It is with great pride that the SADC of Nicolet-Bécancour announces the continuation of its sustainable development support program PROAction for the next 3 years thanks to the collaboration of the Alcoa Foundation, which grants $127,000 to this unique project in the territory.
The PROAction support program aims to assist businesses, municipalities, and organizations in strategic sustainable development thinking for the implementation of structural actions that have social and economic impacts while reducing environmental impacts. “The Alcoa Foundation is pleased to support the businesses, organizations, and municipalities in our territory in a sustainable development approach through the PROAction program. The strategic actions implemented by the initiative, such as cost optimization, revenue growth and distribution, reduction of environmental impacts, and maximization of social returns will promote the sustainable growth of our communities, and we are proud to contribute to it,” says Irina Gato, communications advisor at the Bécancour Aluminum Smelter and representative of the Alcoa Foundation.
In order to address sustainable development challenges in society, PROAction aims to raise awareness, mobilize, and provide information tools through personalized support, conferences, and funding to increase the engagement of businesses, organizations, and municipalities in sustainable development. Established by the SADC in 2017, the program has an impressive track record. It has concretized the support of 68 businesses, organizations, and municipalities, as well as the realization of 25 conferences on sustainable development themes attended by 873 people. So far, eight cohorts in sustainable development have been established. These comprehensive approaches – diagnosis, assessment, action plan – have allowed the mobilized organizations to implement sustainable and concrete actions. More than 194 people have been made aware, trained, and supported over the past five years. “The financial support and partnership we are developing with the Alcoa Foundation are essential levers for the deployment of the PROAction sustainable development support program. This collaboration will allow us to update the SADC's sustainable development vision for the next three years,” emphasizes Ophélie Couspeyre, president of the SADC of Nicolet-Bécancour.
PROAction Support: Actions and Positive Outcomes
The PROAction approach provides a comprehensive overview of organizations, in terms of environment, economy, social aspects, and governance. Subsequently, support for the implementation of concrete actions is planned in concert with the cohort members. Access to consultants is facilitated according to the issues prioritized by the organization (energy efficiency, waste management, eco-responsibility, responsible sourcing, human resources, communication, etc.).
Exchange and training meetings are planned, as well as highlighting the participating organizations. The communication of their successes is shared during an annual recognition Gala, and a communication campaign “Nicolet-Bécancour Resolutely Sustainable” is carried out throughout the process (video capsules, interviews, articles, etc.). It is essential for the SADC team to showcase the territory's ambassadors in sustainable development. A new PROAction cohort will begin in April 2023. Note that a tailored service, outside the cohort, also allows for supporting businesses, organizations, or municipalities according to their needs.
Examples of Actions
Energy diagnosis (buildings and equipment), optimization of waste management, implementation of circular economy strategies, optimization of transportation to reduce GHGs, research for eco-designed packaging, establishment of composting, employee awareness, addition of social and environmental criteria to purchasing practices, development of an employee manual, involvement and mobilization of employees in solutions, deployment of communication strategies, communication actions, and sustainable development policy.
Examples of Outcomes
Profitability control and cost reduction, increasing revenues (new markets), purchasing or sourcing practices, impact on local development, improvement in the management of raw and residual materials, energy management, water management, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management, identification of the organization's vision, mission, and values, retention and attraction of employees, improved communication, reputation, and brand image, etc.
News and Announcements
As a sign that sustainable development is an integral part of its organization, the SADC announces the creation of a brand new position. Indeed, a sustainable development advisor will join the team in the coming months. Also, the “Green Shift” funding program is available for organizations wishing to receive technical assistance (consultants) to address their sustainable development challenges. The SADC also announces the formation of a GHG cohort starting at the end of November. Finally, a conference on carbon footprint will take place on November 9th.
The SADC can count on the collaboration of several partners including the Alcoa Foundation – which also allows the SADC to support the Circular Economy project in Centre-du-Québec of the Corporation for Sustainable Development, the Intermunicipal Board for Integrated Waste Management Bécancour - Nicolet-Yamaska, the Network of SADC and CAE (sustainable recovery cohort and Green Shift program), the Schoolader Fund, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cœur-du-Québec, the Corporation for Sustainable Development, the MRC of Nicolet-Yamaska, and the MRC of Bécancour. Other partners will join the project over the coming years.
For information and registration for conferences and cohorts, contact Carolyne Aubin, sustainable development advisor at the SADC, at 819 233-3315, extension 2225.
Sustainable Development and the SADC
Through its mission, the SADC integrates concrete objectives and actions into its strategic planning with businesses and communities aimed at raising awareness, training, support, as well as highlighting successes and making available economic levers to support innovative sustainable development initiatives. The organization ensures consistency in its approaches through its sustainable development policy, its ICI on recycle + certification, its human resources policy, and its daily actions that are rooted in a continuous improvement process to reduce its ecological footprint.
In the photo, in order:
Marie-Christine Tessier, development advisor at the SADC, Carolyne Aubin, sustainable development advisor at the SADC, Irina Gato, communications advisor at the Bécancour Aluminum Smelter and representative of the Alcoa Foundation, Ophélie Couspeyre, president of the SADC, and Steve Brunelle, general director of the SADC.