NEWS RELEASE
CIRCULAR OPPORTUNITY INNOVATION LAUNCHPAD
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Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad (COIL) has received a $250,000 donation from Desjardins Group to support the work of its new Climate and Circularity Solutions Hub.
The hub, launched in October, applies circular economy principles to provide expertise, research and strategies to help regional businesses and community organizations adopt actions to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change.
The circular economy has been identified as a primary strategy in Canada’s climate action plan, which sets bold targets to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 and achieve Net-Zero Emissions by 2050. The plan highlights that the path to a resilient future requires the adoption of clean technologies and resource-efficient approaches that underpin a circular economy.
Leveraging COIL’s existing regional networks, infrastructure and expertise, the hub develops and shares specific strategies that reduce waste, create new value streams, and introduce more climate-friendly processes in business operations. It supports new learning opportunities, such as the Circular Leadership Program in partnership with the Ivey Business School Centre for Building Sustainable Value and the evaluation and measurement of circular approaches that maximize emission reductions.
”Our cooperative values are guided by the unwavering belief that economic development should drive social progress and help improve the quality of life for local communities and the environment. There is no planet B,” said Guy Cormier, president and CEO of Desjardins Group. “We are proud to support COIL’s Climate and Circularity Solutions Hub, which will help businesses grow and integrate more sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.”
In 2016, Desjardins created GoodSpark Fund and committed to investing $250 million by 2024 in socially transformative projects created by and for the community. Through the fund, Desjardins awards grants to initiatives and sectors that impact communities the most, like employment, economic vitality, education and the environment. So far, the GoodSpark Fund has supported more than 600 initiatives.
“Desjardin’s donation is an incredible example of corporate leadership supporting community-led climate action,” said David Messer, executive director of Smart Cities office.
“Our comprehensive circular economy approach considers not only the reuse, recovery and recycling of materials that were previously wasted; it addresses processes and decisions that prevent waste generation across an entire value chain. With Desjardin’s generous commitment, we will be able to complete research and demonstration projects that will accelerate this work.”
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