Tag: Sustainability

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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.

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Make The World Better Magazine

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.”

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

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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:

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Sustainability Tips

20+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day 2024

Love is in the air. It inspires us to do a world of good and does us a world of good, too. And so we look to celebrate the people who have brought so much joy to our lives by giving them a gift that will bring them joy.

Unfortunately, gift-giving can have consequences that aren’t so lovely, as it can generate waste or negatively impact the environment. But there are ways to give that are both heartwarming and sustainable.

Experiences make for excellent (zero-waste) gifts. After all, who doesn’t love spending time with their special someone? Rather than purchasing something new, consider creating memories your Valentine will always cherish by planning eco-friendly activities. For example, you could…

  • Enjoy Nature: Go for a walk or (tandem) bike ride and explore together. You may discover new paths and places to visit, interesting wildlife, and beautiful scenery.
  • Volunteer: Team up and take action like a true power couple by cleaning up local parks, beaches, or shorelines; helping at soup kitchens and shelters; or finding another way to volunteer. 
  • Have a Sustainable Dinner Date: Enjoy a sustainable dinner date with your beloved by ordering a zero-waste surprise bag with the Too Good To Go app, using waste-prevention recipes from Love Food Hate Waste Canada, or find an eco-friendly restaurant in the Vancouver area with EcoMeter. Want to try making dessert together? Check out Susgrainable’s upcycled barley flour baking mixes or visit EMKAO Foods to get the ethical and sustainably sourced ingredients you need to make your own chocolate treats.
  • Go Thrifting: Visit thrift shops, flea markets, and secondhand stores together to enjoy browsing through unique previously-loved items. You never know what treasures you’ll uncover — you may even find a one-of-a-kind gift!

However, if you want to buy a gift for your beloved, have no fear! We’ve compiled several eco-friendly gift suggestions that will help express your love while supporting the environment and other wonderful causes. Because nothing says heartfelt like a gift with real impact.

Just a reminder: be sure to package your gifts responsibly! Gift wrap tends to produce a lot of waste. Go reusable wherever possible (reusable bags, furoshiki wraps, scarves, newspapers, etc.) or present your gift wrap-free. 

Books & Stationery

Mimi & August Valentine’s Day Cards – These eco-friendly Valentine’s Day Cards made from recycled paper are perfect for sending a heartfelt message to your beloved.

Raoul & Simone Bouquet Notebooks – Give a lasting bouquet with these floral-themed notebooks made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, produced using renewable energy, and have a recyclable velvet finish.

SproutWorld Pencils Spread the Love Edition – Let your love blossom with these regenerative plantable pencils, which are engraved with heartwarming quotes and contain various wildflower and herb seeds.

Sustainable Home by Christine Liu – Is your Valentine devoted to circular economy initiatives? Support their love with this practical guide to sustainable living so they can strengthen their commitment to the cause. Ebook options are available, and consider tracking down a previously loved copy and/or sharing with a friend for an extra eco-conscious touch!

Clothing & Apparel

Anne Mulaire Zero Waste Collection and Carbon Neutral Clothing Collection – Pick something unique, sustainable, and practical for your Valentine from these zero waste and carbon neutral collections by women-led, Indigenous-owned brand Anne Mulaire.

The Ocean Cleanup Recycled Sweatshirt – Show them your love is as deep as the ocean with this circular economy recycled sweatshirt. Or check out this page to donate to the Ocean Cleanup on behalf of your loved one and gift them a personalized donor certificate.

Province of Canada Recycled Socks – Help the homeless and give your Valentine a thoughtful gift that will have them walking on a cloud with these recycled cotton socks.

Sheppards Hook X Serena Wilson Stubson Collaboration necklaces – These collaboratively made eco-friendly, zero-waste necklaces are a unique and striking gift that will remain close to your beloved’s heart.

Food & Drink

Pluck Tea Valentine’s Day Teas – Find the perfect tea for your sweetie with Pluck Tea’s sustainably sourced and packaged Valentine’s collection.

Raven Rising Valentine’s Day Collection – Explore the Valentine’s Day collection and choose a beautiful and sustainable confection for your beloved from Indigenous women-owned and -operated brand Raven Rising.

Salt Spring Coffee French Roast Coffee – With caramel and chocolate notes, serving up this ethical, sustainable, 100% shade-grown French Roast coffee will be a real treat for your Valentine. Pair it with a Salt Spring Coffee CARE cup to really express yourself!

Southbrook Vineyards Valentine’s Day Bundle – Impress your Valentine with this romantic bundle, featuring organic and local Canadian-made wines and goods from Southbrook Vineyards, which has several sustainability certifications.

Home & Decor

Anián Recycled Wool Throw Blanket – Warm their heart with this warm and cozy recycled wool throw blanket made by Canadian circular fashion company Anián.

Goodee Mia Mini Vase Trio – Each vase in this beautiful set, available through Certified B Corp Goodee, is individually mouth-blown by expert artisans using 100% recycled glass.

Mala the Brand xoxo | mini candle gift set – Plant a tree with this trio of sweet-smelling sustainably made candles for your sweetie, hand-poured with love in Canada.

Nature Bee Valentine’s Day Swedish Dishcloth – Hearts and Stripes – These lovely dishcloths, made by an inclusive, woman-owned Canadian company, will add a sustainable touch to your beloved’s home.

Personal Care

Bottle None Travel Sets – Want to plan an adventure with your beloved? Help them prepare with these zero-waste soap and hair travel sets made from 100% recycled Canadian plastic.

Cheekbone Beauty Refillable Collection – Find the perfect sustainable gift for pampering your beloved with this refillable collection from Indigenous-owned and -operated B Corp Cheekbone Beauty.

Sisters Sage Pink Sugar Bath Bomb – From Indigenous brand Sisters Sage, these handmade, sustainable pink sugar bath bombs are a sweet-smelling gift for your sweetie.

The Yukon Soaps Company Essential Oil Blend Gift Set – Support Indigenous communities and delight your beloved with this soothing set of four natural, sustainable essential oil blends from Indigenous brand The Yukon Soaps Company.

Will You Be Our Valentine?

Are you engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? We (not-so-secretly) admire that. Contact us for a free consultation. We would love to spread the love (and impact) to your audience.

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Make The World Better Magazine

Sustainability Advantage: Equipping Sustainability Champions

Building a sustainable world where future generations can flourish within nature’s limits is going to take a lot of work from dedicated communities. In order to accelerate their sustainability journey, changemakers need free, accessible resources that will help them carry out this work as effectively as possible.

We spoke with Bob Willard, Founder of Sustainability Advantage, about how his platform is providing sustainability champions worldwide with the tools they need to make a lasting impact.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start creating Sustainable Advantage content?

