose economy.

Canadian Purpose Economy Project co-founder and ‘Purpose Champion’ Mike Rowlands addresses The Partnership Conference, October 2023.

What inspired the founders of CPEP to start advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

We’re all veterans of the last few decades’ work toward corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and social impact. While we all see and appreciate the vast societal gains that capitalism has delivered, we also see the deep challenges that exist under unfettered capitalism: income inequalities, the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, social injustices, and more.

We began by exploring how we might encourage more companies to take up a social purpose as the reason they exist. A social purpose business is a company whose enduring reason for being is to create a better world. It is an engine for good, creating social benefits by the very act of doing business. Its growth is a positive force in society, and social purpose businesses do well by doing good.

There’s a strong business case for social purpose businesses: companies benefit from higher customer loyalty, staff engagement and retention, and even higher rates of innovation.

It wasn’t long before we started asking, “How might we develop a social purpose economy in Canada?” As in, an economy powered by the pursuit of long-term wellbeing for all, in which business, regulatory, and financial systems foster an equitable, flourishing, resilient future.

We’re inspired by the possibilities a social purpose economy might bring for all Canadians when collective wellbeing is centred.

What do you consider to be your biggest success as an advocate and professional in this space? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

We have a long way to go before we meet our vision that 25% of Canadian businesses have taken up a social purpose, are authentically operationalizing it, and are collaborating with others to achieve it. But we’ve made some great headway.

Perhaps our biggest success is the recently-launched “A Call to Purpose: Building a Canadian Purpose Economy.” This is a letter co-written by six of Canada’s most prominent CEOs calling on their peers to embrace social purpose in their businesses. Nearly 100 other CEOs have endorsed it, and many leading thinkers (who don’t happen to occupy CEO positions) are also supporting it.

It’s gratifying and exciting to see the names on that list, which includes some of Canada’s most impressive corporations and brands. The credibility that group brings to our vision and mission is significant, which is a meaningful accomplishment in itself.

There have been many surprises in this work, but two in particular come to mind. The first is the credit many CEOs give to their social purpose for inspiring significant innovation and extension of their companies. Whole new enterprises have been established simply because executive teams were able to look differently at the role and scope of their businesses. Secondly, it’s been a very pleasant surprise to learn of deep interest in social purpose in companies that we expected would be the laggards. Some of the most ardent supporters of social purpose are leading some of the most traditional businesses, including natural resource-based companies that are so important to the Canadian economy.

How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better?

There’s an old, familiar saying in business: “What gets measured gets managed.” When all our attention is focused on financial metrics (i.e. revenue and margins at the company level, GDP and household incomes at the level of the economy), we attend to financial returns. We too easily ignore “externalities” like carbon emissions, insufficient wages, and erosion of the living systems on which we most deeply rely.

By shifting our thinking toward human and planetary wellbeing, we avail ourselves of an entirely different suite of metrics — new, better measures of a more holistic definition of success.

I could get all philosophical and talk about the history of economic thinking and the problems of a reductionist, Western scientific worldview, but it’s simpler and more intuitive than that: surely the very purpose of society is to assure our collective wellbeing! And our economy exists not to serve only those who hold wealth, but society as a whole, so our economics simply must be refined to focus on delivering wellbeing for all.

Consider the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — the world’s answer to the question, “What must we do in order to live together on Earth sustainably?” Each of the SDGs points to a profound enhancement of planetary and human wellbeing, and they were unanimously agreed upon by 192 UN member nations. These must guide our economic thinking from the level of national economic policy to the decisions in executive suites.

Canadian Purpose Economy Project co-founders and ‘Purpose Champions’ Mike Rowlands and Coro Strandberg speak to Social Impact Professionals Canada, November 2023.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

The greatest challenge in advocating for a Wellbeing Economy is the status quo. Many powerful forces benefit from “the way it’s always been.” So, how do we inspire new thinking?

