Sustainability Allies

What drives your commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, both personally and within your business?

At Patagonia Halifax, we’re in business to save our home planet. As an outdoor company, and as outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we value the spaces we play, live and work in. If we can play a role in helping our community, and preserving the places we love, that’s what we strive for. Here in Nova Scotia we are driven by the local demands to protect our coastal communities, wetlands, and old growth forests.

Why do you value a partnership with the Ecology Action Centre?

The Ecology Action Centre is at the forefront of all environmental issues impacting Nova Scotia. Partnering with them means we are actively aligning ourselves with a group whose main goal is to advocate for our local environment. We continue to be inspired by their work and are driven to strengthen our own commitments and contributions.

Personally, why is the environment/community development important to you?

We can’t do business on a dead planet, and we know that everything we make has an impact. We wouldn't be in this business if we didn’t think we could do it differently. We aim to use our store to support people in making informed choices about what and how they buy. The clothing industry is dirty, and what we buy is what the industry will become. We believe that together we can change how clothes are made. We demand recycled inputs, organic cotton and natural fibres, fair working conditions, and the best made product that is built to be easily repaired in the future. At our core, our environmental impact starts with the products we produce and sell in our store.

We also know that behind every good business, is a great community. It will be through building relationships and serving and collaborating with our community that we can work towards a better future.

What kinds of things are you doing within your business to have a positive impact on our environment or community?

Environmental activism and community development intersect as a core pillar of our business. We approach community development through outreach and engagement efforts. We use our space and our resources to elevate local campaigns and provide easy access for our customers to learn about how to get involved. As a proud 1% for the Planet member, we are also committed to donating 1% of our sales to local environmental non-profits. This keeps us committed to giving back directly to efforts in Nova Scotia that we know will have a lasting impact.

Why do you value a partnership with the Ecology Action Centre?

I believe the EAC is doing the job our government should be doing, including taking measures to protect nature and our environment. EAC is extremely active and vocal within our community and I respect its leadership on environmental issues.  Some of my values apply to food, nature, and the environment which aligns well with the values of the EAC so forming a partnership was an easy decision.

What kinds of things are you doing within your business to have a positive impact on our environment or community?

For over 30 years, I’ve been working with clients to help consider their social, environmental and ethical concerns that applies to their money.  Part of that includes investing in local community projects such as renewable energy projects.  I’m a socially responsible investor and I support my clients in choosing high-quality investments that align with their values.

Personally, why is the environment/community development important to you?

On a personal level, I’ve always had an appreciation for the environment and nature. As a family with two children, we try to be as active as possible outdoors and I hope that my children will always strive to protect and conserve our environment.

On a larger level, respecting and protecting our environment is imperative to the economic development that will help attract quality people to our province.

Why do you value a partnership with the Ecology Action Centre?

I appreciate the work that the EAC does, the organization seems to be at the forefront of all environmental issues, and has good exposure speaking out about issues. I often see a representative on the evening news, or a rally of some sort in the media. I like the public awareness.

What kinds of things are you doing within your business to have a positive impact on our environment or community?

I strongly believe that healthy environments require resilient communities. At Helping Nature Heal, we contribute both time and energy to local community projects focused on environmental sustainability and food security. This year, we’ve even hired a Community Engagement Manager to take the lead on this important work.

We also pride ourselves on sourcing local materials and using ecological practices. This is includes carpooling, recycling, seed-saving, organic materials and services from trusted suppliers within a 100 km radius, environmentally friendly office practices, and a strict no chemical policy.

Our whole company is about healing the earth and our connection to it, which in turn heals us. I am deeply committed to enacting this mission at all levels of our work at Helping Nature Heal.

Personally, why is the environment/community development important to you?

On a personal level I feel deeply committed and responsible for all my actions. I feel that each of us has an inherent ethical duty to do our best to respect, and protect the environment, after all if we don’t have clean air, water and food what is the point of our lives?

Why do you value a partnership with the Ecology Action Centre?

Because EAC has successfully demonstrated the connection between environmental issues, local communities and the local economy. Unlike the average politician, I am more concerned about leaving an environmental deficit than I am about any government budget deficit. As the saying goes, “If you think the economy is more important than the environment, then try holding your breath while you count your money”.  EAC has shone a bright light on the many environmental issues facing all of us and done so by bringing these concerns to the attention of the general public with excellent articles in local media outlets, as well as engaging political and business leaders in conversations about these serious issues.

What kinds of things are you doing within your business to have a positive impact on our environment or community?

At the moment, the main contribution we are making is our financial support of Ecology Action Centre. When we contemplated support for EAC, we realized that just using recycled paper and adding the line, “please recycle” to our marketing mail-outs was an inadequate response to the environmental crisis we are facing. For that reason, we have totally eliminated the use of mass flyer distribution. We have also retired our water cooler. Small steps, I know, but it’s a start. We are also doing our best to help create awareness of environmental issues – particularly in regards to the idea of shopping local and how that can have an impact on the local economy and hence help to reduce our carbon footprint. We are also doing our best to create environmental awareness through our web site and various social media.

