Reducing Supply Chain Toxins - Sustainability Purchasing Network

Sustainability Purchasing Network Learning Events
Connecting Sustainability Purchasers
 
Register Now for SPN Spring Events

May 15 Learning Circle (10am-12pm)
Reducing Supply Chain Toxins

Toxins in products that you purchase and in use by your suppliers can create risk for your organization, and poor working conditions for staff and contractors. By identifying and eliminating toxins your organization will ensure that it meets new regulations and employee and customer expectations for safety and healthy environments.

Major retailers are moving to eliminate toxins. Recently, Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) became the first major Canadian retailer to stop selling products containing bisphenol A, and Walmart moved to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic from products and packaging.

Unions and school boards are reducing toxins to protect the health of cleaning staff/contractors and indoor air quality. The BC Nurses’ Union replaced toxic cleaning products with Green Seal certified alternatives, and the Burnaby School Board replaced its conventional cleaning products with a green line of products that carry the Environmental Choice Ecologo.

Join participants from Toxic Free Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-op, the University of British Columbia and purchasers from local business, public sector organizations and NGOs as we discuss the eradication of toxins from purchased goods and services. Learning circles are small peer-to-peer group dialogues where purchasers share best practices, address challenges and compare resources.

This Learning is free, however pre-registration is required.

June 12 Workshop (8am-1pm)
The Fundamentals of Sustainability Purchasing

Increasingly, businesses, governments and not-for-profits are enjoying the benefits of sustainability purchasing: values alignment, improved product and service quality, environmental and social benefits, reduced risk and enhanced financial competitiveness.

This popular workshop helps purchasers understand the fundamentals important for laying the foundations for sustainability purchasing. Learn to:

    > Communicate the business case for sustainability purchasing

    > Minimize the costs of sustainability purchasing

    > Find simple and practical examples, tools and resources, and

    > Connect and learn from other sustainability purchasers

Fees

Workshops
$245 for private/public sector
$175 for non-profit, small business and PMAC members
$100 for students

Learning Circles

No charge. Please register.

Registration
Please send a registration form <http://www.buysmartbc.com/UserFiles/File/SPN Event Registration Sheet(1).doc>  to us by fax (604-488-5351) or email <mailto:lshore@fraserbasin.bc.ca?subject=Register%20for%20SPN%20Event> .
Date, time and location
 
 
Reducing Supply Chain Toxins
May 15, 2008 10am-12pm
Room 2250, SFU Harbour Centre <http://www.sfu.ca/about/maps2.html> , 515 West Hastings 

Fundamentals of Sustainability Purchasing
June 12, 2008  8am-1pm  
Room C150 UBC Robson Square <http://www.cstudies.ubc.ca/maps/robson.html> , 800 Robson Street
   

For more information on any of our events, please see our website <http://www.buysmartbc.com/learning-events.html>  or contact us <mailto:info@buysmartbc.ca?subject=SPN%20Event%20Information%20Request> .
The Sustainability Purchasing Network, a program of the Fraser Basin Council, is a coalition of organizations with a mission to promote the growth and effectiveness of sustainability purchasing practices & foster economic sustainability.