There’s a great quote attributed to Buckminster Fuller: instead of changing the old system, “build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” That’s essentially what we’re aiming to do. By introducing new ways of thinking about economic systems — starting with the way the world does business — we’ll introduce a new system anchored in metrics that prioritize human and planetary wellbeing.

Of course, a great many people were educated and have built their lives, enterprises, and ideas of success in an old system, an old paradigm. Can we “teach old dogs new tricks?” Looks like there are ways we can, including attaching social purpose to leaders’ sense of impact and legacy, showcasing “traditional” businesses that are embracing the new paradigm, and uplifting the success stories of those who are charting a different path in their work and careers.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects related to your work/the Wellbeing Economy you’d like to share?

We’re definitely keen to continue generating support for “A Call to Purpose.” The more people endorse and support that letter, the more momentum it will build as we engage CEOs and business leaders across the country, as well as other economic actors and decision-makers.

Next, though, we’re keen to equip professional advisors to support companies that want to make a transition to social purpose. We’re aiming to develop a new credential for corporate social responsibility professionals to help with that.

We’re also working with industry and trade associations, encouraging them to adopt a social purpose, and then we encourage their members to do so as well. This could really amplify and accelerate this work.

What can people do to help spread the word about or take action toward transitioning to the Wellbeing Economy? How can they support your mission?

The Canadian Purpose Economy Project exists to accelerate the transition to the purpose economy. In order to engage national ecosystem actors, we need the support of equally ambitious funders, partners, and amplifiers.

A handful of generous sponsors have supported our work to date. We’re keen to meet with others.

We’re already partnering extensively with conveners, educators, associations, networks, and others to advance aspects of our work. Again, we’re keen to welcome other partners into the work we’re doing across our 10 levers of change.

People can join the social purpose community by signing up for our newsletter and referring associations in their network to us so we can accelerate social purpose in business through their memberships.And finally, we’re grateful to have this opportunity to amplify the work that’s going on under our Project banner. The more conversations we can spark, the more action we can inspire. And the more action we can inspire, the faster we’ll all benefit from a purpose economy.

This story was featured in the Make The World Better Magazine:

Categories
Make The World Better Magazine

Anglian Water: Embedding Purpose in Every Drop

Amid the complex and pressing crises facing our world, an inescapable truth has become clear: business as usual will not solve today’s biggest challenges. To overcome our collective crises and contribute to the wellbeing of people and planet, we need to reorient our business models around purpose.

We spoke with Andy Brown, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Anglian Water, a water company that operates in the East of England, about how this company changed its model to set purpose at the heart of its constitution and is demonstrating that it works.

Andy Brown talking with an attendee at the Sustainable Schools Conference in May 2023.

What inspired your founders to start advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

Anglian Water has always believed that we should be a purpose-led business contributing to a Wellbeing Economy. But it was the realization of the impacts of the changing climate and the growing population that crystalized the fact that we could not continue with business as usual. 

The year 2010 saw us start to make real changes, as we brought our sustainability strategy and our business plan together to create a single sustainable business plan based around 10 environmental and social outcomes that we had co-created with our customers. 

The next step came in 2019 when we created our purpose: “to bring environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve.” This was not a statement to put up behind reception in our head office; this was built into our constitution as we amended our Articles of Association.

What do you consider to be your biggest success as an advocate and professional in this space? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

When we changed our Articles of Association to embed our purpose, our board also stated that they wanted to be held accountable to a set of responsible business principles. I was tasked with reviewing and recommending these, but nothing seemed to really get to the heart of what it meant to be a purpose-driven organization and deliver against the Wellbeing Economy. So, we approached the British Standards Institution about creating something new. What followed was the development of a partnership and the creation of a new Publicly Available Specification, PAS 808:2022 Purpose-driven organizations. Worldviews, principles and behaviours for delivering sustainability. 

After two years of development, input from a brilliant cross-sector steering group, comments from a public consultation, and great guidance from our Technical Author, Dr. Victoria Hurth, it was launched in 2022. 