Personally, why is the environment/community development important to you?

As someone who spends their free time exploring and enjoying Nova Scotia’s diminishing wild places, I believe it is important to have a group of knowledgeable, energetic environmentalists who are committed to protecting our natural world. Having spent most of my life in the province, I have come to the realization that the infinite growth model of economic development is not sustainable – not just in Nova Scotia, but on the entire planet. As someone who came of age during the sixties and seventies, I carry a certain amount of guilt for the horrific mess my generation is leaving for my kids and other young people.  My hope is that, in some small way, I can contribute towards the mitigation of the damage we as a generation have caused and I see my support of EAC as an opportunity to do just that.

Why do you value a partnership with the Ecology Action Centre?

Craft Beer is about traditional products resulting from sustainable practices and natural ingredients. Maintaining a healthy environment is not only a real-time benefit to our business, it's essential and the right thing to do.  By partnering with the Ecology Action Centre, Garrison hopes to assist in raising awareness around environmental challenges and championing real-world solutions. We believe our combined efforts will foster a culture of environmental stewardship that resonates with suppliers, staff & customers alike.

What kinds of things are you doing within your business to have a positive impact on our environment or community?

As a business, we benefit greatly from people supporting local. In return, we factor the community & environment around us into everything we do. We believe positive change comes from doing many small things right and for Garrison, the list is extensive. We buy nearly 80% of our malted barley from New Brunswick in bulk form and shipped by rail. We work with a number of small, local hop farmers and run our own test plot with Ross Farm Museum. Other local raw materials are often profiled in our specialty brews including spruce tips, raw honey, maple syrup, lavender and even bog myrtle. After brewing, all spent grain becomes cattle and pig feed given to farmers at no cost. Our brewing tanks are all fabricated by a PEI manufacturer and fired by natural gas and steam. Both Seaport breweries were located in derelict properties which we refurbished. Biodegradable cleaners, stainless kegs and refillable bottles and growlers help further lessen our production footprint. Even the cups we use at festivals and events are biodegradable, made from corn starch!
   
Our community ties go deep as well. We've done several charity brews over the years and supported many causes. We've poured local beer at the Halifax Jazzfest since 1999, and been supporting partners of many others including the Atlantic Film Festival, Multicultural Festival, OutEast Film fest, Obey Convention and Hal-Con. Add in running, biking and swimming clubs, amateur sports, small business, health, education and the environment and it's clear we're part of a VERY large community.

Personally, why is the environment/community development important to you?

I try and approach business (& life) from an optimistic angle. I can make beer, period. I can also make beer using local materials and supplies, sort out my waste streams, improve efficiencies, build relationships with local restaurants/groups and create a unique and welcoming destination that creates pride among locals and draws visitors from far and wide. These things are as important to me as the great craft beer that made them all possible.

Why do you value a partnership with the Ecology Action Center?

EAC’s work on environmental protection and sustainability aligns directly with our own values.  Working with this dedicated group inspires us and strengthens our commitment to find new ways to make a positive difference within our company and community.

The number of issues that EAC tackles and their track record make them truly remarkable. We first approached EAC with the idea collaboration in 2007. Since that time, we have donated twenty-five cents from every retail bag of coffee sold in Nova Scotia to support their work and it has been one of the more gratifying aspects of our business.

What kind of things are you doing within your business to have a positive impact on our environment and community?

As members of Cooperative Coffees (a co-op of roasters in Canada and the US) we contribute to their Coffee, Climate Initiative which funds coffee farmers to make sustainable improvements to their farming practices to help alleviate the effects climate change.  All our coffees are organic and Fairtrade certified, which translates into healthier conditions for farmers and the soils they cultivate.  Fairtrade premiums (for community development above and beyond the market price of the coffee) improve living conditions and a guaranteed minimum price protects against downturns in commodity markets.

We also:

• Purchased the first heat recycling roaster in Canada in 2009 to reduce fossil fuel usage.
• Are members of five Farmers’ Markets and have served as Directors for two of them.
• Give our coffee grounds and chaff to farmers for compost and chicken bedding.
• Use around 2000 recycled grocery store boxes annually to pack orders.
• Give a discount to customers that bring their own travel mugs or reuse their cups.
• Are actively engaged in pushing packaging manufacturers for cup and bag products that will actually compost in our municipal waste systems.

We also regularly donate to a number of other community organizations: Council of Canadians, Second Story Women’s Center,  Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy, Fisherman’s Hospital, Engineers without Borders, Dalhousie Sustainability, Surfing Association of NS,  ACORN, Farmers’ Markets of NS to name a few.

Personally, why is the environment/community development important to you?

Before launching Laughing Whale Coffee Roasters, our careers involved working for social justice, indigenous rights, international development and women’s rights, environmental protection and renewable energy.  We want our coffee to be a vehicle for change by giving back both at home and in coffee producing countries because it gives us a way of making a real difference and deepens our connection to the world.