CME NL: Sustainable Innovation for Products (SIP) Program

The program is delivered in six half-day modules over 8-10 weeks, either virtually via Zoom or a Hybrid combination of Zoom and in-person sessions.

Upon completion of the SIP program, you will:

1. Understand global and local issues driving demand for more sustainable products.
2. Be familiar with the life cycle thinking and stages of your chosen product line.
3. Understand the carbon footprint of a product line and its impact throughout its life cycle. This includes identifying areas where carbon emissions are highest and calculating the company’s direct carbon emissions. By doing so, opportunities for reducing carbon emissions throughout the life cycle can be identified.
4. Be able to explain the idea of Net Zero Carbon Targets and share how the company is aligned with this goal, including the steps being taken to reduce carbon emissions on the path to achieving Net Zero.
5. Be familiar with the concept of a Circular Economy; know how to measure and identify actions to improve the waste present in each product line.
6. Be able to discuss the social and economic effects of a product throughout its life cycle and determine ways to enhance the social and economic impacts of a specific product line.
7. Learn about Sustainable Procurement and utilize a proven process to integrate Sustainability into procurement practices. This will enable Sustainability to be incorporated into purchasing decisions and throughout the Supply Chain.
8. Discover the secrets of Sustainable/Green Marketing. Craft engaging marketing messages highlighting your products’ sustainability benefits and learning about available Sustainability Certifications for your products.

CME Members operating in Newfoundland and Labrador who are current participants in the Manufacturing Productivity Program.

Module 1: Building the Foundation

• Life Cycle Thinking
• The Business Case
• Regulatory Pressures

Module 2: Carbon Impacts

• What is Carbon Accounting?
• Carbon Pricing
• Understanding & Aligning to Net Zero
• Carbon Footprint Hotspots
• Carbon Footprint Calculation
• Carbon Reduction Opportunities

Module 3: Circular Economy Impacts

• What is the Circular Economy?
• EPR & Stewardship Fees
• Circularity Impacts on Product Lifecycle
• Measuring Circularity
• Opportunities to Improve Circularity

Module 4: Social & Economic Impacts

• Understanding Social Impacts
• Understanding Economic Impacts
• Opportunities for Reducing Social Impacts

Module 5: Sustainable Procurement

• What is Sustainable Procurement
• Leveraging Procurement to Drive Sustainability
• A Proven Process

Module 6: Sustainable Marketing

• Best Practices of Sustainable Marketing
• Crafting the Right Sustainability Messaging
• Sustainable Product Certifications & Protocols
• Identify Certifications/Protocols

Small and medium-sized businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador who want to improve their product sustainability