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News & Announcements4/22/2010 | BLJC named one of Canada’s Green 30 organizations BLJC has been awarded a spot on Hewitt Associates’ “The Green 30” list, which recognizes Canadian organizations where employees are most positive about their workplaces’ environmental stewardship. Announced today, April 22, coinciding with Earth Day, the list was compiled from employee feedback using Hewitt’s Employee Green Index. The index focuses on employers’ strategies, activities and efforts to minimize the environmental impact of their operations, products and services. “This designation validates that we have established an awareness within our organization around the environment and the impacts that our activities have on our world,” says BLJC president Gordon Hicks. Organizations that participate in the Best Employers in Canada or the Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada studies are eligible for the Green 30 list. For the 2010 list, Hewitt surveyed more than 100,000 employees at 230 organizations regarding their employers’ commitment to environmental stewardship. “Our findings show that employees really see the difference when their employer is focused on developing and implementing environmentally-conscious policies and practices,” states Neil Crawford, Hewitt’s leader of the Best Employers in Canada study, in a press release. Hicks says he would like to see team members continue to look for ways to continually reduce our environmental impact. As a leader in the provision of real estate management services, BLJC is focusing on a number of initiatives to support its clients in reducing their carbon footprints, and achieving their sustainable development objectives. Leading by example, over the years BLJC has implemented energy efficiency initiatives and moved to 100 per cent green power for its Ontario offices. In 2006, it was the first organization in the industry to ban the use of pesticides for cosmetic lawn care. BLJC upgraded its fleet improving fuel efficiency by more than 30 per cent and introduced hybrid service vehicles. The company banned the use of plastic water bottles and achieved an 83 per cent waste diversion and is currently taking on a zero-waste challenge within its own head office, which will be expanded within client portfolios. “We are actively involved in working with our clients to support them in driving carbon-reduction initiatives with the ultimate goal of designing and operating the carbon neutral and even net-positive buildings of the future,” says Hicks, adding they are looking at a few pilot projects. “I am confident that our clients value the support we provide them in finding ways to reduce consumption of energy and water, as well as diverting waste from landfill, and we are looking forward to continuing our journey together on this road to a sustainable future,” he says. BLJC measures facility managers’ portfolios for energy consumption on a quarterly basis and looks to support them in reducing energy consumption, providing the measurement as a feedback mechanism to show the impact of their actions. As a green employer, Hicks says his greatest hope is to encourage other organizations to build a plan within their own companies and industries to reduce the environmental impact from operations. “Collectively we can all make a difference,” he says. As other organizations become aware of BLJC listed as one of the Green 30 companies, Hicks hopes they will be inspired in their sustainability efforts. “(I hope) all organizations can realize that no matter how big or small, their contribution can make a difference, and (I want) to encourage them to drive forward and be leaders of change,” he says. “Our future generations are depending on us!” An article on “The Green 30” was published in the May 10th edition of Canadian Business and the May 3rd edition of Maclean's Magazine. |
