I am currently a student in environnment and am working in a pharmaceutical company in the province of Quebec. My boss asked me to promote the environment inside the company.

I have found a company the can make posters with environmental slogans on it. However, I would like to have more than this option available to me. I don't know if anybody on this board is working in a production plant and would be willing to share their ideas but if so, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks alot!

There is a list of Government Environmental Training and Awareness Materials located at http://learnet.gc.ca/eng/comcentr/science/eat_eng/index_e.htm I'm not sure if all of the materials listed are available to the public, however you may pick up some ideas here. For example, one of the entries is 'Reduce Reuse Recycle Reward: A Guide to Developing Environmental Awards & Recognition Programs'.

Best Regards, Editor, The Solution Board

Regards, E.J. Szymanski GoSmart Organized Carpooling Inc. email: eszymanski@gosmart.ca web: www.gosmart.ca

Here's an idea that's easy to implement that will chip away at employee awareness. Get the company to adopt a philosophy of giving corporate gifts that make a difference -- thought provoking gifts that might give the recipient new insights and prompt him or her into doing something to make a difference in our world, or into thinking differently.

For example, the company might give employees a book when they are first hired. "Touching the Earth" is a book written by Roberta Bondar - the first Canadian woman astronaut. The book is described as follows:

"an amazing visual and written testament to the beauty and variety of Earth. Intensely concerned about the health of our planet, Dr. Bondar explores the changes that have taken place over the past twenty-five years of space travel. Her powerful message of hope on the environment will change the way we think about our relationship with the Earth."

Upon promotion to manager, an employee might be given Ray Anderson's book - "Mid Course Correction". Ray Anderson is one of my all time environmental heroes. Here's a description of the book:

"Mr. Anderson has taken an important step forward in leading Interface Corporation towards becoming ecologically neutral. By that phrase, ecologically neutral, I mean taking nothing from and adding nothing to the environment. This concept has become a popular one in Europe beginning in Sweden, in the form of The Natural Step, but has been much more slowly adopted in the United States. Those who are interested in understanding the processes by which a company can pursue improved environmental performance will find many helpful examples in Mid-Course Correction."

You get the idea... Challenge the status quo gifting concept in the organization and see if you can sensitize the organization, and create a nurturing approach. It will look good on the organization -- could even make the local or trade news!!

I've set up a little bookstore with some ideas.. Check out "Gifts That Make A Difference" - http://www.tcm.com/great-gifts/. I'd welcome ANY other great gift suggestions for my little shop.

Talk to people in the company, and find out what they think the environmental issues are within the company and industry. Send out an e-mail survey to drum up interest and find out what people are interested in, and then you can target a couple of issues and promote a better environment--both within the workplace and outside of it.

The key to promoting environmental issues is communication. What are the usual avenues of communication in your company? Are they effective? Do you want to use those avenues, or find new ones? If the usual communication process is not very effective, why not? What are the other options?

Good Luck!! Nada(another environmental studies student)