SDG 12 - Sustainable consumption and production patterns

Show improvement in stage 1

· Sustainable sourcing

· Resource efficiency of products and services

· Materials recycling

· Procurement practices

· Product and service information and labeling

· Food waste

Actions for SDG 12

Hold awareness workshops about the use of local products
Prioritize the use of biodegradable materials for the creation of presents for users,customers or workers of the entity
Acquire technology products refurbished by local companies

Significantly reduce waste and ensure that any unavoidable waste is utilized to the fullest degree (e.g. organic waste as fuel or fertilizer)
Have signs with indications next to all recycling stations to ensure their correct use
Look for new uses for waste products such as glass or plastic containers
Train employees for the correct identification and handling of hazardous waste
Install recycling bins in common as well as private areas
Reduce manufacturing impacts by substituting virgin raw materials in products with post-consumer materials through recycling and upcycling

Hand out excess foods to employees or to a social organization
Limit the purchase of single-use and immediate waste plastic wrap or other items
Prioritize partnerships with those employees who have a zero-waste policy
Set and track objectives for reducing disposable/consumable purchases
Enable sustainable consumption by developing innovative solutions can reduce energy need in usage and educate consumers about these benefits
Apply modular design, so products’ constituent parts will be easily separated and either re-used without further processing, or easily recycled near the point of disposal

Implement product portfolio analysis tools to understand environmental and social footprint of products within lifestyles as well as production. Innovation must align products and applications to appropriately address sustainability megatrends
Strive to buy food in appropriate amounts and quality, prioritizing fresh and bulk products, with minimized packaging.
Prioritize the recruitment of suppliers that are environmentally sensitized
Reuse by selling second-hand
Initiate the use of an ecological garden on our premises
Have a recognition plan for those employees who help achieving the "Sustainable Development Plan" of the entity

Develop innovative business models such as moving from selling products to selling services, to retain ownership of the products and help close the materials loop
Create tools to measure and compare our generated waste
Share your experiences in "Sustainable Development" on social networks
Use integrated management or self-assessment models to monitor the impacts of economic exploitation
Share information on public aid concerning sustainability

Clean Growth Hub, officially launched in January 2018, is a whole-of-government focal point for clean technology focused on supporting companies and projects, coordinating programs and tracking results. To date, the Hub has provided advisory services to more than 200 clean tech clients.
Canada is one of the top manufacturers of forest products in the world. In 2016, the forest industry contributed to $23.1 billion to Canada’s GDP.
Furthermore, 48% of forests in Canada are certified, which provides third-party assurance that the forest is managed under recognized standards of sustainable forest management.

Public procurement represents a significant cost and is one way in which the Government can take leadership in promoting a green and low-carbon economy. Under the Greening Government Strategy, the Government of Canada has committed to aid the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement and the adoption of clean technologies and green products and services

Each year, millions of tonnes of waste are generated in Canada as by-products of industrial activity. This waste contains chemicals such as acids, phenols, arsenic, lead and mercury and is considered hazardous to human health and/or the environment if improperly handled.
A number of international and domestic factors are driving changes in the way Canada handles its hazardous waste and recyclables.
One factor is that Canada has ratified the UN’s Basel Convention, which requires the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and recyclables and reductions in exports for final disposal.
Canada has also implemented the OECD Council Decision on the control of transboundary movements of waste destined for recycling, and has signed a separate bilateral agreement with the United States to control the transboundary movement of hazardous waste and recyclables, including municipal solid waste.

The City of Vancouver’s 2020 goal to reduce solid waste going to landfill by 50% from 2008, with textile waste being one area of focus;
The Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy, which commits to reducing emissions from waste and moving Ontario toward a circular economy
The City of Montréal’s 2016 by law, which prohibits the distribution of certain types of shopping bags in retail stores.

In Canada, the majority of food waste comes from consumers. Work is being done to ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
For example, Metro Vancouver’s Love Food Hate Waste Program offers easy tips and ideas to reduce food waste at home. In consultation with Canadians, the Government of Canada is also developing A Food Policy for Canada, which will establish education tools and act to reduce industry food loss and consumer food waste.

To further promote education and awareness to ensure that consumers have the information and tools needed to make sustainable decisions, the Government of Canada maintains consumerhandbook.ca, an online portal that provides easy access to accurate, relevant and reliable consumer information.

Other federal government-led tools and programs to improve consumer knowledge and conscious purchasing habits include ENERGY STAR, the EnerGuide label and the Canadian EcoLogo Program.