There were four sparks that inspired me.

First, in the mid-1990s, my wife and I became concerned about the planned location of a new water treatment plant for our community, Ajax, Ontario. We were uneasy about its close proximity to the upstream Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. Our concerns about the amount of unremovable radioactive tritium in our drinking water led to a three-year effort with multiple levels of government to relocate the water treatment plant. We were not successful. However, the intake pipe for the water plant was angled away from the Pickering nuclear plant, further out into Lake Ontario and deeper down, so the tritium would be more diluted. The experience shook my naïve faith that the people in charge were looking after us. It was a wake-up call that, as citizens, we sometimes have to roll up our sleeves and get involved. We also moved.

Second, during the water plant saga, my day job was leadership development at IBM Canada. We used learning organization principles in that training, so I undertook a part-time master’s degree about learning organizations at the University of Toronto (UofT). As the water plant issue evolved, I decided to complete my studies with courses at the UofT School of the Environment. That was an eye-opener. I had no idea how we were jeopardizing the ecosystem services on which human civilization depends. There were bigger issues than tritium in drinking water that needed our attention.

Third, also during the mid-1990s, I stumbled across The Natural Step (TNS) and learned how we were violating the four science-based system conditions for a thriving human society of a finite planet. We expect governments to fix this, but governments can’t do it alone. From my 34 years of experience at IBM, I knew that the resources, creativity, and influence of the business community were needed as well. But most companies only do things that benefit their bottom lines. We needed a compelling business case that reassured companies it was in their best interest to help address pressing environmental and social issues. I couldn’t find a convincing business case for corporate sustainability, so I decided to create one. It was my master’s thesis.

Fourth, my master’s thesis advisor casually suggested that I should convert my thesis into a book. I laughed. Why would I do that? Writing a book sounded like a lot of work. But he had planted a seed. In 2000, I received my master’s degree and retired from IBM. I don’t golf, so I decided to spend my leisure hours converting my thesis into a book, The Sustainability Advantage. I also created spreadsheets to help any company assess how much more profit it could make if it improved its environmental and social impacts. The book was published in 2002. The same year, I founded my sole proprietorship, Sustainability Advantage. 

Being a father, and soon-to-be grandfather, those four seeds found fertile ground, and my new career as a sustainability champion was launched. My family’s future was at stake. We need all hands on deck with tools that enable them to be effective change agents.

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?

Over the last 23 years, I have written six books, one of which is available in Portuguese, and given over 1,600 talks worldwide. I have served on the boards of many not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations. I am a Certified B Corp, qualify as a social enterprise, and have earned several awards for my work. I provide over a dozen free, open-source tools on my website to help sustainability champions assess organizational sustainability performance and cost-justify improvements. Subscribers can use and tailor the 900+ slides in my six Master Slide Decks for their purposes, saving them the effort of researching and creating the slides from scratch.

I am helping sustainability champions make an impact with these resources. Occasionally, I am approached by someone who heard me do a talk several years ago and they say it changed their lives. I get asked back to do guest presentations in college and university courses and do many keynotes at conferences worldwide. “Success” is creating resources that are useful. So far, I have anecdotal evidence that they are for the thousands who have downloaded them. That’s good enough for me.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

“You have to do it yourself; you can’t do it alone,” is one of the leadership paradoxes I explain in The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook. As a sole proprietor, I have to work through others. I’ve served on the boards of influential organizations like TNS Canada, the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC), and B Lab’s Standards Advisory Council (SAC). My website platform, with over a dozen free, open-source resources, helps the community of sustainability champions be more effective change agents. My 50–80 talks per year provide an opportunity to alert people to resources that can help them be more effective change agents so that they don’t waste time recreating them. It feels good to continuously hear back from kindred spirits who are making a difference in their spheres of influence with the aid of my resources.

Bob Willard

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

I have had the privilege of working with some amazing people to create my resources. I continuously upgrade them with new ideas and suggestions from users and reviewers. Creating content is the fun part. Building out the audience/users is the challenge. I am uneasy that well-intentioned sustainability champions may still be wasting time reinventing the wheel. I need to be better at raising awareness of my free, open-source resources.

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

I am very concerned about climate change. I’m heavily engaged in encouraging governments, especially the Canadian government, to integrate Net-Zero Procurement (NZP) elements into their current procurement processes. NZP ensures that the buyer/government gets the best value for money by procuring the most climate-friendly goods and services from suppliers who are the most committed to science-based net-zero targets. The buying power of companies and governments using Net-Zero Procurement is a market force that will mobilize businesses in the race to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 or sooner.

In a robust NZP system, all suppliers, regardless of size or sector, must disclose their net-zero GHG reduction targets and plans. The disclosures include their current direct and indirect GHG inventories, their commitment to science-based net-zero targets, and their plans to reach those time-based targets.

In Canada, as in all countries, over 98% of companies are small, having fewer than 100 employees. Many of them are in government supply chains and would be required to make the above disclosures. However, most net-zero disclosure frameworks and standards are designed for large companies. They are very challenging for a small supplier. That’s why I created a short, reasonable questionnaire — the free, open-source Net-Zero Assessment Tool (NZAT) — for use by small and medium–sized enterprises who do not have the benefit of in-house sustainability staff or expertise. It enables any-size supplier to self-assess and disclose its commitment to net-zero targets.

Further, a NZP system makes the disclosed scores matter. All requests for proposals (RFPs) assign a weight of 10%–30% of the points — enough to make it matter — to suppliers’ net-zero assessment scores. For example, if the weight assigned to a supplier’s net-zero score was 20% and a supplier’s overall score on the net-zero assessment questionnaire was 68%, the supplier would earn 13.6% of the 20% weight. This approach incentivizes suppliers’ efforts to attain science-based net-zero targets, improve their scores, and earn preferential treatment over their competitors.

Why would a supplier bother making these net-zero disclosures? Because their important customer asks them to and their answer matters. If a supplier chooses not to complete the questionnaire, it is still eligible to be a supplier; it just earns a score of zero on their net-zero efforts and will not earn any of the points allotted to supplier net-zero commitment in the bid appraisal. It’s the supplier’s choice. That’s the magic in the disclosure superpower of NZP: it’s voluntary, it’s easy, and it matters.

How can people help support your mission?

My purpose is to ensure future generations have the opportunity for at least the quality of life that I have enjoyed. My vision is a sustainable world in which people and businesses flourish within nature’s limits. My mission is to provide resources to sustainability champions to help accelerate our sustainability journey before it’s too late. People can support me by using my free, open-source resources to help them be more effective change agents, starting with addressing the climate crisis.

