For Healthcare Canada, Everyday Actions Mean Big Impact

At ARAMARK, we recognize that the individual actions and decisions we make contribute to our environmental commitments. For Earth Week, ARAMARK Healthcare Canada created easy, everyday programs our teams can implement – programs that add up to a big impact.

“We can offer the expertise and simple solutions to help employees, clients and customers reduce their environmental footprint,” said J.J. Arsenault, Manager of National Programs and Standards for ARAMARK Healthcare Canada.

 “Thanks to committed ARAMARK team members, dozens of our client sites across Canada have been inspired to seize opportunities to lessen their ecological footprint by initiating green teams, escalating their environmental stewardship plans, and educating staff, clients and visitors about opportunities for personal action,” Arsenault said.

ARAMARK Healthcare Canada uses the “everyday actions” approach in its suite of “i” programs – easy actions that employees, clients and customers can take during Earth Week, April 17 to 23. 

New this year, for the Seeing A Greener Future events, is a partnership with the Canadian Lions Club and their “Lions RECYCLE for Sight” initiative. Through this program, called “i Share,” reusable pairs of eyeglasses are placed in collection boxes by staff, volunteers and clients that will be turned over to Lions members who will arrange for reconditioning. The glasses will then be distributed free of charge to people in need in developing countries. 

“i Share”joins five other personal Earth Day commitments taking place at ARAMARK locations across Canada:

Travel Mug/Re-Use Day (“i Refuse”) –   Encourages people to use a re-usable (travel mug) drink containers throughout the week to avoid contributing to the millions of paper and foam drink cups that each year find their way into landfill sites.

Dim the Lights Day (“i Conserve”) – Conserves energy by dimming lights and experimenting with different lighting levels in facilities.  

Sustainable Dining (“i Eat Local”) – Includes various culinary activities throughout the week such as serving special menu items, promoting local foods, and encouraging the use of Fair Trade products. 

Mini-Expo (“i Connect”) – Connects ARAMARK with communities by creating an opportunity for service groups, green businesses and environmental organizations to promote their products and services alongside ARAMARK Earth Day display tables, offering people the opportunity to learn more about how groups and businesses are enabling residents to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

Community Clean-up Day (“i Reach Out”) – Encourages volunteers to go out into local green spaces and urban areas to pick up trash and litter from streets, sidewalks, and adjacent lands.

 “Every individual action, like those in the portfolio of “i” commitments, contributes to our clients’ environmental sustainability goals” Arsenault said.