NEWS RELEASE
SUSTAINABLE ORILLIA
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Did you know that you are already an active contributor to the circular economy?
It’s news for many of us (your writer included), so please read on to learn what it means and how the circular economy relates to our day-to-day lives — present and future.
One of Canada’s leading environmental, non-profit organizations, the Circular Innovation Council (CIC), is promoting Circular Economy Month throughout October 2022, which makes this a good time to explore the subject. Their goal is to build public awareness of what is meant by a “circular economy” and to reinforce how we can all do our bit to reduce waste while preserving our quality of life.
The health of our economy plays a vital role in our quality of life. Good jobs, the cost of living, consumer confidence, and growth are all drivers in building a robust economy. Those same elements are critical underpinnings in a circular economy as well — with one significant difference: in a circular economy, decisions are taken with environmental consequences in mind.
In the circular economy, businesses, organizations and individuals prioritize our planet’s finite resources and emphasize durability and waste reduction in their designs, manufacturing processes, and purchases. They integrate many of the ‘Rs’ — like re-imagining, rejuvenating, rebuilding, reusing, repairing, re-purposing, redesigning and so on — into their product’s life span. More simply, in a circular economy, things are designed, made and used in sustainable ways that last, and they can be repurposed, shared or, at a minimum, recycled at the end of their original use.
The circular economy concept emerged in the 70s and has been gaining momentum among economists, governments and corporate social responsibility advocates ever since. As it’s an economic theory, there has been — understandably — much analysis and interpretation (economists are, after all, famous for framing their opinions as “on the one hand, and on the other hand”!). However, the concept is complex only in its implementation, not in its structure, and that’s where we find ourselves today.
When you read those ‘R’ words, no doubt you are doing many of them; most of us already have one foot in the “circle.” Now we just need to build on our “circularity” and encourage others to do likewise. We can do this through our purchasing decisions, how we maintain, share and repurpose goods, and, of course, how we advocate and vote.
Designing out waste and pollution is one of the circular economy’s guiding principles — as is keeping products and materials in use long-term and promoting the regeneration of natural systems, such as composting. What does that mean for us in our everyday lives? Here’s some simple examples to get us thinking about the things we can do that are indeed part of the circular economy.
Limit Waste & the Use of Natural Resources
Make the Most of What we Have
Give Back to
Our Planet
Buy well-made and package-free products
Buy less
Share – rides, bikes, tools, gardens, etc.
Repair something that breaks
Donate to second-hand stores
Try to wear your clothes, two times before washing
Put food scraps into the green bin
Use non-toxic cleaning supplies
Plan your meals – reduce food waste.
Sustainable Orillia will be teaming up with weRcircular, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building awareness and commitment to the principles of a circular economy across communities — the business community, in particular. The initial founder of weRcircular, Audrey Bayens, is well-known among Orillians for her ongoing volunteer work, including her leadership as co-chair of Sustainable Orillia’s Goods and Services Sector Team.
It’s in this capacity that Bayens, along with her co-chair, Jacobi Clarke, will be launching a comprehensive recognition program for Orillia and regional businesses that are practising green and circular economic practices.
The Sustainable Orillia Business Challenge Awards program will be launched early in 2023. Detailed information on how to participate and why businesses, small and large, will benefit will be available soon, so stay tuned. It’s going to be exciting!
Over the next few months, Sustainable Orillia will be featuring articles and events associated with the circular economy, starting with an invitation to explore some of the CIC’s resources as part of this month’s program. Visit the CIC website and get more information on their programs — or follow us, Sustainable Orillia, on Facebook and Instagram.
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
