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Leading Organizations

 

Below are a number of organizations that are leading environmental stewardship. ARAMARK is establishing formal relationships with many of these organizations and will continue to form strategic alliances to forward our Green Thread commitment.

  

 

AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, is a member organization of colleges and universities working to advance sustainability in higher education.  

The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.  A number of Canadian Institutions have also signed on to this commitment.
  Sustainable Food 
TransFair
TransFair Canada is Canada's only non-profit certification and public education organization promoting Fair Trade Certified to improve the livelihood of developing world farmers and workers.

 Fairtrade Labeling Organizations (FLO) International
FLO International is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder association that develops and reviews Fair Trade Standards and provides support to Fairtrade Certified Producers by assisting them in gaining and maintaining Fair Trade Certification and capitalizing on market opportunities.

 Rainforest Alliance 
The Rainforest Alliance is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods. They work with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers to help protect wildlife, wild lands, workers’ rights and local communities. Farms and related operations can receive Rain Forest Alliance Certification, not products or companies. 
  Marine Stewardship Council
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an independent, global, non-profit organization working to reverse the decline in the world’s fisheries. The MSC has developed an environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries and has  a product certification that rewards environmentally responsible fishery management and practices (MSC certified). Over 7% of the world's edible wild-capture fisheries are now engaged in the program.
  SeaChoice - Canada’s Seafood Guide
SeaChoice is a comprehensive seafood markets program with the primary goal of realizing sustainable fisheries in Canada and abroad. They work to mobilize sustainable seafood markets via: Research ; Industry outreach ; Public education ; Retail partnerships;  Strategic communications; & Dialogue with government.  SeaChoice has developed Canada’s Seafood Guide to help Canadians make more ocean friendly and ecologically sustainable seafood choices.
  Monterrey Bay Seafood Watch
Seafood Watch is a program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. The Seafood Watch program recommends which seafood to buy or avoid, helping consumers to become advocates for environmentally friendly seafood. They are also partners of the Seafood Choices Alliance where, along with other seafood awareness campaigns, they provide seafood purveyors with recommendations on seafood choices. They are based in the United States.
  Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise
Ocean Wise is a conservation program created by the Vancouver Aquarium (BC, Canada) to help restaurants and their customers make environmentally friendly seafood choices. The Ocean Wise symbol on menus at participating restaurants helps assure consumers they are making the most responsible seafood choices.
  Local Food Plus
LFP is an award winning not for profit organization that brings farmers and consumers to the table to share in the benefits of environmentally and socially responsible food production. LFP works to build and foster local sustainable food systems by certifying farmers and processors and linking them with local purchasers. Currently LFP is only working in Ontario.  When you choose LFP you:  enjoy fresh food from Ontario; support environmentally responsible farming; conserve energy and cut greenhouse gases, ensure fair conditions for farm workers, provide humane care for livestock; preserve farmland and wildlife habitat; and foster a strong local economy
  Food Alliance
The Food Alliance is a nonprofit organization that certifies farms and ranches and food handlers (including packers, processors and distributors) for sustainable agricultural and business practices.  These businesses use Food Alliance certification to make credible claims for social and environmental responsibility, to differentiate and add value to products, and to protect and enhance brands. They are based in the United States
  Canada Organic – (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
Canada has recently announced new Organic Products Regulations that will include a Canada Organic label - coming into effect in December 2008.  Although Canada has had an organic standard since 1999, it only became law in 2006, and has yet to be implemented.  The new program and Canada Organic label will require that all products claiming to be organic must meet the revised national standards for production, handling and labeling, and must be certified through an accredited body following defined procedures for inspection and certification.   The new logo will be permitted for use only on those food products certified as meeting the revised standards for organic production and that contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients
  USDA Organic – National Organic Program
The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.

 

Responsible Procurement

The North American Green Purchasing Initiative of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC NAGPI) recently researched Green Procurement in North America and found that both public and private institutions are identifying and measuring the benefits of their Green Procurement programs.

 

The Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN)

RPN is a national network of procurement-related professionals dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)

EPP helps the federal government "buy green," and in doing so, uses the federal government's enormous buying power to stimulate market demand for green products and services.

The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
BPI has a labeling program for all materials and products that meet ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards for compostability / biodegradability based on testing in pre-approved, independent laboratories.  Many packaging items on the market are BPI certified compostable.

Green Seal
Green Seal is an independent non profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services.  Products that can be Green Seal Certified include cleaning products

EcoLogo
EcoLogo is North America’s most widely recognized and respected certification of environmental leadership.  By setting standards and certifying products in more than 120 categories, EcoLogo helps you identify, trust, buy, and sell environmentally preferable (“green”) goods and services. Launched by the Canadian federal government in 1988, EcoLogo has grown to serve buyers and sellers of green products throughout the United States and Canada, and around the world. It is North America’s oldest environmental standard and certification organization (and the second oldest in the world). It is the only North American standard approved by the Global Ecolabeling Network as meeting the international ISO 14024 standard for environmental labels.

 

Waste Management

Canadian Waste Reduction Week 
On this website you will find resources and contacts to assist your community, school or business with waste minimization and conservation initiatives.

Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Recycling 
The goal of this web site is to promote and enhance recycling in Canada by providing information about metals and minerals recycling and recycling in general. The focus is on recycling in Canada but this site also includes information on events, publications and information sources outside of Canada.  Check out the publications link for more information.

CURC: College and University Recycling Council - is a network of campus-based recycling professionals who face similar challenges and opportunities in managing college and university programs.

EPA Municipal Solid Waste site provides a starting point for creating a recycling program covering topics such as basic facts and providing a number of resources.

The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) is a national non-profit advocacy group with members that span all aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America. The Coalition represents advocates from every region of the country, in every sector of the waste reduction field.

RecycleMania is a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in the United States that provides the campus community with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction.

Energy & Water Conservation / Green Buildings

Energy Star :  The international ENERGY STAR symbol is a simple way for consumers to identify products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market. Only manufacturers and retailers whose products meet the ENERGY STAR criteria can label their products with this symbol. Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency promotes the international ENERGY STAR symbol across Canada.

 

Green Seal: Founded in 1989, Green Seal is an independent non profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services.  Green Seal provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace.  Products that can be Green Seal Certified include Cleaning products.

The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.  It is administered through the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC

 

Transportation

EPA's Green Vehicle Guide gives information about the environmental performance of vehicles and provides the user with dynamic search and sort capabilities.