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Systemic approach

Regenerative tourism to help the region prosper

Another new word, another new concept... But why talk about regenerative tourism when we already have our hands full with responsible and sustainable tourism? And how can regenerative tourism be a solution for revitalizing a region and making it healthier?

Why regenerative tourism? Because aiming for sustainable tourism is obviously necessary, even essential to the pursuit of our activities, but may not be enough to bring real long-term prosperity to our territories and communities. Indeed, the notion of "sustainable" implies keeping things "as is", as they are, without degrading them further...

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News

What do a hemp plan, the Place Stanislas in Nancy and the We Work space in Medellin have in common?

On the face of it, nothing! But they are all gas pedals of the transition I witnessed during my last stay in France and my trip to Colombia.

For family reasons, I have to return regularly to my home town, Nancy. So I've decided to spend more time meeting people who are making a difference...

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Systemic approach

Happiness as the company's purpose

The beginning of the year is always a good time to take stock and make good resolutions. In 2024, we'd like you to set your sights high on a goal that should mobilize all your energies and those of your teams! On the road to happiness!

There are over 8 billion human beings on the planet. And if there's one thing we all have in common, it's that we all want to be happy.

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News

Taking action for the climate: how can global action be applied at company level?

Science reminds us that carbon neutrality implies a balance between CO2 emissions and absorptions on a global scale. So a company is not carbon neutral: it contributes to achieving carbon neutrality on a global scale.

Based on this observation, the Net Zero Initiative offers a practical guide with 3 pillars of action for companies...

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Socio-ecological transition

Carbon neutrality: between good practice and greenwashing

Organizations' commitment to carbon neutrality is essential today, but it's important to understand what it's all about: the concept raises some fundamental questions. Carbon neutrality" or "net zero emissions" is defined by the IPCC as a situation of equilibrium between anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and their absorption over a defined period.

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Business models

Sustainable development action plan 2023-2028: our 7 tips for ministries and organizations

Following the publication of Quebec's Sustainable Development Strategy, ministries and organizations are required to draw up and submit their Sustainable Development Action Plans (SDAPs). Ellio et ma petite boîte verte will pass on 7 strategic tips to ensure the success of your approach and meet the Quebec government's expectations.

With the publication of the Government Sustainable Development Strategy 2023-2028, the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs is inviting all provincial ministries and organizations to draw up and submit a Sustainable Development Action Plan, commonly known as a SDAP, by September 1, 2023.

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News

2023: awareness, courage and action?

At the start of this new year, I wanted to put down on paper a few thoughts from 2022 and proposals for 2023.

What struck me in 2022 was the growing penetration of questions about the ecological transition and sustainable development. No matter how much insiders criticize the term, blaming it for all the ills of organizational lack of ambition, greenwashing and runaway growth, even if it is green, I know that it has not yet been taken on board by organizational leaders.

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Events

Top 3: from ideas to concrete action!

COP 26 crystallizes the challenges of our century to the highest degree, and we believe that this is, unfortunately, rather justified. Even if the prospect of global warming below 1.5 degrees seems increasingly utopian, at Ellio we believe that everyone in our society has the capacity to take action and make a difference. Our clients partners are perfect examples of this ambition, and here are some of their best achievements...

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Interview

7 lives. Eduardo has already had 7 lives.

This is the first time I've met Eduardo Firak, and even a videoconference is still a meeting. Covid obliges, and screens leave a very strange impression, quite different from physical encounters. And to be different, it was going to be. Even by videoconference.

Hailing from Brazil, Eduardo is a nugget to be discovered, having settled in Quebec more than five years ago.

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Lifestyle

Permaculture more than agriculture

Permaculture is more than just a method, it's an approach that needs to be integrated into our business models and communities. 

A few years ago, with the support of students and the university administration where I worked, I co-founded Hectare urbain HEC Montréal with a dynamic doctoral student - a project focused on education and raising awareness of the sustainability issues facing our contemporary world.

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Events

The principles of life as a strategy for organizations

The pandemic makes us think about the kind of society we want for ourselves and our children. In our case, it wasn't the desire to denounce, to accuse, to let hope slip away, but rather this conviction that a new world is possible, desirable and within reach. So we got together, a small group of people we liked both professionally and personally, people of inspiration and human values, who were already working towards a better world.