Since that time, I have been involved in promoting it throughout the UK and have established a community of practice that includes more than 100 individuals from organizations large and small. I have been asked to speak about it to sustainability consultants who want to use it to support their clients, to banks who are considering how it can improve their approach, food producers who think it can demonstrate their sustainability credentials, and by a university that is using it as the framework for their new social purpose. What surprised me was, despite the complexity of the subject, the immediate and widespread interest in the framework.

How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better?

The challenges that we face from a changing climate, a biodiversity crisis, and population growth are too great for us to meet by maintaining the status quo. So, we have to reposition ourselves and our organizations to understand that to survive and thrive we have to maintain and enhance the wellbeing of the environment and the communities that rely on it. Making a fair return for our activities should not be incompatible with that, but our meta-purpose must be to make a positive difference in the world in which we live. 

But for this meta-purpose to be achieved, all organizations need to get to this point of realization. I guess I see this shift in business model and a move to a Wellbeing Economy as fundamental in addressing and reversing the challenges that the planet and all of us who live on it face today.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

We are trying to change a well-established norm and that is always a challenge, but the evidence to drive change simply gets clearer year over year. As a business that plans for the longer term, with a Strategic Direction Statement and a Long-Term Delivery Strategy that both look 25 years into the future, it is perhaps easier for us to understand the risks that we face and the inescapable truth that our business model needed to change. For others that are focused purely on the short term, this can often be much harder to grasp. 

The decision to focus on purpose and the delivery of a Wellbeing Economy has to be made in the boardroom, and so the role of peer advocacy is critical; CEOs, CFOs, and CSOs in organizations that have made the change must stand up and be counted. But increasing focus from the investment community and frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation are also raising the profile of these issues at the board.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects related to your work/the Wellbeing Economy you’d like to share?

As an industry, there are many exciting technical developments, including the movement from traditionally-built treatment solutions to nature-based solutions and the rapid scaling up, the creation of digital twins in ecological catchments to help us make better decisions, great strides in the development of real-time monitoring and sharing of data, the creation of water smart communities, and even the role of sewage in creating sustainable aviation fuel. For me, though, it still comes back to the basics of changing the business model and demonstrating that it works. 

We have been reviewing ourselves against PAS 808 and this has just been independently assessed by BSI, and we will share this assessment in 2024. Even though we had changed our Articles of Association, built our culture and values on this purpose, developed a six capitals approach to our investment decision-making, and changed our reward policies to support our purpose, we still found further areas for improvement. We want to share this so that other organizations can see how this can lead to developments and improvements in how you operate.

What can people do to help spread the word about or take action toward transitioning to the Wellbeing Economy? How can they support your mission?

Although PAS 808 was produced in the UK, it’s applicable to any organization anywhere in the world. So, I would say start with downloading and reading that; it was such an important subject that we agreed with BSI that it should be free to access. It doesn’t matter where you and your organization are on this journey, it can be used as a framework to establish your purpose, challenge and evolve your current purpose, or evaluate the success of your purpose and assess how you are displaying the behaviours of a purpose-driven organization and if that is supporting the meta-purpose of the Wellbeing Economy.

Then I would say join the “PAS 808: purpose-driven organisations” community of practice on LinkedIn, where you can share your thoughts and hear the experiences of others who are trying to embed purpose and work toward a Wellbeing Economy. 

And of course, we can all use a bit of moral support, and this group can give that too.

This story was featured in the Make The World Better Magazine:

Categories
Make The World Better Magazine

Inspired Villages: Advocating for Meaningful Retirement

If we want to make the world better and ensure long-term wellbeing for all, everyone needs access to a high quality of life that inspires them to live with purpose while protecting the planet. Retirement communities are often seen as antithetical to these goals and aging is widely misunderstood. Thankfully, there are purpose-driven retirement villages that provide this demographic with everything they need to enjoy the later phase of life.