For example, my save-the-world strategy starts with helping the Canadian government implement Net-Zero Procurement. Then we can package the system elements and make them available to other levels of government and to other countries. This improves the probability of meeting science-based global GHG reduction targets in time. Because NZP gives bonus points to suppliers if they use NZP with their own suppliers. NZP will soon be used by companies, worldwide.

Net-Zero Procurement is a starter set for a more comprehensive sustainable procurement system. Sustainable procurement (SP) ensures that the buyers/governments get the best value for money by procuring the most sustainable goods and services from the most sustainable suppliers. SP creates a market for sustainable products and an economy in which the most sustainable companies thrive. When governments and companies everywhere implement an SP system that makes sustainability scores matter, we will have attained the sustainable society, economy, and environment that we want.

Then I can really retire.

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

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Make The World Better Magazine

David Suzuki Foundation: Catalyzing Climate Activism

Successful climate activism has the power to drive positive change at all levels, from personal to governmental. In order to achieve this, though, we need educational tools to utilize, movements to engage with, and climate solutions to implement. 

We spoke with Craig David Long, Content Manager, about how the David Suzuki Foundation is educating and empowering Canadians to build healthier environments and sustainable communities with its over 30 years of experience.

David Suzuki participated in workshops and breakout sessions at the “Building Power: a Future Ground Network convergence” Vancouver event to help participants dive deeper into how to build and coordinate power collectively and strategically against forces driving the climate crisis.

What was the “spark” that inspired your founders to start creating educational content at the David Suzuki Foundation?

The David Suzuki Foundation got its start in 1990 after a CBC Radio series David Suzuki hosted called “It’s a Matter of Survival.” So many listeners were alarmed by the discussion of environmental problems, including climate change, that about 17,000 people sent in letters asking what they could do. The Foundation’s goal was to provide education and, above all, solutions. 

To complement its activism and on-the-ground public engagement work, the Foundation has worked with the David Suzuki Institute and Greystone Books to publish more than 60 books, many of which have won national and international awards. The Foundation has also published the weekly syndicated Science Matters column under David Suzuki’s name for the past 25 years. 

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

Over its 34-year history, the Foundation has had many successes. The “Declaration of Interdependence,” written for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, formed the Foundation’s guiding principles in its early years, and portions of it were woven into the Earth Charter, which continues to gain adherents today. 

Additionally, working with Indigenous Peoples and communities and supporting community activism through the Future Ground Network and Réseau Demain le Québec have informed and helped amplify the Foundation and its allies’ critical environmental work. 

As well, our scientific research and reports have helped reform fisheries practices, offer ways for Canada to reach zero-emissions electricity by 2035, and hold governments to account for habitat protection. 

Last but certainly not least, the Foundation’s Blue Dot Tour and movement provided a major push for Canada’s decision to enshrine the right to a healthy environment in law.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

Our many supporters and followers give us hope. We believe that the Foundation’s adherence to evidence-based information and its collaborative approach are making a difference in Canada and beyond. With the climate and biodiversity crises the world faces, it’s up to us all to do our part to educate and bring about positive change. The David Suzuki Foundation is proud to be part of this growing movement.

Performance stage at a Healing Forest at Riverside School’s Knowledge Path in Albert Bridge, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on unceded Mi’Kmaq territory.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

Like most environmental organizations, the David Suzuki Foundation must find ways to reach a larger audience and not just talk to those who are already on the same side as us. With limited resources, we also have to focus our work and temper expectations from the public about the amount of work we can take on and the issues we can help with. Working with other organizations, community groups, and networks to mutually support each other’s work helps. 

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

The Foundation will continue its critical climate and clean energy work, campaigning for renewable power for all, following up on our research that shows how Canada can have 100% emissions-free electricity by 2035. We will also work at the municipal level to empower citizens and councils to enact sound climate and sustainability practices and regulations, and boost ambition and implementation. And we’ll continue our work in biodiversity and habitat protection, including the Butterflyway Project, pollinator program, and orca and salmon conservation.

Working to build healthier environments and sustainable communities on this land we call Canada requires a diversity of voices and a wide range of knowledge and ideas, especially the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples who have known these lands and waters for millennia. The Foundation’s collaborative work on reports and a series of videos explaining “Land Back” and treaties shows how land governance must change to recognize and uphold Indigenous rights and responsibilities and to restore nature’s once abundant ecosystems.

The Foundation is also working with the National Healing Forests Initiative to encourage reconciliation by dedicating space in forests, gardens, or green spaces as places for healing, learning, sharing, and reflecting on Canada’s history and the legacy of Indian Residential Schools.

As always, we at the Foundation know that environmental and social justice go hand in hand, and we strive to be an inclusive and powerful amplifier for the many diverse voices calling for better ways of living on this land and with each other.

As always, you can learn about the above and other good work, at davidsuzuki.org. 

How can people help support your mission?

People can get involved in many ways, including volunteering, getting involved in campaigns, signing petitions and joining actions, and donating. We offer opportunities for volunteers in everything from pollinator work and the Butterflyway Project to the Suzuki Elders. It’s also important for people to talk to friends, family, coworkers, and others about the climate and biodiversity crises and their solutions. Greater awareness leads to growing potential for change.

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

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30+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for the Holidays 2023

The holiday season is a time of thoughtful giving, but it can be detrimental environmentally. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways we can spread some holiday cheer while also spreading positive impact.

Alternatives, like finding pre-loved items, are a great way to give unique gifts. Homemade gifts, including sharing recipes, make for personal and heartwarming presents. And making memorable experiences together is something truly priceless.

If you choose to shop for the people on your list, there are plenty of eco-friendly options out there and sustainable ways to gift wrap. Öko Creations offers some beautiful zero-waste gift wrap selections, including reusable bows, gift bags, pouches, and furoshiki wraps made from rescued fabrics. Other waste-free ways to package presents include upcycling gift bags you were given, reusing boxes, wrapping in recycled and recyclable paper, or getting creative with things you already have, like scarves or beeswax wraps.

And if you’re looking for something new and meaningful to buy, check out these sustainable and purpose-driven gift options we’ve rounded up that not only help support the planet but people as well.

Home & Lifestyle

Nature Bee Fire Starters – Keep your loved ones warm all winter long with these eco-friendly fire starters made from beeswax wrap offcuts by Nature Bee, an inclusive, woman-owned and -operated, sustainable Canadian company that uses locally-sourced ingredients to make products in-house.

Mimi & August Reusable Candle – Available in three different sizes, this reusable candle is hand-poured in Canada, 100% vegan and cruelty-free, made from biodegradable soy wax, and uses non-toxic fragrances. The website includes tips on how to use every drop of wax and ways to reuse the jar, including as a coffee cup, a spice container, or jewellery holder.

