VIDEO: The Economy is Going Circular – and Canada’s Not Ready!

By: Gavin Pitchford

Our expert panel discusses how we can leverage sustainable procurement as the enabling game changer – adding jobs, reducing GHGs and building capacity and resilience that will serve us as we face climate change, pandemics, and a changing world.

Canada has long been more of an exporter of natural materials, such as wood and metals, and oil – the raw materials used to make plastic, cars, houses and computers.

But what happens to our economy when the world starts taking products apart after they have reached end of life, and then re-uses the oil, plastic, metal or the wood inside them? What happens when the world demands the lowest carbon intensive products?

Make no mistake – that’s what’s happening now, especially in Europe. And worldwide, each year, humans are consuming four times more materials than the earth can replenish. So it’s mathematically very clear: we must change.

Canada can compete in this brave new world if we embrace it, starting immediately. Learn more by watching the panel here:

A panel of Canada’s leading experts in the field engages in a hugely informative discussion that discusses the opportunity and risks for Canada, and the impact on the circular economy the government and industry can drive by shifting to a sustainable procurement model that considers the environmental impacts of what they buy.

Something the Canadian government has been talking about without measurable action for over 25 years now…

Our expert panelists (in order of appearance) are:

  • Tima Bansal, Executive Director, Network for Business Sustainability, and Chair of the Expert Panel for the Circular Economy at Council of Canadian Academies
  • Paul Shorthouse, Senior Director, Green & Circular Economy at The Delphi Group
  • Frances Edmonds, Head of Sustainable Impact at HP Canada
  • Ellen McGregor, CEO Fielding Environmental
  • Monica DaPonte, Principal Consultant, Shift & Build
  • Moderator • Gavin Pitchford, CEO, Delta Management Group & Executive Director, Canada’s Clean50

In addition, the COVID crisis has laid bare how critical it is for us to have “Made in Canada” manufacturing. One way for us to acquire the valuable raw materials we don’t mine here is by recycling and upcycling end-of-life products, and looking at new ways to consume things. The panel lays out the numbers and describes the smart ways for us to get rapid results that includes lots of jobs by changing policies.

This recording is part of the Canada’s Clean50 CleanReset series that explores the policy options for Canada that can drive remarkable economic opportunities in a low-carbon economy all unlocked by a post-COVID #CleanReset.

Critical support in funding, coordinating, hosting and recording the series came from The Trottier Family Foundation, The Ivey Foundation, Delta Management Group, HP Canada, Bullfrog Energy and SparkPower, Intact Insurance and Frank Cowan Company, the University of Windsor, Sustainalytics, Cycle Capital, Resco Energy, GreenEnergy Futures, Delphi Group and GlobeSeries, Clean Energy Canada, the Pembina Institute and the Smart Prosperity Institute.