CQEERnewLogo_optThe Module

The EMBA McGill-HEC Montréal is introducing a new module this year: The Sustainability Challenge. During this new module, participants will develop a solid understanding of the concept of sustainable development and the challenge it poses as a societal imperative and organizational goal; become more knowledgeable on key sustainability issues relevant to their organizations; and learn how to engage with the sustainability challenge as an opportunity for enhancing competitive advantage. Topics include:

  • The state of the planet and its peoples, and why it matters to managers
  • The environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability
  • Envisioning and critical thinking
  • Environmental and social investments that yield competitive advantage
  • Enhancing shared value creation
  • Avoiding value destruction
  • Strategic corporate social responsibility
  • Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders
  • Social innovation & entrepreneurship
  • Measuring social and environmental performance

The Classification

Niveau3To ensure the program practices what it teaches, we are seeking to have the module classified as an eco-friendly event by the Conseil québécois événement écoresponsable (Standard BNQ 9700-253). The classification levels go from level 1 to level 5, with the latter being the highest. The program has committed to attaining a level 3 classification. This classification entails a review of the event’s associated waste management (less than 100 grams of pure waste – non-recyclable and non-compostable waste – per person, per day), energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (we encourage our student and staff to use sustainable methods of transportation during the module), supplier practices and food selection. The classification process scores the event on sustainable practices and provides suggestions for improvement.  The process and experience will be shared with all McGill HEC Montreal EMBA participants and staff, to better equip them to plan future sustainable activities.

The Results

You will find the results of the analysis of waste generated through the ” Sustainability Challenge ” module in the table below:

EMBA McGill- HEC Montréal
Sustainability Challenge, May 22 to 25, 2014
Materials

Weight (kg)

%

Recyclable

20,81

39,15%

Compostable

27,8

52,29%

Non-recoverable Waste

4,55

8,56%

TOTAL

53,16

100,00%

Recovery rate

91,44%

Objective Maximum : 100g/pers/day

33,46 g/pers/day

pure-waste-emba-sustainability mindset

Not only have we met, but greatly exceeded the 100g/pers/day target for the amount of non-recoverable waste produced. That means over 90% of our residual materials did not end up in a landfill, compared to our target of 80%.

In addition, we have calculated the emissions produced by our event and our participants’ transportation and chose to double-offset these emissions by tree planting. ZEROCO2  is a company which assists organizations with various projects in order to tackle climate change, as well as developing efforts to reduce and offset the GHG emissions. ZEROCO2 redusces CO2 emissions through tree planting, which creates huge carbon wells. We chose ZEROCO2 because sustainable plantation management is one of their priorities and because they will carefully monitor the  trees and ensure optimal conditions for each tree species.

See the GHG offsetting certificate.