Friendsheep Wool Handmade Gifts – Handmade for fair wages by Nepalese women artists, these beautiful Eco Coasters are made with 100% cruelty-free New Zealand wool and coloured with azo-free eco-friendly dyes; and these Penguin Dryer Balls are all-natural, organic, fully reusable for over 1,000 loads, and add a touch of wintertime festivity to every load of laundry. Plus, Friendship Wool has a partnership with Eden Reforestation Project meaning a tree is planted for every product purchased; is a member of 1% of the Planet; donates about 20% of all their proceeds to several nonprofit organizations; and is compostable and plastic-free down to the packaging.

Baloo Weighted Blanket – Give a gift of warmth and comfort with this chemical-free, plastic-free, vegan, weighted blanket from Canadian brand Baloo. The fact that the company donates a portion of profits to the Pajama Program and is carbon neutral through a partnership with SeaTrees by Sustainable Surf makes this one feel extra cozy.

Pebbly Compost Bin – This functional, lightweight, and durable compost bin adds sustainability to any home or countertop. It’s made from metal and bamboo, has a handle for easy lifting, comes with a charcoal filter, and a seven-litre capacity.

LastTissue Reusable Tissue Pack – These reusable, 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton tissues come in an easy-to-clean silicone case with sewn-in barriers for sanitary storage. Each tissue can be cleaned in a washing machine and used over 520 times. Plus, LastTissue is a certified B Corp, mom-owned, charitable, and practices safe and fair labour, with products that are compostable, cruelty-free, organic, and with low-impact dyes and inks.

Tech & Accessories 

Ronxs Rechargeable Electric Lighters – Save matches and skip the disposable lighters and butane. These electric chargers come in different styles and colours, are USB rechargeable, wind- and weather-proof, and can light hundreds of times per charge, making them a great and practical eco-friendly gift option.

Pela Biodegradable Phone Cases – These plant-based, biodegradable phone cases come in a wide variety of designs and styles to suit the needs of everyone on your list. Plus, Pela is carbon neutral, supports various purpose-driven organizations and nonprofits, partners to help other companies reduce their footprint, is on a mission to keep 10 billion pounds of waste from being made, and donates to Ocean Cleanup and Preservation initiatives each time they make a sale. 

Nimble Ethically-Made Tech – Made using recycled and eco-friendly materials, Nimble’s portable chargers, wireless chargers, and charging cables are housed in plastic-free packaging made from biodegradable recycled paper with no harmful inks or dyes and built to last. These durable charging products are a great gift for all the tech-users in your life. Plus, Nimble includes a recycled plastic bag and a prepaid shipping label with each product so they can recycle old tech and e-waste for free.

Games & Activities 

Bare Market Flower Paper Kit – This eco-friendly kit is ideal for the crafter in your life who wants to engage with nature and enjoy an activity using sustainable and natural materials. Plus, Bare Market offers local delivery and ships using 100% plastic-free upcycled packaging. It’s all part of their mission “to make sustainable and ethical living easy and accessible for everyone, everywhere.”

The Good Tee DIY Shirt Kits – Your loved ones can customize to their heart’s content with these sustainable t-shirt kits that come with water-based, non-toxic, acid-free fabric paints, markers, or natural dye ingredients. They can feel good wearing their creations, as The Good Tee is a certified B Corp on “a mission to humanize the fashion industry,” with durable and sustainable products, a 100% transparent and traceable supply chain, and contribution toward UN Sustainable Development Goals, positively impacting both people and planet.

Zefiro Recycled Coloured Pencils – Support your loved one’s creativity with these recycled coloured pencil sets made from 100% recycled newspapers and packaged in a recyclable travel container. Each set is plastic-free, biodegradable, and compostable. The brand Zefiro is a member of 1% for the Planet and donates 1% of their annual sales toward environmental causes, while the seller, Zero Waste Hero, is a women-operated and -owned Canadian online store dedicated to providing sustainable alternatives.

Made By Bees All Natural Beeswax Crayons – Bring joy to the children on your list with these handmade 100% Canadian beeswax crayons that are safe for all ages, durable, use food-grade pigments, and are made to fit small hands. Each purchase includes a free downloadable colouring book to teach children about bees and encourage creativity. Proceeds from crayon sales will be donated to the Tech Transfer Team based out of the University of Guelph which conducts vital research for Ontario’s beekeeping industry.

Forestation Board Game – This environmental strategy board game is a great gift for families, friends, and gamers alike, and challenges players to build and maintain a sustainable ecosystem of plants and animals. Made by a family-run company in Victoria, BC, the FSC-certified game uses local artwork, animals, and trees to make an immersive experience and is sustainably manufactured in the Netherlands using sustainably sourced materials. Plus, 5% of all sales go to the Wilderness Committee and 5% to the Rainforest Conservation Foundation.

Plantoys Beaver Tumble – This timber-toppling game is sustainably made in Thailand using chemical-free rubberwood, formaldehyde-free glue, organic pigments, and water-based dyes. It’s available for purchase through The Mini Branch, a small Canadian company run by a husband-and-wife team that aims to provide families with durable and sustainable products, offers guaranteed clothing buy-back and no-time limit returns to help encourage sustainability, and supports local vendors and community outreach.

Food & Drink

Fernwood Coffee Beans – Fill their cup with purpose with this coffee blend from Victoria-based company Fernwood, a Certified Canada Organic, Fair Trade, Swiss Water Process, and Offsetters climate-friendly company. Through a partnership with Raincoast Conservation Foundation and Pender Island Conservancy, proceeds from this blend go to the Raincoast Conservation Foundation to fundraise for their project to preserve and protect a special ecosystem in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands.

Raven Rising Holiday Chocolates – Choose from a collection of holiday-themed, sustainable, ethically sourced, traceable, Fair Trade, organic chocolates for the foodie on your list. Ingredients are sourced from Indigenous people and businesses in Canada and globally. Indigenous women-owned and -operated, Raven Rising donates a portion of proceeds to various societies that support Indigenous organizations and carries a number of certifications.

Camino Hot Chocolate – Find a drink for everyone on the list with these certified organic, Fair Trade certified hot chocolate mixes that come in a variety of flavours, including milk, dark, maple, and chili and spice. Canadian company Camino is focused on making both a social and environmental impact through dignified and meaningful employment, sustainable packaging, donating unsold products to food banks, investing in carbon offset bonds, and more.

Pluck Holiday Tea – These limited edition holiday tea blends come in reusable stacking glass jars and three flavours: Apple Spice, Gingerbread Spice, and Chocolate Orange. Made by Toronto-based brand, Pluck, each ingredient is ethically sourced in Canada from a growing network of Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, and organic certified tea farms. Plus, many of their ingredients are Upcycled Food Association certified and their tea bags are plastic-free, made from plants, renewable, compostable, and biodegradable.

