Humber Polytechnic's ongoing commitment to sustainability has been recognized as the institution has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the tenth year in a row.
The designation, which is presented by MediaCorp Canada, recognizes employers who are leading the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness in their organizations and who have developed exceptional sustainability initiatives.
While there were many initiatives and achievements to celebrate, here are a few of the highlights from the past year:
Humber has signed the Forward Food Pledge reflecting the ongoing commitment to fostering a healthier community while contributing to global sustainability and food innovation efforts.
Humber's Culinary Arts program integrated the use of Friendlier containers in culinary labs. Student-made, and chef-approved, meals are now packaged in reusable containers and sold at Gourmet Express, an eatery on campus. Since fall 2022, more than 500,000 Friendlier containers have been returned.
The Humber Cultural Hub has been certified under the Canada Green Building Council's Zero Carbon Building - Design Standard.
Humber's Integrated Energy Master Plan has reduced energy use by 24 per cent, water use by 22 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 9 per cent while saving more than $11 million in utility costs.
The SWITCH project at Humber's North Campus will reduce fossil fuel use by 70 per cent, cutting the campus's greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent.
"Humber is demonstrating to our communities and to the world at large on how to move faster, act smarter, and inspire real change by committing to sustainable innovation at every level," said Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO, Humber Polytechnic. "Sustainability leadership means setting the bar high and then surpassing it. Our commitment to achieving net-zero in 2029 is about showing what's possible and inspiring others to do the same. We recognize the need for a highly trained workforce to drive innovation and are proud to play a role in advancing our country's energy future while shaping the next generation of sustainability professionals."
Earlier this year, Humber's Office of Sustainability launched its new Sustainability Vision. Called "Shaping a Better Tomorrow," the new vision deepens Humber's goals for a sustainable future and encompasses three pillars: educate, enable and engage. As a part of its implementation plan, Humber is empowering students through fostering sustainability mindsets, enabling a sustainable campus experience and translating knowledge into climate action.
Lindsay Walker, director of Sustainability, noted that the recognition reflects how deeply sustainability is woven into Humber's culture.
"At Humber, we have taken bold steps to position ourselves as a global leader in sustainability. By implementing meaningful initiatives and embedding sustainability practices into institutional strategies and daily operations, we have been able to grow our impact and lead with a sustainability mindset. We're committed to creating meaningful change through leveraging thought leadership and innovation here to meet and exceed our sustainability goals."
As part of our continued commitment to educating for a sustainable future, Humber is launching the Climate Action Massive Open Online Course a free, open-access resource for global learners. Designed for anyone, anywhere in the world, this self-paced course offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to climate action. Created from a Canadian lens that includes Indigenous perspectives, the short new course provides a structured path to action. In three to five hours, learners will explore four key modules covering Carbon Footprints and Greenhouse Gases; Action Planning; Climate Anxiety; and Land-based learning and Two-Eyed Seeing.
The Office of Sustainability will soon be launching a campaign called the "Faces of Sustainability" that highlights how community members are integrating sustainable practices into their activities, contributing to Humber's social and environmental successes.
Find out more by visiting the Office of Sustainability website.