We spoke with Jamie Bunce, CEO of Inspired Villages, a retirement village brand operating in the United Kingdom, about how this company is creating sustainable retirement communities that empower residents to live their purpose.

Inspired resident Jan Grayson on her Balcony at Elderswell Village, Bedfordshire.

What inspired your founders to start advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

I got into the property sector relatively early when I went to work for a small building contractor on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) after leaving school at 15. Over time, I moved from construction to development, where I spent many years expanding my horizons and covering all manner of projects, including town regeneration. In 2008, I started a development and project management business, and it was during this time that my first living business was created with a focus on retirement communities. This sparked a passion that drives my career to this day. 

Inspired Villages was born in 2017 when my fellow founders and I secured funding through a joint venture with Legal & General and NatWest Group Pension Fund to develop and operate a growing portfolio of communities. I took the role of CEO and have overseen the rapid growth of the business from 25 to 350 colleagues today, supporting over 1,200 residents with a secured pipeline of 2,800 later-living properties across the UK. 

Purpose is a core part of life, and my key career decisions have been driven by purpose. I like to see a direct physical result from what I do, and at Inspired Villages we make a tangible, positive impact on people’s lives and wider communities. Running this business allows me to match my purpose with the business outcome. 

What do you consider to be your biggest success as an advocate and professional in this space? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

I’m not always surprised but I am inspired on a daily basis. On average, our gym-going residents see a nearly nine-year reduction in their biological age. One particular resident has actually improved hers by almost 20 years, which I was not just surprised but amazed by! 

Another resident had a tour of our village in a mobility scooter and within three months of moving in started a walking club thanks to her improved mobility. A gentleman who moved into a village to be closer to his family following a life-changing accident now visits the gym three times a week. 

We also just opened the UK’s first net-zero (regulated energy) retirement community with our Millfield Green village, which is a hugely proud moment for Inspired as an organization and me personally as CEO. It will become the blueprint for all our future communities as we explore better ways to reduce our environmental impact as well as drive and promote positive benefits to the residents and wider communities from a wellbeing point of view. 

How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better?

I recently attended the fantastic event, Anthropy23. The objective is for business leaders to come together and consider how their purpose can drive positive change for the sake of people, planet, and places. Nowhere is this shift more present than at Anthropy, and I was delighted to represent Inspired Villages and the integrated retirement communities (IRC) sector there. The talks and panels focused on things we have to be optimistic about and how impactful change we make now can be integral to making the world a better place.

I joined a panel on how we change the narrative on aging as we phase into a 100-year life span, and there was so much enthusiasm for the work Inspired and many others on the panel do to help improve the narrative on aging as well support the wellbeing of our aging population. At its core, this demographic has so much to offer society: they are experienced, proud, passionate, and curious about trying new things. When we recognize that and empower them to remain active, connected corporate citizens long past retirement, the world will certainly be a better place to be and, integral to our purpose at Inspired, a better place to grow old. 

Jamie Bunce

What are some of the challenges you typically face in advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

There’s a huge misconception around retirement communities. We create vibrant, connected places that can have a hugely positive impact on the lives of residents while also benefitting the wider community. It’s proven that residents visit the GP less and stay active for longer. 

We create intergenerational spaces with cafés that are open for lunch and dinner to nearby families, alongside gyms where locals can keep fit. Our villages can bring so much life and activity to wider communities, so shifting perception of what living in a village is like and that it isn’t an old people’s home or care facility is a key challenge.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects related to your work/the Wellbeing Economy you’d like to share?

We have just opened our ninth village, Millfield Green, and we are already looking ahead to our next openings in 2024 for our Ampfield Meadows and Blendworth Hills villages. Although we’ve achieved the first net-zero village for regulated energy, we’re not stopping there and are always looking at ways we can further reduce our impact on the planet. There’s lots of work being done on how we can fulfill our climate-positive and nature-positive business commitments. 