Drizzle Cinnamon Spiced Honey – Gift your loved ones a sweet treat with this holiday-themed Cinnamon Spiced organic, bee-friendly, all-natural, non-GMO, 100% raw honey from certified women-owned and -operated B Corp, Drizzle, who donates 1% of profits to pollinator research.

Self Care

Rockwell Beard Products – Give the gift of plastic-free, anti-static beard care with these durable beard shapers and bristle brushes made from bamboo. Rockwell Razors is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic from its supply chain, has diverted over 100 tonnes of plastic waste, is committed to continuous improvement when it comes to the sustainability of its packaging, and seeks to create more products that replace traditionally plastic-laden items. 

No Tox Life Moisturizing Vegan Shaving Bar – These gentle, moisturizing, and palm-oil-free shaving bars for body and face ditch plastic bottles to make showers more sustainable and are wrapped in paper for shipping. No Tox Life is a family business run by a mother-and-daughter team that uses plant-derived ingredients and plastic-free, upcycled, and biodegradable shipping materials. 

Educated Beards Beard Wash – Handcrafted in small batches, this beard wash is great for removing ingrown hairs and dirt and is good for all skin and beard types. Non-comedogenic, cruelty-free, made from natural and certified organic ingredients, and housed in 100% biodegradable packaging, this wash is a great gift option from a brand that collaborates with Fair Trade companies and uses local ingredients and vendors wherever possible. 

Sḵwálwen Botanicals Gift Sets – Nourish good with sustainably and renewably hand-harvested, hydrating, and healing gift sets. In harmony with the teachings of their Skwxwú7mesh ancestors, Sḵwálwen uses an Indigenous supply chain, native botanicals, and regenerative practices, works to preserve Indigenous plants, and creates products that are free of harsh chemicals, phthalates, synthetics, and parabens. 

Soft & Butter Caona – Exfoliating Facial Scrub – This sustainable golden honey exfoliating facial scrub is made using an Indigenous plant-to-product model and natural ingredients that help with underlying skin issues. Soft and Butter, founded by Jasmine Swimmer, a member of the Taino Arawak First Nation people, infuses traditional Indigenous plant culture into each product, partners with Indigenous farmers and lawn owners, and champions sustainability and economic growth between Canada and Africa.

Little Seed Farm Holiday Sugar Body Scrub – Your loved ones can luxuriate in the scent of their favourite holiday treats with this all-natural, organic, cruelty-free, peppermint vanilla sugar scrub that comes in a glass jar with a recyclable metal lid. Little Seed Farm, a family-farm–owned and -made brand, is 100% solar powered, uses zero-waste biodegradable and recyclable shipping, and humanely manages a 100% grass-fed goat herd, making this gift guilt-free.

Apparel 

Unbelts Stretch Belts – Equitably made, made to last, and made from recycled materials, these stretchy belts are comfortable, machine-washable, super adjustable, and made in Canada by B Corp-certified company, Unbelts. This female-founded company engages in a lot of social and environmental good initiatives, including donating a portion of their inventory to community organizations, offering mentorship to purpose-driven companies, advocating at sustainable apparel events, and using circular methodologies.

Good For Sunday Save the Ocean Bamboo Crewneck – Made from sustainable bamboo in a family-owned factory in Toronto, every sweater purchased helps protect our oceans and marine life via a $5 donation to Sea Shepherd. Plus, Good For Sunday has embedded environmental and ethical responsibility into all its business processes and practices, including compostable packaging, responsible shipping with carbon offsetting, and an environmentally responsible return program called EcoDrop. 

Solmate Socks – Bundle up for winter with socks made from recycled yarns that contain no added chemicals. Best of all, Solmate is a B Corp with additional certifications by the Global Recycling Standard and Oeko-Tex materials that sources from Recover’s Upcycling System, practices carbon offsetting, and is involved in several giving initiatives to help various causes.

The Better Good Upcycled Wool Mittens – Give a practical and unique gift with these lined winter mitts made with 100% upcycled materials. Your loved ones will feel extra warm knowing that The Better Good sells products that are organic and Fair Trade and made with upcycled, recycled, or renewable materials; works with local producers; is involved in giving initiatives and hosts free community events; and offers a special discount program to help people make values-aligned purchases who wouldn’t be able to otherwise due to costs.

Giftwrap Your Marketing With Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing

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Sparx’s Sustainable Father’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 20+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Fathers make the world better. With Father’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to express your love and appreciation for the father figure in your life. Purpose-driven gifts are a great way to show your care for your dad or the dad in your life and the causes that matter to you both.

Sparx has compiled a list of sustainable and zero-waste gift ideas that will bring dad joy while also benefiting people and planet.

Food & Drink

Treat the dad in your life to something deliciously purpose-driven with these sustainable gifts.

Image: Cococo

Cococo Chocolatiers Father’s Day Collection – These gift boxes are filled with premium chocolate confections, which are handcrafted in Alberta with Rainforest Alliance Certified™ sustainable and fair trade cocoa and cocoa butter. Plus, Cococo supports community initiatives, following their values of “cocoa, communities, and confections.”

East Van Bees Neighborhood Honey – Locally made in Vancouver using sustainably-extracted, chemical-free, raw, urban, multi-floral honey from bees kept ethically and in a sustainable setting. Each of these two jars is hand poured. Check out their Instagram for conservation tips.

Kozlik’s Canadian Mustard – Find a mustard that perfectly suits your father figure’s tastes with this Canadian-made, locally sourced, all-natural condiment that is handmade in small batches and comes in a variety of spicy, sweet, and savoury flavours.

Image: Salt Spring Coffee

Salt Spring Coffee – Give the dad in your life a cup of goodness with Salt Spring Coffee’s 100% certified organic, shade-grown, fair trade coffee. With their Coffee Bag Recycling Program and goal of becoming zero waste by 2026, dad’s sure to get a boost of both energy and purpose with every sip.

Sriracha Revolver – Indigenous- and woman-owned, these sauces come in a range of unique flavour combinations, are handmade in small batches in Vancouver, and use all-natural ingredients with no added colour or preservatives. The purpose-driven father in your life may especially enjoy the Habanero Hot Sauce, as a donation is given to organizations supporting the Indigenous community for every batch made.

Personal Care

Help your father figure get some much needed rest, relaxation, and recovery with these eco-friendly gift ideas.

Attitude Mineral Face Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 – This unscented, reef-friendly, vegan sunscreen stick comes in plastic-free, biodegradable packaging. Plus, Attitude is on a mission to decrease their energy footprint and has planted over 1.5 million trees since 2020.

