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How does Muskoka’s changing climate make you feel?
Worried about wildfires, floods, snowstorms or the future of our lakes and forests? You’re not alone, and here’s the good news: every small action your business takes matters. By making conscious choices within your business, you can protect Muskoka’s natural beauty and leave a lasting impact for our younger generations to thrive.
Meet the Climate Hero Program – Business Stream
The Climate Hero program makes it easy to turn concern into action. It helps Muskoka businesses adopt simple, practical steps that reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions at work and in the community.
The Kimberly-Clark Huntsville Plant: A Gold-Level Climate Hero Story
Kimberly-Clark became the District’s first business climate hero and excelled, going straight to Gold given its commitment to sustainability. Kimberly-Clark is a Tissue Manufacturer that employs 185 people from the community. The plant has been in operation for 54 years and opened on March 17, 1971.
Kimberly-Clark participated in the program to “To shine a light on the great environmental work our plant has already been doing—and to get inspired to push it even further. It’s a chance to learn, share, and explore new ways we can make a bigger impact.”
After learning about the program at the District’s information table at the Bracebridge Library Earth Month event last spring, Kimberly-Clark staff filled out their action report, which was simple and easy to complete.
Kimberly-Clark’s Green Team, with support from leaders at the Plant and Corporate level has put on environmental workshops for its staff, like their Land Appreciation Event, where staff painted and hung up birdhouses and planted shrubs along a local riverbed to prevent erosion. The company has also supplied staff with reusable water bottles to use at refill stations, including the ones located at the Kimberly-Clark facility, which reduces the use of single-use plastic bottles.
The biggest impact in emissions reductions has been from introducing flex work weeks, when possible, for employees to minimize their commutes and, in turn, reduce car emissions and investing in an electric shunt truck to reduce diesel usage. These and other similar actions sometimes save the business money and sometimes require an investment upfront, but corporate actions at this business support the sustainability commitments the company has made.
If you are a business and not sure where to start, April Burke, Plant Manager at Kimberly-Clark in Huntsville, says “Don’t overthink it, just take that first step. Whether it’s something small or a bigger initiative, it all adds up. As business owners and operators, we have a responsibility to lead by example in how we care for our environment. This program proves that making an impact doesn’t require perfection, it just requires action.”
April’s hope for the future of Muskoka in the face of climate change is “…that Muskoka continues to protect its incredible natural beauty. I want to see a future where the environment is stable, healthy, and thriving, and where our community takes pride in preserving what makes this place so special.”
If you are a local Muskoka business, you can get started on the Climate Hero program today! Here are some examples of the actions you can take.
Bronze level:
- Organize a car-pooling system
- Start a litter-less lunch program
- Allow remote/hybrid work options
- Use tap water instead of bottled water
Silver Level:
- Host a seminar or activity for staff about the environment/climate change
- Replace CFL light bulbs with LEDs
- Make events sustainable
Gold Level:
- Electrify a portion of your fleet
- Complete an energy audit
Join Our Community of Business Climate Heroes across Muskoka Today!
Have your business become a Climate Hero in three simple steps:
- Download the Clime Hero guide
- Choose which actions you want to take
- Report your completed actions and earn your Bronze, Silver and Gold badges
Businesses across Muskoka CAN make a difference. Together as a community of business owners, staff and more, we can create a healthier, more sustainable environment we can all be proud of.
www.engagemuskoka.ca/climate-heroes
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