Guided by our purpose, we are creating communities rather than building homes, going far beyond bricks and mortar. We have something very exciting that we’ve been working with residents on over the last few months. We recognize that less than 5% of the UK will end up living in an Integrated Retirement Community like an Inspired Village. But we know the positive impact this can have on their life, so we are working on how we can use technology to extend the reach of this benefit to those in society who need it the most. Watch this space.  

What can people do to help spread the word about or take action toward transitioning to the Wellbeing Economy? How can they support your mission?

Our purpose is to create communities where people can live the best years of their life. To do this, we need to change the narrative on aging, and I would encourage everyone to really throw away the stereotype of what later life is like. It’s a time to learn new things, visit new places, and expand your horizons, so you too can live your life with purpose, whatever your age.

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NATIVA: Writing a New Economic Narrative

Our current economic systems are extractive, and the focus on profit can stifle purpose. To enact systems change we need to imagine the “unthinkable” and embrace new, purpose-driven models that generate shared value for the benefit of all.

We spoke with Eric Ezechieli, Co-Founder of NATIVA, about how this company is connecting legacy leaders and accelerating the transition to a regenerative paradigm in Italy and globally.

What inspired you to start advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

I grew up in the middle of the Italian Alps, and this has allowed me to live immersed in nature, experiencing the Oneness that connects humans and natural systems. When I was about 15, I felt that something did not work in our way of living, but I could not focus on what that was until I read The Limits to Growth, commissioned by the Club of Rome and published by MIT in 1972. Those pages, authored by Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jørgen Randers, William W. Behrens III, and a team of researchers, made me realize that the human species and an economic system of pursuing unlimited growth could not have a future on a finite planet.

Later, during my university studies in business and economics, I realized that, according to the dominant economic model, the purpose of a business is to create value for the shareholders, without proper consideration for other stakeholders, such as employees, the community in which the company operates, and nature. As a consequence, the unsustainability crisis can only get worse and worse: a systematic and exponentially accelerating decline in biocapacity and trust between people. 

In 2010, Paolo Di Cesare and I merged our competencies and our strong desire to make change happen, leading to the creation of NATIVA in 2012. 

Our company exists to accelerate the transition from an extractive economic paradigm to a regenerative one, wherein businesses are capable of generating greater economic, social, and environmental value than what they take to operate and make a profit. This vision closely aligns with that of the Wellbeing Economy. 

Today, we are a team of 70 individuals, and we take pride in supporting some of the most significant Italian and international companies in radically evolving their models.

The NATIVA team in 2022.

What do you consider to be your biggest success as an advocate and professional in this space? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

When Paolo and I founded NATIVA, it seemed obvious to us to write within our Articles of Association that the purpose of our company was to generate a positive impact on society and on people, as well as the creation of profit. This ambition turned into a surprising discovery: our intention was not acceptable within the Italian legal system, since it did encompass a purpose other than the generation of profit. After being rejected four times, NATIVA’s bylaws were finally accepted by the Italian Business Register, with its original corporate purpose. This experience triggered our resolve to change the law.

The Articles of Association of NATIVA were actually an adaptation of the Model Benefit Corporation Legislation (MBCL), which, at the time, existed only in six US states. A Benefit Corporation considers the creation of value for stakeholders in its bylaws. This governance structure requires managers to balance the interests of shareholders with the interests of society and the environment. This shift lays solid foundations for embarking on the journey toward sustainability because shareholders assign a broader mandate to the management. 

Through our efforts and the collaboration with a team led by the Italian senator Mauro Del Barba, since 2016, the legislation recognizing Benefit Corporations (known as Società Benefit) has been introduced in Italy, which became the first sovereign state to recognize this legal status. 

It’s fantastic to see that globally there are over 20,000 Benefit Corporations, 3,200 of which are in Italy. If “Società Benefit” were a single company, it would be the largest in the country, counting almost 200,000 employees. Benefit Corporations are distributed across 38 states in the United States and various countries including Italy, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Ecuador, Peru, Rwanda, Spain, and Panama, and some of the most well-known B Corps include Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, Kickstarter, Ferrarelle, illycaffè, and Nespresso Italy. 

