Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC) Sustainability Services

What is it?

Guelph Food Technology Centre's Sustainability Services help food and beverage manufacturers reduce their environmental impact, boost productivity and cut costs.

Services include: assessment of facility operations and processes, strategic management consulting, and training. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has provided $1 million in funding to allow GFTC to give Ontario companies a 50 per cent discount on the sustainability services and course registrations.

What is the benefit to my company?

Greening your processes and products will help your organization become more competitive. Using resources more efficiently will boost productivity, lower costs and reduce risk. Increased sustainability will build a stronger brand image, as consumers increasingly demand sustainable food and food production practices and a greater degree of corporate social responsibility. A commitment to environmental management also addresses the interests of investors and aligns with emerging government standards.

Ontario food and beverage manufacturers receive an automatic 50 per cent off the cost of Sustainability Services due to OMAFRA's sponsorship of the program. GFTC is also committed to helping its clients secure any additional financial assistance.

Who qualifies?

Ontario food and beverage manufacturers.

What's included?

• Assessment Services - GFTC energy and environmental engineers and analysts will provide a no charge "gap assessment" of your facility to determine areas of opportunity for your organization and its processes. This is followed by a detailed analysis of energy and water use, packaging efficiencies, and waste and emission generation. GFTC will recommend changes that benefit your environmental, social and economic bottom line.
• Strategic Management Consulting - GFTC consultants will help you build sustainability into your business plan, from establishing a sustainable vision and mission to benchmarking, monitoring and tracking for continuous improvement.
• Training Services - GFTC offers a series of courses and webinars on topics such as environment and energy management, sustainable packaging design, and building a culture of sustainability. Customized training is also available to meet the specific needs of your organization.

For example...

GFTC has helped various companies improve their social, economic and environmental position by recommending changes such as:

*The payback period is the number of years required to recover the cost of an investment.

**NPV is the present value of a cash flow (costs and benefits) over time. NPV evaluates the total value of a project because it accounts for time preference and measures the benefits of a project for the whole time the project is in existence.

How do I get started?

Contact Cher Brethour, Director of Sustainability Services, by phone at (519) 821-1246, Ext. 5062 or email at cbrethour@gftc.ca for a free gap assessment of your facility to be followed by a project proposal designed to meet your needs.

You can register for training courses and webinars on GFTC's website at www.gftc.ca (click on Sustainability Services for a list of upcoming programming). The 50 per cent discount is automatic when you register online.

Where can I find more information?

More detailed information is available on the GFTC's website at www.gftc.ca (click on Sustainability Services in the menu bar). You can also contact Cher Brethour, Director of Sustainability Services, at cbrethour@gftc.ca or by phone at (519) 821-1246, Ext. 5062.

We're here to help

To find out how the Business Development Branch at OMAFRA can provide you with knowledge, connections and resources to help grow your business, call us toll-free at 1-888-466-2372, extension 64474 or email us at foodinvest@ontario.ca. For information about this program and others, as well as our branch, visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/.