Corporate Social Responsibility

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Thematic Profile: Sustainable Consumption and Production

Table of Contents

1. Federal Approach to Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP )

2. Green Public Procurement Policies, Laws and Frameworks

3. Instruments for Sustainable Consumption

4. Sustainable Consumption and Production in Key Areas

1. Federal Approach to Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP )

Canada has been making steady progress towards integrating more sustainable patterns of consumption and production throughout the economy and society.  The government aims to balance economic, environmental and social considerations throughout its work on SCP.  Much effort is focused on consumer education and awareness, including labelling programs; sustainable production tools such as lean manufacturing, design for environment, extended producer responsibility, and technology road maps; sustainable agricultural production; green buildings and sustainable communities. The government is also active in promoting sustainable tourism; sustainable distribution and retailing practices, including through green supply chains; and promoting education for sustainability.

As a standard operating practice, the federal government consults and partners with other stakeholders in these endeavours, particularly industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, including consumer groups, communities, including aboriginal groups, and other levels of government.  The Government of Canada uses a comprehensive set of tools to make progress on SCP, including legislation, regulations, market instruments and incentives, policies and funding programs, and other innovative financing mechanisms, as well as national government-owned corporations and special operating agencies.  The federal government also supports research and development and pilot testing of innovative technologies for sustainability.  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a growing focus of government work, and the link between SCP and a low carbon society is an emerging focus of research.  

While much is happening at the federal level in Canada on SCP, much is also occurring at the provincial, territorial and municipal levels as well, especially given their important jurisdictional mandates. It will be important to take into consideration efforts by sub-national level governments to obtain a full and holistic picture of progress on SCP in Canada.

1.1 Recent Developments

In November 2008, the first North American Multi-Stakeholder meeting was organized by the Governments of Canada and the United States and the United Nations Environment Programme‘s (UNEP) Regional Office for North America. The Government of Canada provided significant financial support for the meeting, which was held in Washington D.C., with considerable in-kind contributions from the Government of the United States. The meeting was held in collaboration with UNEP‘s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics and in consultation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and established a number of key findings and recommendations. A report  was prepared, with the Co-Chairs’ Summary and several appendices, and the three background papers and presentations provided at the meeting included.

Subsequent to the meeting, the Government of Canada commissioned a policy-options paper.  The discussion paper, which was informed by an Advisory Panel of 15 external stakeholders as well as a group of companies and associations, builds on the outcomes of the Washington meeting. The paper provides a draft Canadian framework for SCP and also includes an illustration of how the framework could be applied in the building and construction sector.

1.2 Governance for SCP

In 2008, Canada’s first Federal Sustainable Development Act became law.  It requires that the federal government produce a Federal SD Strategy by June 2010 and every three years thereafter.  It also requires that the each federal government department produce a departmental SD strategy by June 2011, and every three years thereafter.  The departmental strategies are to support and build on the Federal SD Strategy.   Canada is currently working towards meeting these requirements. 

On behalf of the Auditor General of Canada, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development provides Canadians with objective, independent analysis and recommendations on the federal government’s efforts to protect the environment and foster sustainable development.

The federal government also has in place various requirements and tools to help ensure good public policy development and implementation with respect to sustainability.  For example, under the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS), every federal regulatory proposal must undergo an analysis to weigh its social, economic and environmental costs and benefits. 

Also, the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals requires government departments and agencies to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment of all initiatives going to cabinet and which have important environmental impacts, either positive or negative.  

As well, under the Federal Plan for Gender Equality (1995), departments and agencies are responsible for thoroughly analyzing their proposed policies and programs; conducting Gender Based Analysis (GBA); and including consideration of gender impacts in their legislation, policy, and program analyses.  GBA can be viewed as one means by which the social pillar of sustainability is addressed through government policy development and implementation.

2. Green Public Procurement Policies, Laws and Frameworks

The Government of Canada’s Policy on Green Procurement came into effect in 2006.  The objective of the policy is to advance the protection of the environment and support sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision-making process(planning, acquisition, use and disposal).  Training was provided and information and tools were also developed, including a web-based Environmental Awareness Toolkit. Green procurement is now embedded as a key factor in over $5 billion worth of commodity management activities. 

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