We recently concluded an inspiring month-long employee engagement campaign that brought together 20 passionate members of our network. This event wasn’t just about competing; it was about learning, collaborating, and building a stronger community around sustainability practices. Each week, 400+ participants took on themed challenges that encouraged them to adopt and share eco-friendly habits, aiming to foster greater awareness and action within our network.
The weekly themes were diverse, tackling essential topics around conscious consumption like energy conservation, waste reduction, water conservation and sustainable transportation. Every week, a new set of challenges was introduced, and participants were given resources, and incentives to make impactful choices in line with that theme. As a result, our network members became even more engaged, sharing innovative ideas, learning from one another, and taking meaningful steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
New activities such as a jigsaw puzzle and word scramble were introduced this year to make things more interesting. They were constantly rated as the most enjoyable with one participant saying “The crossword actually – got my brain thinking and the gears turning! I’m an old soul so crosswords are fun and I enjoy them in any format.”
While these activities were popular with more than 80 submissions each, the transportation trivia had more than 120 submissions. We incorporated a scavenger hunt to help our members learn more about each other as well. Through this activity, more of the important work being done within our community became apparent.
Carbon Cleanse this year was extra special because it was the tenth one since 2015. Even more inspirational is the fact that AET Group Inc. won the 2024 edition for the fifth time in ten years! We just might need a masterclass on their winning strategy. YNCU came in second place, leading all other teams in transportation trivia and microcredential certification while MTE Consultants Inc. was third, having gained bonus points from transportation activities.
Conestoga College and Nopak Canada were close contenders to win the cleanse too. They certainly gave the top three a run for their points, and we are looking forward to a riveting performance next year!
Throughout the competition, we received many stories about personal sustainability journeys, and more than 35 employees shared their reflections with us about the conversations being had around climate change, and with whom. These glimpses were a reminder that talking about climate change doesn’t have to be difficult, and that there are many resources available if we need them. A great example of this is the Conestoga College Climate and Sustainability Foundations microcredential which, in partnership with SWR, was offered for free to more than 40 people during the competition.
A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
A huge thank you goes out to our generous sponsors: Bruce Power, Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area (BIA), Uptown Waterloo BIA and Gifted. Their support enabled us to create an enriching experience for participants, one that went beyond personal gain to positively impact our local environment and community.
Reflecting on the Impact of Carbon Cleanse
This year’s cleanse has been described by participants as ‘’exciting, enjoyable, fun, enlightening, informative and engaging”.
Over the course of the month, we believe that the competition has helped raise awareness and provided practical tools for participants to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. We saw members actively engaging in the challenges, sharing their experiences on social media, and influencing friends and family. One participant said “We have had so much conversation the past few weeks that were never being had before about sustainability and I love it!”
With the support of our sponsors, we were able to offer prizes that further motivated participants to complete each week’s challenges. Carbon Cleanse was possible because of all our participating member organizations, and we are truly grateful.
This competition was not just a series of weekly challenges; it was a step towards fostering a stronger, more sustainable community. By working together, we are making strides towards a greener future, one week at a time.