The page was blank, but it became colored with all kinds of reflections and influences, around a few questions: what does the society we want to help create look like? What role do organizations play in it? What posture should we adopt?...

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Socio-ecological transition

The company's purpose: the pillar of recovery

The Pacte law promulgated in May 2019 enshrined purpose in French law and enables companies to be recognized as mission companies in their statutes. The health crisis we're experiencing today is putting it on everyone's agenda. In Quebec, it's an emerging but very present topic.

We wanted to compare the Quebec and French approaches to the subject and their impact on organizations. On the French side, Agnès Rambaud-Paquin with the Des enjeux et des hommes team and her partner Martin Richer, founder of Management&RSE, have accumulated extensive experience on the subject, in sectors as varied as agri-food, services, industry, real estate and distribution. Here, they share what they've learned on the subject.

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Events

The "World Forum for a Responsible Economy" in Lille shows us the way to innovate and make a responsible transition.

Le World Forum for a Responsible Economy de Lille #WFRE19 en est à sa 13e édition. Comme tous les ans, c’est une succession de conférenciers tous plus inspirants les uns que les autres. Mais c’est plus que cela. Pour les conférenciers internationaux, c’est aussi l’occasion de passer 3 jours complets ensemble, de tisser des liens, de s’inspirer, de se faire du bien à l’âme. Et aussi de prendre conscience que les défis sont parfois très diérents, et parfois très similaires.

I have to admit that finding myself quietly talking about technological innovation and Canadian politics over a drink with Bertrand Piccard, of the Solar Impulse Foundation, is off to a great start. His talk this morning was a great moment, how shall I put it... an elevation?

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Lifestyle

I took up the "Nothing new in2018" challenge! The results...

In mid-January 2018, a friend challenged me: buy nothing new in 2018... Surprise and resistance past, I accepted to take it up.

As I'm not necessarily inclined towards extremes, I saw it more as an opportunity to 1) reduce my consumption and 2) for purchases that were harder to "compress", to observe my needs and the gaps in second-hand alternatives.

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Socio-ecological transition

Aller plus loin sur les bénéfices de l’Analyse de Cycle de Vie

Our contributor Eduardo reveals the full potential of Life Cycle Assessment, through a comprehensive study published on the BtheChange website, the specialized Bcorp media.

An de relever les dés à venir, les entreprises seront inévitablement amenée à envisager le développement durable sous un angle plus stratégique, et à conjuguer réduction des impacts environnementaux avec opportunités d’affaires.

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Case study

Calculating social and environmental impacts using Life Cycle Assessment - The case of Prana

Life Cycle Assessment is proving to be a powerful tool for directing corporate strategy towards the greatest potential for reducing environmental impact. This is the approach adopted by the ambitious Prana company. Our colleague Eduardo Sasso has written an article on the subject, published on the BtheChange media, associated with the BCorp certification.

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B Corp

Bcorp Champions Retreat: inclusive underwear

En 2016, BLab* a lancé le «Inclusive Economy Challenge» – soit le défi pour une économie inclusive. Il s’agissait pour chacune des entreprises souhaitant participer de choisir 3 actions sur lesquelles elle s’engagerait à s’améliorer au cours de l’année à venir, dans un (ou plusieurs) thèmes.

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B Corp

Bcorp Champions Retreat: a meeting under the banner of interdependence

Selon le dictionnaire, l’interdépendance peut être dénie de la façon suivante: «L’interdépendance est la dépendance réciproque, mutuelle. C’est l’état de personnes ou de choses qui dépendent les unes des autres. L’interdépendance est aussi un concept bouddhiste pour décrire le fait que tous les éléments de la nature sont en interactions et dépendent les uns des autres pour exister». C’est donc sous ce thème tout aussi optimiste que fondamental que s’est déroulée en ce début d’octobre la rencontre annuelle des entreprises certiées Bcorp.

L’évènement, d’une durée de 3 jours, avait lieu cette année à Toronto. Il s’agissait d’une rencontre importante, puisque la certication célèbre cette année ses 10 ans d’existence, et c’était également la première fois que la rencontre avait lieu ailleurs qu’aux Etats-Unis. Le Canada s’est imposé comme une destination incontournable, puisqu’il compte la 2ème plus importante communauté d’entreprises Bcorp!