How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better?

Wellbeing and regeneration should be the only purpose of most human activities. The contrary sounds suspicious; how could anyone make a profit at the cost of social and natural systems? We will eventually evolve toward an “Economy of Care” in which people and businesses are rewarded the most when they take care of people and nature. Imagine a future when business, one of the most powerful forces on Earth — capable of changing landscapes, influencing the lives of millions, and altering the climate — starts using all its power to generate shared value for the benefit of all: communities, workers, the planet, and shareholders. This will change the course of capitalism and history.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

To shift to a Wellbeing Economy we need to create a new “mythology” to replace the prevailing old one, which eventually creates death instead of life and therefore could be labelled as “extinctionist.” There are now millions of individuals and business leaders worldwide who sense the urgency to take action. For us, these people have a name: legacy leaders. They have decided to embrace an extreme, new way of doing business, inspired by the awareness and a clear understanding of the role they want to play in creating the future. 

Another exciting challenge for us is to find them, empower them to unleash the full potential of their businesses, and connect them with each other through activities and initiatives that can multiply positive impact.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects related to your work/the Wellbeing Economy you’d like to share?

In Italy in June 2022, we launched CO2alition, an initiative involving a group of companies committed to climate neutrality. Today, it involves 89 Italian companies with a total turnover exceeding €30 billion and more than 40,000 employees. Its aim is to push beyond a pledge of climate neutrality and generate a “system action” using the tools of stakeholder governance. The companies that are part of CO2alition include climate neutrality in their Articles of Association. As such, they will have to publicly report year on year the progress they make in the implementation of such contributions. In this decisive moment of history, we firmly believe that this will create a framework to collectively achieve a single objective. Therefore, today we are seeking partners who are willing to promote this initiative beyond Italy, within their respective nations. Many discussions are underway.

The launch of CO2alition.

What can people do to help spread the word about or take action toward transitioning to the Wellbeing Economy? How can they support your mission?

A change of mindset is the main prerequisite for system change. In order to accelerate in this direction, we must guarantee every human being the freedom and the cultural tools to imagine what today is regarded as “unthinkable” — unthinkable due to the sole fact that no one has imagined it before. When we reflect on a new model, a new project, a new product, or when we make a choice, in business or our private lives, it will be essential to combine freedom with awareness and learn to exceed the limits, including the cultural ones, that we have decided to impose upon ourselves, freeing us from the myths that could compromise our future and that of coming generations. This is the way. As NATIVA’s saying goes, “Embrace Radicality and Evolution Will Flow.”

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Network of Wellbeing: Igniting Connection and Action

In the battle for a sustainable future, negative messages tend to steal the spotlight. Folks are constantly barraged with what they should not do rather than being shown practical examples of active steps they can take to make a positive difference. 

We spoke with Roger Higman, Director of Network of Wellbeing, about how this network is connecting people passionate about wellbeing for all and providing tangible ways to contribute to a sustainable world.

What inspired you to start advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

I have over 30 years of experience campaigning on environmental issues. Previously, I worked in a variety of positions at Friends of the Earth in London, where I ended up with the responsibility for integrating messages on economics, fairness, and the environment into a coherent whole. 

In doing that, I came to the conclusion that many of the debates that we engaged in (and even the structure of our organizations) focused almost exclusively on the problems we were concerned with: climate change, biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, and so on. As a result, it was easier for us to say what we were against than what we were for. Moreover, those positive visions that had been developed, such as sustainable development, tended to focus on what society should be like rather than what individuals could aspire to. As such, they were difficult to explain and often left a vacuum in which the public heard only negative messages, like “don’t drive,” “don’t fly,” “don’t eat meat,” “don’t use plastics,” and so on. 

So, when I started learning about wellbeing, I was hooked. Here was something we could all aspire to that needn’t cost the Earth. Looking deeper, especially at the evidence from positive psychology, I realized that if we directed societies toward wellbeing, we could create fairer, sustainable civilizations through which everybody could thrive.

