Metro Vancouver Sustainability Summit Report 2008

Last fall, Metro Vancouver convened its first ever Sustainability Summit. The Summit marked the convergence of several years of discussion, networking, and shared activity intended to advance sustainability across our region. At the Summit, over 400 people came together to determine a common vision, collaborate on strategic directions for action, and brainstorm how to put actions into motion.

Summit participants confirmed a picture of success and selected three strategic directions for action for each of nine sustainability issues. Small groups brainstormed around potential tools and techniques for putting actions into play.

The report down downloaded at http://bit.ly/MetroVancouver_Summit_2008

2008 Sustainability Summit

Metro Vancouver is hosting  the  first-ever Future of the Region Sustainability Summit, to be held on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver. Munu Hicken-Gaberria will be attending the event and representing the LFT Group.

Since 2006, Metro Vancouver has been hosting the Future of the Region Sustainability Dialogues and the Sustainability Community Breakfasts in centres throughout the region. Expert panellists and highly engaged participants have provided fresh and stimulating perspectives on regional issues, generating a wealth of information that has helped politicians, business people, community advocates and citizens alike – work towards a sustainable future for Metro Vancouver.

This past June, Metro Vancouver hosted an inaugural series of Discussion Forums that were intended to capitalize on the momentum created by the dialogues and breakfasts and move from dialogue to action. Held in five urban centres throughout the region, the Discussion Forums addressed two questions – what is our vision for the future, and what are the immediate actions we need to take for the next three years to deliver that vision – in nine key topic areas that were organized into three distinct streams.

The Sustainability Summit represents the next step in the creation of a truly livable and sustainable region: a strategic, region-wide event that will be held every three years to help establish, report on and monitor sustainability targets developed by Summit participants.

Full information and registration: http://public.metrovancouver.org/region/summits/Pages/default.aspx

Bring Back programme

Live for Tomorrow has given a great deal of thought not only to the products, but to their use and the environmental impact of production, and packaging. This vision of re-usability and earth-friendly ingredients has driven the solution, enabling processes within the company and with retailers to process and re-use returned packaging.

In 2007, Metro Vancouver launched the Zero Waste Challenge. The Zero Waste Challenge sets out to do two things with our region’s waste:

• Minimize the amount of waste going to disposal using opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle.
• With the remaining waste, maximize the recovery of energy.

Metro Vancouver residents and businesses generate over 3 million tonnes of waste each year. Currently, 52% of this is recycled. The other 48% is collected and taken to one of two landfills (Cache Creek or Vancouver) or to the region’s Waste-to-energy facility.

We have put into place processes to collect, sanitize and refill the bottles. All our stockists have agreed to accept the returned bottles.

How can you help?

• Remove the caps and put them in the blue bin
• Give the bottles a quick rinse;
• Return the bottles to the store - to the checkout staff. Some stores will have our crates at the front by the recycle area;
• And finally, our deepest thanks for playing your part in saving the earth's resources and making our beautiful city a better place.