Bamboo Switch Safety Razor – Made from sustainable and ethically-sourced bamboo, this razor comes in plastic-free and recyclable packaging. Plus, all shipping materials are biodegradable and 5% of the company’s profits go to Sea Shepherd. Now that’s a clean shave.

Marseille’s Remedy Thieves Balm – Look out for dad’s health with this all-natural balm that’s made with a Canadian beeswax base, good for reducing inflammation, treating bug bites, easing bruises, and even cleaning hands. Handmade in small-batches and chemical-free.

Old Soul Soap Company Muscle Rub – This all-natural, ethical, and sustainable muscle rub is a great way to show you care both about your father figure’s health and the planet.

Image: Rocky Mountain Soap Co

Peregrine Supply Co. Beard Box Care Package – These all-natural and safe beard care sets come with face and beard soap, beard oil, and a tin of beard balm. Peregrine Supply follows the Guardian Model and has strict sustainability and responsibility standards, so it’s a great sustainable gift idea for any eco-minded father figure.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Foot Butter – Keep dad on his feet with this GMO-free, Canadian-made, cruelty-free, 100% natural and 71% organic foot butter.

Yukon Soaps Yukon Man Trio – These soaps, handcrafted by Indigenous-owned and -operated company Yukon Soaps, are sustainably sourced, all-natural, and come in eco-friendly packaging, making this collection of three scents a great choice for the father figure in your life.

Home & Decor 

Enhance dad’s purpose-driven routine with these zero-waste gift ideas that will make any home greener.

ChopValue Zero Waste Kit – ChopValue transforms chopsticks into eco-friendly items. Their Zero Waste Chopstick Kit is made from 500 recycled chopsticks and is loaded with zero waste goodies. Plus, the shipping is carbon neutral. The kit contains a cheese board, two coasters, two keychains, two bamboo chopsticks, two bamboo toothbrushes, two stainless steel straws, and two straw cleaners.

Coffee Sock Reusable Coffee Filter – Coffee is delicious, but unfortunately coffee filters generate a lot of waste. The coffee sock helps solve this problem. Handmade from 100% USDA Certified organic cotton, this two pack of filters is made to last and will enhance the flavour of dad’s coffee. Each sock is expected to last around a year and replaces 4–12 boxes of paper filters per year.

Image: Flowerink

Deer Dad Plantable Card – Express your appreciation for the father in your life with this meaningful, plantable card, embedded with wildflower seeds. It even comes in an envelope made from sugarcane residue.

Eighteen Hundreds Candle Co. Candles – These eco-friendly candles have a lot of personality. Handcrafted in Gastown, Vancouver, each candle is made of North American grown soy wax, natural cotton wicks, phthalate-free fragrances, pure essential oils, and comes in reusable vessels. Plus, every candle sold online helps benefit a local charity.

WallyGrow Eco Wall Planters – These 100% leak-proof wall planters are durable and made in North America from 100% recycled plastic. Thanks to these planters, WallyGrow has diverted 10+ million plastic bottles from landfills since their inception in 2007.

Clothing & Apparel

Weave more purpose into dad’s wardrobe with these eco-friendly gifts.

Goodee x KOTN The Goodee Hoodie – From Black-owned B-Corp Goodee, in partnership with Kotn, comes this cozy hoodie made from sustainably sourced Egyptian cotton. This hoodie also supports a number of causes, including community engagement, corporate reporting, natural materials, and water conservancy. 

Kotn Spring/Summer 2023 Collection – Kotn is a certified B Corp with the fourth-highest B Impact Score of apparel brands in North America. Not only is the spring/summer collection made from sustainable Egyptian cotton and biodegradable fibres, each order helps with job creation, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth for the communities they source from and are a part of.

Image: Province of Canada

Province of Canada Sweatpants – Forget fast fashion. Find your father figure the perfect pair of comfortable sweatpants, socks, and hats curated for dads, made in Canada and shipped in certified compostable packaging. Plus, the majority of their cotton is knitted locally and sustainably grown and organic.

Vessi Waterproof Shoes – These waterproof shoes from Vancouver-based, Asian-owned brand Vessi are made from vegan materials. The brand also partners with factories that share their sustainability values and goals to reduce waste and energy. Plus, their packaging is 100% recyclable.

Bonding Time

One of the greatest gifts you can give this Father’s Day is spending time with the dad in your life. There are a lot of zero-waste ways to spend time together, such as having a sustainable barbeque using fresh, organic, and locally-sourced foods; making a dessert together that uses ethically-sourced and sustainable ingredients, like EMKAO cocoa beans; going on an eco-friendly trip; or engaging directly in a planet-saving activity, such as litter clean up in the park or at the beach. 

Giftwrap Your Messaging with Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

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Sparx’s Sustainable Mother’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 25+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Moms and mom figures make the world better. With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to celebrate everything they do, and there’s no better way to thank them than to give them purpose-driven gifts that support causes you both care about.

Sparx has compiled a list of sustainable Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make the mom(s) in your life happy while also benefiting people and planet.

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Food & Drink

Image: Bangin’ Bannock

Make the mom in your life a sweet and eco-friendly treat with these delicious sustainable gift ideas. You can even try making them together.

Bangin’ Bannock Mixes – These Indigenous frybread mixes, made by Indigenous women duo, Bangin’ Bannock, are easy to make and come in eco-friendly packaging. 

Bush Berry Mother’s Helper Tea – This tea is made specially for postpartum but is a beneficial and soothing blend for anyone who needs a little energy and well-being boost. Plus, it comes in 100% backyard compostable packaging from a plastic-free, farm-to-cup, BC-based brand.

Image: Susgrainable

Susgrainable Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix – Moms’ cookies may be famous, but we’ve found a purpose-driven rival. Make mom a delicious batch of Susgrainable’s sustainable cookies, made from upcycled barley flour, to help save the planet and give a gut-friendly gift, loaded with dark-chocolate chips.

MUMGRY Chocolate Peanut Butter – Made by Black-owned and -operated brand, Mumgry, this protein-, vitamin-, and fibre-rich, all-natural chocolate peanut butter is made with moms, at all stages of motherhood, in mind. Delicious, healthy, and packed in sustainable glass jars.

Blume Latte Mixes – These organic and inventive superfood latte mixes are like a garden in a cup. They’ll keep both the mom in your life and the environment healthy, as Blume has partnered with CleanHub and Green Worms Waste Management to divert plastic from the ocean — with 7,000 lbs diverted in 2022 alone.

Personal Care

Moms and mom figures do so much for us. This Mother’s Day is the perfect time to pamper them with the gift of relaxation, sustainability-style.