For the last nine years, I have been the Director of the Network of Wellbeing (NOW). Our mission is to connect people, support projects, and inspire action for the wellbeing of people and planet. That has enabled me to host debates on the Wellbeing Economy and create practical projects that give an idea of what a Wellbeing Economy might look like in practice.

What do you consider to be your biggest success as an advocate and professional in this space? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Three things. 

Firstly, we’ve brought the UK’s nascent wellbeing movement together through events in ways that hadn’t previously been done. In 2017, and then again in 2019, we organized two Building Wellbeing Together weekends at the lovely Hawkwood College in Stroud. It demonstrated that there were people across the UK and beyond who thought along similar lines and was a factor in the setting up of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll). 

Secondly, in 2017, we set up the Share Shed — A Library of Things. This enables people to borrow things they only use occasionally, thereby enabling people to pursue their dreams while saving them money and reducing the consumption of natural resources. A film made at the launch was viewed over 1.5 million times by people all over the world. In 2021, the Share Shed went mobile as the world’s first travelling library of things. It now serves seven towns weekly and is a testament to how a new Wellbeing Economy could help people meet their needs at lower cost to themselves and the planet. 

Thirdly, you may not believe it but, in 2018, someone gave us a retreat centre! Nestled on a hillside in the Devon countryside, Eden Rise comprises two linked 19th-century barns that have been converted to sleep up to 20 people. It is our very own haven for wellbeing and is used for all sorts of yoga, meditation, and personal development retreats.

Attendees at this ShareFest in 2018 took action to prevent waste by repairing broken items.

How do you feel that shifting to a Wellbeing Economy will help make the world better?

When we focus on wellbeing, we focus on what truly matters to people. That means we factor in the importance of fairness, work-life balance, public space and public institutions, vibrant and supportive communities, and respect for natural ecosystems and the benefits they provide. The world has enough for everyone’s needs but not for the greed of those who want it all. By focusing on wellbeing, we can meet people’s needs — the physical ones, for fresh air, water, food, shelter, and so on; and the emotional needs for connection, love, friendship, meaning, purpose, and more. And we can do so in ways that preserve the Earth so that future generations can meet their needs too.   

What are some of the challenges you typically face in advocating for the Wellbeing Economy?

The world is the way it is because somebody benefits from it. There are vast corporations and their shareholders with an interest in the resource-intensive, polluting, unfair economy we have now. These institutions have a stranglehold on political discourse and will resist change. Yet, we can subvert and resist that stranglehold. By discussing and demonstrating what could be, we show people that a better world can exist. By demanding and pressing for changes to policy and practices, we bring that better world into existence.   

In 2017, the Network of Wellbeing brought many of the UK’s leading wellbeing practitioners together to help build a movement for a better world.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects related to your work/the Wellbeing Economy you’d like to share?

This year, we’re focusing on our offer to our audience. We have almost 30,000 people following us, including over 5,000 who have signed up for our monthly newsletter. We know that these people have a passion for wellbeing and many work professionally to deliver it in practice. We’re working to improve our offer to them. We know they want more online events (because they’ve told us) so we’re working to set these up. 

But, we’re also keen to explore whether we can inspire these people to act — by connecting them with each other. At the moment, we struggle to reach our audience on social media. The algorithms seem to be against us. For example, over 700 people have signed up for our Building Wellbeing Together group on Facebook, but a typical post is only seen by about 50. So we’re exploring whether we can set up our own online social network. We hope that, by connecting people with like-minded, passionate people, they will become advocates for our mission and, as a result, a host of new ideas will bloom.       

What can people do to help spread word about or take action toward transitioning to the Wellbeing Economy? How can they support your mission?

We have a presence on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. People can follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter. 

We also welcome contributors to our blog and love to publicize events organized by others.

We live through collaboration and are open to suggestions for partnerships of all kinds.

This story was featured in the Make The World Better Magazine: