Yearly Archives: 2014

In some industries, sustainability initiatives deliver long-lasting benefits, because products and production methods can be used over and over again. But the fashion industry is an ever-shifting landscape, as seasons change and styles fall in and out of favour with the consumer. That can bring big challenges to sustainability efforts. When it comes to bringing…

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The Afternoon Keynote featured an armchair discussion with the individuals in charge of sustainability at LEGO and Philips. During the discussion the audience were given insights into how global companies are catalyzing a shift toward a circular economy. Hear what drives these industry pioneers, the obstacles, and opportunities they encountered. And discover some fun facts, such as…

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Over 200 companies and 2000 products are now approved by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. But what does this certification mean? Institute president Bridgett Luther offers an overview of the principles behind the label. Luther opens her presentation with a simple definition. “Cradle to Cradle… is about our ‘stuff’,” she notes, “but it’s…

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 In his keynote address to Metro Vancouver's 2014 Zero Waste Conference, Jeremy Rifkin poses the question: will we succumb to the ecological and economic doom we have ourselves created, or will we thrive, having embraced the transformative technological and philosophical opportunities now available? In a videoconference presentation from Spain, Rifkin offers visionary concepts, sobering realities, and…

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What happens when we blend the world of nature with that of design and technology? Dayna Baumeister examines how the natural world uses and reuses materials – to offer insights into the core principles we must embrace to implement a zero waste approach to our economy. Dayna Baumeister opens her presentation with an observation on…

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A panel discusses how rethinking design and manufacturing systems can shift the linear economy to a circular or cradle-to-cradle model. From dealing with disposable diapers to building a better framework for do-it-yourself  projects, this wide-ranging conversation explores the ways business goals and sustainability principles can work together to deliver new opportunities within a zero waste world. The panel…

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Alexa Kielty, Zero Waste Specialist for San Francisco reports on that City and County's Textile Initiative, which seeks to divert the 39 million pounds of textiles San Franciscans send to the landfill each year. Alexa Kielty opens her presentation on San Francisco’s zero waste textile initiative by highlighting the fact that waste crosses social and demographic…

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With over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain management, and research and development, Sandy Rodger’s background leaves him well-placed to provide leadership and guidance in the shift to a zero-waste approach to the economy. His current position, as the lead for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Project Mainstream sees Rodger collaborating with the management consulting firm McKinsey…

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In the coming weeks we'll bring you the presentations that made the 2014 Zero Waste Conference such a success. Over 500 people participated, gaining insight into a wide variety of topics, from product design to disposal, and tackling the complexities that are part and parcel of facilitating the cultural shifts necessary to switch to a…

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All the presentations from the 2014 Zero Waste Conference (#ZWC2014), held Sept. 16 in Vancouver, BC are now available online. Go to Presentations and Videos on the 2014 Zero Waste Conference web page for the complete list. You can hear from internationally-known champions of the the move towards a circular economy and local leaders formulating the policies and programs that…

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