Sealuxe Beach Glass Soap – Transport mom to the beach with this unique moisturizing hand soap. Each soap looks like a piece of beach glass and is made from sustainable and natural ingredients. Packaged in a glass jar, it’s both beautiful and environmentally-friendly.

Rebels Refinery Mother’s Day Gift Set – This gift set is loaded with Canadian-made, all-natural, sulfate- and paraben-free personal care items that will help mom feel pampered and healthy. Plus, each item comes in either refillable, recyclable, or reusable packaging. Contains: cotton bag, teal heart and pink stick natural lip balms, moisturizer, refillable hand sanitizer, face cleansing oil with reusable cotton pads, strawberry tinted lip balm, non-greasy hand lotion, and salt soap.

Image: Little Fox Apothecary

Little Fox Apothecary Milk Baths – Help mom relax with these 100% all-natural milk baths, made with Canadian and organic ingredients, essential oils, and Himalayan salt, and packaged in reusable/recyclable glass jars. A biodegradable bag is included to collect the petals.

Image: Epic Blend

Epic Blend Salted Chocolate Caramel Lip Scrub – Vegan, Canadian-made, and in recyclable packaging, this lip scrub is packed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vitamin-rich ingredients, meaning it’s good for mom’s skin and tastes like dessert. 

Loa Skin Botanical Recovery Mask – Formulated for all skin types, this vegan, non-toxic recovery mask is packed with microbiome-friendly ingredients and contains no palm-derivatives. And it’s a beautiful shade of purple. Plus, Loa Skin uses recyclable glass bottles and paper, custom-shape shipping materials, are partnered with Ecologi to help with reforestation and carbon dioxide reduction projects, and they measure their impact.

Bottle None Shampoo and Conditioner Bars – Canadian from the roots down, these haircare products are plastic-free, hand-made by the sister duo that owns the company, and made with clean ingredients — no phthalates or parabens here. Even the travel cases are made from 100% recycled Canadian plastic, making this a great zero-waste gift for the mom in your life.

Bare Skin Bar Garden Party Bath Bombs – With no fake colours, glitters, or foaming agents; a blend of ten different botanicals, herbs, fruits, and vegetables; and natural and reinvigorating ingredients like Rooibos tea, these Vancouver-made vegan bath bombs are an ideal choice for a sustainable soak.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Belly Butter – This Canadian-made, GMO-free, all-natural belly butter is a sustainable and soothing helper for the pregnant friend or relative in your life or any mom figure that wants smooth, itch-free skin.

Home & Decor 

Compliment the aesthetic of the mom in your life with these eco-friendly home and decoration gift ideas.

ZOETSTUDIO candles – These container and tealight candles are a terrarium in a (food-grade, heat-resistant) glass. Handcrafted in small batches in Vancouver, these candles, made with lead-free wicks, phthalate-free fragrance oils, and soy wax make for a beautiful and fragrant gift for any mom that loves nature. Also available at Local Boom.

Fair Trade Winds Felt Flowers – These flowers never wither and are made using natural felted wool by women artists in Nepal. You can either choose a bouquet for the mom in your life or select individual flowers. Fair Trade Federation and Green America certified.

Image: Goodee

Goodee Made in Africa Set – Black-owned B Corp-certified brand, Goodee, has a Made in Africa Set that’s a unique gift for your purpose-driven mom figure. With a Kazuri necklace made in Nairobi, a Banasco Basket from Ghana-based brand Baba Tree, and tumblers made out of recycled glass by Kenyan brand Siafu Home, this gift set is made of natural materials, helps build positive change in a number of marginalized communities, and supports community engagement and gender advocacy.

Image: Goodee

Haws The Rowley Ripple Watering Can – Crafted to water with pinpoint accuracy to help even the most delicate of seedlings, these unique watering cans are a great gift for any eco-friendly mom who loves growing plants. Best of all, these cans support both gender advocacy and nature and wildlife conservancy.

Pure Living Lucia Room Sprays – With 12 beautiful scents, bundled into two different gift sets, Pure Living’s Lucia room spray line will fill any room or scent any fabrics in mom’s home with all-natural fragrances made with 100% essential oils. Pure Living is a Montréal-based brand that uses recycled and 100% recyclable materials for all of its packaging.

Clothing & Apparel

Give mom’s wardrobe a purpose-driven boost with these sustainable gift ideas.

Laura Elizabeth Kid-Friendly Jewellery – Moms with little ones won’t have to worry about accessorizing — they can safely wear this non-toxic, durable jewellery that’s safe for tiny mouths and too sturdy to break off the chain. Best of all, this jewellery is sustainable and ethical, locally-made, and uses recycled materials and recycled and biodegradable packaging.

Image: Encircled

Encircled Dresses – Give your mom or mom figure the gift of sustainable, ethically-made fashion with these dresses by Encircled, a Toronto-based, Certified B Corp brand that uses eco-friendly fabrics and offers Canadian-made fashion. They use 100% recyclable packaging, host team park clean-ups, use eco-friendly paper and products at their office, embrace diversity, and believe in standing up for human rights as well as protecting the planet.

Image: TAMGA

TAMGA Designs Scarves and Hair Accessories – Made from sustainable beechwood fibres and GOTS eco-certified dyes, these light-weight scarves, headbands, and scrunchies are a great way to add a burst of colour to your mom’s wardrobe. TAMGA Designs is also a member of 1% For the Planet and partnered with Canopy Style and the Sumatran Orangutan Society to help protect Indonesia’s endangered rainforests.

Free Label Maternity Friendly Collection – Locally made in Toronto and Vancouver using sustainable materials and placed in 100% home-compostable packaging, these maternity-friendly garments are perfect for expecting or nursing moms and all mom figures looking for something comfy to wear.

Tentree Sustainable Activewear – For health- and sustainability-minded moms on the go, Tentree’s circular InMotion collection transforms old textiles and discarded water bottles into brand-new activewear. Great for movement and comfortable lounging.

Bonding Time

Want to give the mom in your life a Mother’s Day gift that will create lasting memories? Find sustainable activities you can do together. Go for a walk or even go out shopping for the day using your bikes to get around — taking along hand-woven Baba Tree Bicycle Baskets to carry your sustainable shopping finds. 

Picnics and meals make for great bonding moments as well, and you can use Nature Bee Beeswax Wraps to safely travel to the park with your food. Or you can make your own board game together using alternative art supplies and upcycled, recycled, and recyclable materials — then test it out together!

Giftwrap Your Messaging with Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

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Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Valentine’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 25 Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Whether it’s romantic love for your partner, love for family and friends, or your devotion to a cause, love makes the world better. It motivates us to do better, to work harder, to grow in understanding, to act with compassion, and to share ourselves and what we have with others.

