Goodwill Industries’ Sustainability Action Plan was structured around the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics that collaborators and Goodwill Industries of Alberta staff identified as the most important to them. The key areas identified were: sustainability, including environmental impact and climate action, and Goodwill’s impact on Alberta communities.
The Sustainability Action Plan was designed to be a practical guide that provides a road map of goals, areas of action, and performance review tools that integrates the values of sustainability into all areas of operations and services. The baseline for the plan was composed of indicators recorded in 2018. A quarterly progress check was done with a final yearly review each year.
The first-ever Goodwill Sustainability Action Plan resulted in an increase in the waste diversion rate from local landfills and incinerators from 78% in 2018 to 86% in 2021. Goodwill also expanded its energy consumption reduction program which resulted in GHG reductions from 2018 to 2019 of 25% for Scope 1 and 6% for Scope 2. Scope 3 emissions increased by 5%.
Interest Group Research & Best Practices
To create their first Sustainability Action Plan, Goodwill first started with an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) material analysis. This process involved research and benchmarking, impact mapping, interest group interviews, and a validation workshop with Goodwill’s Senior Leadership Team.
Employee Engagement
Goodwill focused on collaborative effort by individuals, departments and the institution as a whole to achieve the visions and goals for their Sustainability Action Plan. It is a living document that has a multi-year plan.
Goodwill Industries of Alberta is an Alberta-based social enterprise on a mission to strengthen the communities around them and provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to enhance their lives through meaningful employment.
Goodwill has numerous retail operations that revolve around the generosity of people in those communities choosing to donate to Goodwill. Items donated to Goodwill are sold through Goodwill thrift retail stores giving the community the opportunity to buy quality items at a great value.
Goodwill Industries of Alberta is in the process of drafting a new Sustainability Action Plan (2022-2025) that will have more emphasis on climate change, with a focus on reducing electricity consumption.
Active from 2018 to 2024, the Corporate Climate Leaders Program (CCLP) was a City of Edmonton initiative delivered in partnership with Green Economy Canada. The program supported a network of local businesses and organizations in setting and achieving ambitious sustainability goals. By providing expert technical guidance, capacity-building workshops, and peer-learning opportunities, the CCLP empowered members to measure their carbon footprints, develop actionable reduction plans, and strengthen their business resilience in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
