Translating vision into action - How UBC created an army of passionate employees, saved thousands of dollars and made sustainability a core value.

Company: University of British Columbia
Location: Vancouver, BC
Industry: Education
Number of employees: 12,648 (9,086 full-time & 3,562 part-time)
Number of students: 35,518

Overview
UBC has a great story to tell about sustainability; $22,000,000 in savings and growing, international recognition as an environmental leader, and a set of stakeholders that take great pride in both their individual and collective responsibility.

UBC’s road to sustainable success began in 1997 with the University’s Board of Governors adoption of a campus Sustainable Development Policy, one of the first to do so among Canadian universities. In 1998, then President Martha Piper launched a vision building exercise entitled Trek 2000, resulting in the document A vision for the 21st Century.

However, translating vision into action is a challenge for all organizations. The establishment of the country's first campus Sustainability Office was the starting point. The building of an army of passionate volunteer sustainability coordinators has made it real for the over 48,000 students, faculty and staff that call UBC home.

The opportunity
Like many organizations, UBC had numerous environmental projects on the go, but sustainability was still very much a misunderstood concept. University leadership recognised that to make a real impact they needed to empower the entire campus. They needed sustainability to become one of the campus’ core values.

The solution
A grassroots campaign began to bring sustainability practices to UBC's 300 departments. The Sustainability Coordinator Program provides important opportunities for staff and faculty from across campus to learn, socialize, network, and have fun. A key to implementing the university's sustainable development policy in each of UBC's 300 departments, the program has empowered students, faculty and staff to become part of the solution. Working as volunteers, Sustainability Coordinators (SCs) are asked for two to four hours per month, during work time, and are supported by their supervisors.

They work within their departments to:

• Inspire colleagues to make positive changes in energy use, waste generation and transportation.
• Provide information about the environmental impacts of daily activities.
• Help individuals identify alternative ways to do things.

Outcome
The Sustainability Coordinators program is responsible for $75,000 in direct savings that has now been re-invested in sustainability programs. More importantly, sustainability is part of UBC’s value set. It is no longer a poorly understood concept but a meaningful way of approaching work.

Related links
UBC Sustainability Office