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B Corp

Interview with Joyce Sou from BLab Canada: the latest episode in our Bcorp trilogy

Through an interview with Joyce Sou of BLab Canada, discover who the Bcorp are, what vision of the world they aspire to, how to join the movement, and a sneak peek at how BLab sees the future!

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Socio-ecological transition

The latest trends in Life Cycle Assessment: Our foray into Cycle 2016

Circular economy, Social Life Cycle Assessment, Education, Communication... So many themes, and more, discussed at Cycle 2016, the 5th International Forum on Product and Service Lifecycle Management, which Ellio attended on October 13 and 14. Here we bring you the latest trends, lessons learned and highlights.

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B Corp

Meet the Bcorp community - Part 2

Voici le deuxième épisode de notre trilogie sur notre aventure Bcorp! Aujourd’hui, rencontrez d’autres entreprises certiées, voyez comment elles attirent de nouveaux talents ou mobilisent leurs employés et découvrez comment faire partie de cette communauté peut amener de nouveaux partenariats ou occasions d’aaires...

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B Corp

Ellio is a B Corp... But what's the matter with us?

Aujourd’hui nous vous présentons le premier volet d’une série de 3 petits vidéos qui tournent autour de notre expérience d’entreprise certiée B Corp. Découvrez les raisons qui nous ont poussé à nous jeter à l’eau, et comment nous en sommes sortis grandis..

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Events

Offset your GHG emissions by surfing for the cause... on the web

Have you heard of Lilo, the search engine that lets you surf the web while supporting a project of your choice? The principle is simple and ingenious: every search, every click we make generates money, the equivalent of around $40 per person per year, thanks to commercial links.

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Ellio radiation

Esther Dormagen in HEC Montréal's Creators of Value community

Esther Dormagen has joined HEC's Créateurs de Valeurs circle. The Créateurs de Valeurs project consists of ten video interviews with prominent Quebec personalities with exemplary achievements in sustainable development.

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Socio-ecological transition

Glass in Quebec: recovered or recycled? It's not the same thing!

In Quebec, the glass recovery rate is around 50%. Yet glass from sorting centers is not recycled to make glass containers! Why not? Because recovery and recycling are not the same thing!

In reality, the glass that goes into the recycling bin most often breaks, and arrives at the sorting centers in the form of glass shards or glass powder, where it mixes with other materials.

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Socio-ecological transition

Is your company transformational?

This was the question addressed by our speakers on June 4 at Ellio's second luncheon conference at the Maison du développement durable.

Ce jour-là, Ellio annonçait ociellement son partenariat avec Canadian Business for Social Responsability (CBSR), un OBNL constituant le plus grand réseau d’entreprises et une ressource clé en RSE au Canada. Pour l’occasion nous avons eu la chance d’accueillir M. Steven Fish, directeur exécutif de CBSR, et deux conférenciers de talent : Jean-François Albert, vice-président fabrication chez Mega Brands, et Marie-France Sosa, responsable des ventes et du développement d’aaires chez Plastiques GPR inc.

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Interview

Brasseurs de Montreal brews beer... ecoresponsible!

Marc-André Gauvreau has always dreamed of making his own beer, but he never thought he'd be making beer that fights climate change! But that's exactly what he's managed to do in his small business.

Fondée il y a cinq ans par Denise Mérineau et Marc-André Gauvreau, partenaires en aaires et dans la vie, Brasseurs de Montréal est une microbrasserie- restaurant de Grintown, en pleine expansion pour accueillir les futurs résidents du quartier. Ellio a rencontré Marc-André pour en savoir plus...

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Events

Ellio, a (re)birth to celebrate!

REcyclage, RÉutilisation, REvalorisation: all words with sustainable connotations, and therefore very friendly to the ear. That said, to celebrate the creation of our new organization, Ellio, it's even more appropriate to speak of REnaissance.

Firstly, because Ellio is made up of three organizations whose (first) birth dates back several years (the grey hairs of some of our consultants can attest to this).

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