How you can contribute to TMU’s Sustainability Action Plan
On Earth Day, April 22, we launched the Sustainability Action Plan. Since then we’ve shared an outline of its three long-term goals, the five key areas where we’re concentrating efforts and some of the tools we have prepared to make headway.
The proposed actions in the plan outline a framework at the departmental and institutional level, but we need the support of the entire TMU community for our programs to succeed. All efforts—even those that seem small on the surface—have positive consequences with considerable cumulative impact.
Moving from sustainability awareness to climate action
To meet our three long-term goals, we will have to learn how to follow through with more sustainable choices, adjust long-standing patterns, adopt new practices and resist the urge to find the fastest and easiest—but unsustainable—way of doing things. We can develop new routines and become accustomed to different practices.
All meaningful actions can result in significant change when they are consistent and amplified through collective action.
Top 3 ways everyone can support our 3 long-term goals
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Do your part: Success hinges on our combined efforts
Take action by adhering to the processes we introduce to improve our sustainability performance. We can make a difference if everyone contributes to our long-term goals.
Join the Employee Sustainability Ambassador Program, join the Green Labs program or develop a Green Office program of your own.
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Put waste in its proper place and reduce waste generation
Take advantage of the tools, resources and infrastructure to sort your waste correctly. Learn what waste goes where. Not sure? Ask the TMU Waste Wizard!
Support your own future efforts by generating less waste from the get-go through sustainable purchasing and prioritize reuse and repurposing to find a second life for goods you no longer need.
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Reduce consumption
Take charge to stop the loss: Power down equipment when not in use, contact the Facilities Help Desk (Fixit) to report malfunctions and track your consumables to find options for reduction.
Get tips on how to reduce reliance on products that require virgin, raw materials in manufacturing from the Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines and try the TMU Furniture Rehome Program to find what you need.
Throughout the Sustainability Action Plan’s development, the TMU community has shown its appetite for tackling real-world problems and a readiness to challenge conventional approaches to carbon reduction, resource management, conservation and environmental recovery.
Success is possible and we have the tools to get started and improve on good work!
Sustainability Roadshow
The Sustainability Office will review the plan, its structure, roles and responsibilities with you and your department or business unit to help facilitate efforts to achieve our long-term goals.
If you would like to book a presentation with the Sustainability Office to answer any questions and learn more about how you can apply the plan to your operations, please contact Sharmilla Raj, sustainability manager, at sustainability@torontomu.ca.
Questions or concerns?
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact Sharmilla Raj, sustainability manager, at sustainability@torontomu.ca.