New sustainable development program for Outaouais companies
Djeneba Dosso
The Chamber of Commerce and the Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l'Outaouais (CREDDO) are now offering a new sustainable development program for companies and entrepreneurs. Participants will be accompanied by experts and later accredited certification recognized in Outaouais upon the completion of the program. The Chamber of Commerce has listed the set-up of a feasible action plan, the strengthening of companies’ reputations by demonstrating commitment and the meeting of new market expectations as some of the benefits of enrolling in the program.
Two paths are available, through either Good 4 Global (G4G) or CREDDO, for companies looking to “transition to sustainable and responsible practices.”
G4G, who has been helping small and medium-sized enterprises and non-profit organizations “to assess their impact and integrate strategies aligned with their values and priorities” since 2020, present their exclusive M4P methodology to companies looking to grow their business. Key features of the M4P approach, according to their website, include an immediate understanding of the issues and opportunities for the company, aid in recruiting people motivated by the company’s new positioning, communication advice to enhance and monetize the new positioning of the company, topped off by a certificate with a G4G seal that testifies to social and environmental benevolence.
G4G offers online and in-person support options. The in-person program is spread over 10 weeks with an expert supervisor, while the MP4 online program is mainly done online except for interventions by an expert companion. The online support option will only be available as of January 2025. At the end of the program, an analysis of participants’ impact on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be assessed and they will leave with the promise of a “realistic and measurable three-year policy and action plan.”
CREDDO’s program is built around creating “sustainable development solutions by carrying out projects in green economy, adaptation to climate change and biodiversity conservation” in the Outaouais. Their ECO-RESPONSIBLE MC certification is divided into four levels: the starting point or current situation, the design of change, the DD Charter and Strategy, and the future roadmap. These levels are compiled in two steps, the first being the turnkey where CREDDO offers support focused on 24 sustainable development issues to make “the management of business activities responsible and ethical.” This step requires companies to transition into the adoption of transparent governance practices, the reduction of the environmental footprint of activities, the promotion of the well-being of employees and local communities, and the creation of long-term value for all stakeholders. Step two is the ECO-RESPONSIBLE MC International Certification Process once the program is completed, at which point the company will have all the necessary information to submit its file to the Ecocert certification body, an independent and international organization that operates in more than 120 countries around the world. Ecocert’s certifications guarantee and highlight the best environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices.
CREDDO’s program lasts roughly five to six months and their certificate is valid for two years before needing renewal.
Unlike G4G’s program, CREDDO’s certification is recognized beyond the borders of the Outaouais. Nonetheless, “companies that participate in the program proposed by CREDDO can also register in the local G4G directory to have their actions in the Outaouais enhanced.”