In celebration of love and its ability to amplify good, Sparx has created another sustainable gift-giving guide, this time for Valentine’s Day gifts that will help express your love while supporting the environment and other wonderful causes. Because nothing says heartfelt like a gift with real impact.

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1. Treat Them to Something Sweet 

Sustainable alternatives to decadent delights. 

Image: Drizzle

Drizzle Cacao Luxe Raw Honey: This all-natural, sustainably sourced, bee-friendly, allergen-free, Canadian-made honey has a chocolatey twist and a delicious chocolate-covered strawberry recipe. Plus, it’s made by a women-owned, certified B Corporation.

Pukka Love Tea: This soothing and fragrant tea will touch the heart of your beloved in more ways than one. Pukka is part of 1% for the Planet, Fair for Life certified, Soil Association organic certified, and B Corp certified.

Raaka Chocolate Valentine’s Day Collection: Choose from a variety of ethical and unique non-GMO, vegan, certified organic, and kosher treats to share with your beloved. Raaka crafts its single-source chocolate in small batches and practices transparent trade – its supply chain process is even integrated into its packaging. 

Ritual Chocolate Après Chocolate Bar: This 70% dark chocolate bar is infused with sparkling white wine and topped with raspberries. Best of all, the chocolate is vegan and ethically sourced, the packaging is fully recyclable, and the company is working toward net-zero and fully solar-powered goals. Also purchasable from impact-driven Canadian vendor The Better Good. 

Southbrook Wine Valentine’s Day Bundle: Canadian-made, this romantic bundle of organic wines and condiments is made by Southbrook Organic Vineyards, a company with numerous certifications, including Demeter, Ecocert Canada, LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario, and VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) for grape wines.

T.Kettle Loose Leaf Teas: Make your loved one a (heart)warming cup of certified kosher, vegan, organic, and 100% Fair Trade Strawberry Fondue Tea from T.Kettle, a values-driven company.

2. Pamper Them 

Gifts that feel good and do good.

Encircled Renew Sleep Mask: Help your loved one relax with this eco-friendly Tencel™ Lyocell and recycled polyester fleece sleep mask, made by a Toronto-based, certified B Corporation. 

Harlow Salty Soak Bath Salts: These vegan bath salts are made from Saskatchewan Red Salt, smell intoxicatingly of flowers, and come in a compostable pouch. Plus, Vancouver-based company Harlow sources from social enterprises like Hives for Humanity.

Image: Old Soul Soap Company

Old Soul Company Sweetheart Collection: Pamper your soulmate with this ethical and sustainable, all-natural collection, which includes its Be Mine soap, Be Mine heart-shaped bath bomb, Be Mine massage & body oil, tea light candles, and lip balm. 

Sequoia Soap Sets: Made by 100% Indigenous women-owned and -operated brand Sequoia, the Sweet Blends and Night Sky Four Soap Gift Sets are beautiful, sustainable, and ethically sourced.

Yukon Soap Wild Side Shave Soap: This sustainable, handcrafted shave soap is made by Indigenous-owned and -operated brand Yukon Soap, which is on a mission to make the world better by supporting economic diversification and empowering, nurturing, and elevating Northern Indigenous cultures, communities, and people.

3. Bring Them “Flowers”

Lasting gifts that serve as wonderful alternatives to classic perfumes and bouquets.

Image: Goodee

All Things Being Eco Organic Rose Geranium Bulk Essential Oil: This fragrant oil is Natural Organic Program (NOP) certified and sold by a purpose-driven BC-Based company that’s on a mission to make the world better through offering organic, ethically-produced, and locally-sourced products.

Goodee The Floral Kits: With this sustainable kit from B Corp certified Goodee, your valentine has everything they need to grow and shape their own bouquets. Plus, this kit supports multiple causes, including marginalized communities, gender advocacy, and community engagement.

Flowerink Plantable Tandem Love Greeting Card: You and your valentine can watch your love blossom with this plantable seed paper card, made from 100% recycled content. Plus, these cards are Canadian-made by a company that donates to health and environmental organizations.

Le Comptoir Aroma Love Pebble Essential Oil Diffuser Stones: These 100% natural heart and rose-shaped diffuser stones are made by a Canadian family-run business that uses recyclable and recycled materials, along with other eco-friendly practices.

Mala the Brand Candles: Check the classic romance boxes with bouquet or rosebud candles that are sustainably packaged and hand-poured in small batches by a Vancouver-based brand. Plus, a tree is planted for every candle purchased.

Recycled Ideas Pink Seed Paper Flowers Valentines Day Gift Box Set: These flowers are made from plantable seed paper and packaged in a box that can be used as a personal greenhouse. You can also find them on etsy.

Wild Coast Perfumes Floral Collection: Made with pure, all-natural, sustainably-harvested ingredients from Vancouver island, these perfumes smell beautifully of flowers and come in recyclable bottles with no plastic overwraps. Plus, $1 per every 50ml bottle sold in the perfumery goes to the Ancient Forest Alliance.

4. Get Them Ready for Date Night

Beautiful gifts that protect the beauty of the environment.

Image: Cheekbone Beauty

Cheekbone Beauty Sustain Lip Kit (Red): This gorgeous, low-waste, consciously-sourced lip kit is made by Cheekbone Beauty, a values-driven, Indigenous-owned and -operated, Certified B Corporation that’s part of 1% for the Planet and donates to multiple causes. Check out this guide for recycling its lipstick. 

Elate Refillable Cosmetic Cases: These fully customizable cosmetic cases are recyclable, made from bamboo, and sustainably packaged. Plus, Elate donates 2% of its profits to causes that share its values every year: 1% to social and 1% to environmental initiatives.

Luna & Rose Recycled Silver Heart Necklace: Ethically crafted, this heart-shaped necklace is made from recycled sterling silver by a company that is part of 1% for the Planet.

Treats Designs Tagua Valentine Heart Pendant: Made from sustainable tagua, with natural dyes and a tumble-until-they-shine method, these pendants are created by a BC-based artist. They are also available for purchase through sustainable, Vancouver-based Hemp & Company.

5. Spend Quality Time with Them

Want a truly zero waste alternative? Consider giving your valentine the gift of experience — because nothing takes the single out of single-use more than creating lasting memories. 

There are plenty of sustainable ways to engage in quality time with your beloved. For example, you could go for a picnic using sustainable items, such as beeswax food wraps, zero waste bamboo cutlery, and reusable storage bags, and have a beautiful, waste-free moment that has a truly positive impact.

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Would You Be Our Valentine?

Are you engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? We (not-so-secretly) admire that. Contact us for a free marketing consultation. We would love to gift wrap your message and help deliver it to your audience.