There are many businesses in Peterborough that are adopting more sustainable practices, taking on efficiency projects and adapting to the new business climate by considering the three pillars of sustainability, people, planet and profit.
The Green Business Peterborough Program offers a support network, a self-assessment, resources and tools for businesses that want to become more resilient.
Green Business Peterborough is an environmental recognition program of The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and GreenUP that encourages businesses to formulate goals and a plan of action that will help move businesses down the path to environmental sustainability.
Our community recognizes the importance of preserving and protecting the natural environment. Green Business Peterborough provides a means to recognize those businesses with exemplary environmental performance and to better educate and engage businesses in environmental stewardship.
In addition to a recognition program, this serves as a guide to educate businesses on actions they can take that will both improve operational efficiency and reduce the impact on our environment.
In addition to these evolving businesses, there are those who are green at the very inception of their business plan. These business owners embrace the principals of sustainability with their services and products and also help others to grow and change in sustainable ways.
Elemental Ecological (www.elementecological.ca) is a local business that offers solutions to those who are looking to manage outdoor spaces in harmony with nature and embracing the principals of ecology as a guide for decision-making.
Amanda Newell created Element Ecological because she loves plants, the outdoors, design, and working to improve ecological function and aesthetics. She grew up in nature and wants her future great-grandkids to have the opportunity to find peace in the wilds. Local, wholesome, sustainable food is an important part of the same vision for a green and healthy future.
Amanda graduated with Honours from the University of Waterloo’s Environment and Resource Studies program, and has since worked in the environmental field with First Nations, corporations, and non-profit organizations. She has managed a wide range of projects, from the restoration and management of rare habitat, to sustainable agriculture research and organic farms, to community education programs focused on organic growing and land stewardship.
Amanda’s business provides commercial and residential clients with services that include living walls, roof top planting, edible landscapes, raised beds, square foot gardening, and native plant gardens.
The company also offers products that support “living walls” and vertical gardens.
These gardens can be created through the simplest techniques or more modern systems to enhance your available square footage in small spaces living. Living walls are not only beautiful, but also increase air quality, offer shade-cooling effects on buildings and patios, add privacy, and reduce wasted space. In workplaces, they are known to increase productivity and decrease stress.
Another service of Element Ecological are raised beds that offer accessibility to those of us who can no longer spend hours toiling over with bent knee and broken back to get the organic gardens we all want. Raised beds can help include the kids or grandparents in gardening, as well as maintain a defined space for your growing and allow you to ensure the nature of the soil conditions for your plants.
On a broader scale, Elemental Ecological has been involved in many land stewardship projects around the Kawarthas that include ecological surveys and inventories, naturalization and restoration projects, trail development, and ecological monitoring.
Element Ecological is just one of dozens of green businesses operating in the Peterborough area. Through small steps like reducing water or electricity usage, or big ones like retrofitting equipment, more and more businesses are going green and getting recognized for it.
To learn more about Green Business Peterborough, or take part in the program, visit www.greenbusinesspeterborough.ca.
