Our Environmental Commitment

Maximum Community Impact, Minimum Environmental Impact

At United Way, we’re committed to investing in the sustainable, long-term success of our community. We’re also committed to minimizing the environmental impact of our efforts. We think the two go hand in hand.

By regularly evaluating our operations and ensuring they are as efficient as possible, we are striving to minimize the waste we produce. Our goal is to use only bio-degradable office supplies. Where possible, shredded paper documents are bagged and donated to the Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society for animal bedding. We actively promote environmental consciousness and recycling, both internally and among our stakeholders.

Whenever possible, our communications and documentation are produced and distributed in electronic format. Should printed materials be necessary, we use vegetable-based inks on 100% post-consumer recycled paper that comes from well-managed and responsibly-harvested forests that meet strict environmental standards.

United Way takes part in many green projects that help make a positive change in the environment. We celebrate Earth Day by working in the dark and participating in the City of Waterloo’s 20 Minute Makeover. We encourage attendees at our events to carpool or find alternate means of transportation.

A key step in our “Go Green” journey is membership with Sustainable Waterloo, a local not-for-profit that guides organizations in Waterloo Region towards a more environmentally sustainable future by facilitating collaboration between industry, local government, academia and NGOs. Our CEO, Jan Varner, is a Board member of this organization.

Not only do these environmentally friendly initiatives help reduce our carbon footprint, we also believe it is also more cost effective to be green. This means lower administration costs and more funds invested into the community we serve.

For more information about our “Go Green” commitment, please contact:

Cathy Snyder
Chief Financial Officer
519-888-6100 ext. 254
csnyder@uwaykw.org

United Way was recently featured in the 2010 Sustainable Waterloo Report. Check it out by following the link below. 

http://www.sustainablewaterloo.org/files/u/Sustainable%20Waterloo%202010%20Report.pdf