Founded in 2008, Project Green is a team of staff members from across the organization who volunteer their time to help The Globe and Mail become a greener, more sustainable organization. The team has tackled energy consumption, recycling habits, paper use, commuting, the cafeteria and more. Here are some of its achievements:
Conservation
- Encouraged The Globe to create and adopt a sustainability mandate, which includes the preferred use of paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the promotion of responsible logging practices.
- Supports the Boreal Forest Agreement, designed to conserve significant areas of Canada's Boreal Forest and protect threatened woodland caribou. The Globe is a founding member of the Boreal Business Forum, which monitors progress in implementing the agreement and serves as an external advocate.
- Participated in Earth Hour and Earth Day events, including park clean-ups near The Globe's Toronto headquarters.
- Stocked photocopiers with recycled office paper and encourage staff to print double-sided.
- Installed light switches in offices that did not have them.
- Facilitated the switch to company-wide electronic greeting cards.
- Turned The Globe's escalator off after business hours and on weekends.
Transportation
- Sells discounted Toronto Transit Commission passes to staff.
- Increased the number of bike racks and improved the security of the bike storage facilities.
- Participated in the Green Air Commute.
- Organized lunch and learns on bike safety and maintenance.
Waste
- Sponsors annual waste audits to reduce waste and track progress.
- Installed organic composting in the staff cafeteria and kitchenettes.
- Facilitated the use of biodegradable food containers now used in the cafeteria.
- Introduced reusable plates, soup bowls and cutlery in the cafeteria and a dishwasher for cleaning them.
- Gave employees reusable water bottles to help reduce plastic waste.