Oceans & Water — Issue 08, full text

FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH: 4ocean • Brilliant Blue Challenge • Canada’s Ocean Supercluster • CleanHub • Ocean Ambassadors Canada • Pauquachin First Nation • RainStick Shower • SHARC Energy • Water First Education and Training

SPECIAL EDITORIALS FROM GUEST AUTHORS ALAN SHAPIRO AND KARIANN AARUP Dive into a sea of positive change with inspiring stories that prove we can all make a difference to help our waterways and ways of life.

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CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

STORIES OF IMPACT: OCEANS AND WATER Soak up inspiration with these stories

OCEANS AND WATER RESOURCES FOR PURPOSE-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS Make waves of impact with these resources

4OCEAN Cleaning oceans and waterways to safeguard our future

TAKING CLIMATE ACTION THROUGH FRESHWATER INNOVATION By: Kariann Aarup

CLEANHUB Keeping plastic out of waterways

PAUQUACHIN FIRST NATION Restoring life on the beach with a holistic marine program

RAINSTICK SHOWER Saving water from the comfort of home

SHARC ENERGY Tapping into the potential of wastewater

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WATER FIRST EDUCATION AND TRAINING Addressing clean water challenges in Indigenous communities

BRILLIANT BLUE CHALLENGE Sparking global interest in the blue economy

CANADA'S OCEAN SUPERCLUSTER Accelerating Canada’s sustainable ocean economy

OCEAN AMBASSADORS CANADA Connecting disadvantaged youth in Canada with the ocean As a purpose-driven marketing agency, Sparx Publishing Group is on a mission to make positive impact mainstream. Visit our website to learn about our team and how we support changemakers then get in touch to collaborate:

sparxpg.com/make-the-world-better

WEAVING A WATERSHED ECONOMY By: Alan Shapiro

ABOUT THE COVER A 4ocean crew member collecting plastic to be recycled at their processing facilities.

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ISSN 2817-4208 (Print) November 2024, Issue 8

PUBLISHER Sparx Publishing Group Inc. sparxpg.com For information about advertising rates and placements, access our media kit at sparxpg. com/make-the-world-better or contact us at mtwb@sparxpg.com.

Share your purpose-driven story in an upcoming edition of Make The World Better Magazine to shed light on critical issues, boost awareness of game-changing initiatives, and inspire others. To be featured, get in touch with us at mtwb@sparxpg.com.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hamish Khamisa

EDITORS Libby Shabada Michelle Baleka

ART DIRECTOR Elisabeth Choi

PROJECT MANAGER Alexandra Nikitina

PROJECT COORDINATOR Ken Yeung All photo credits to the organizations.

ON THE WEB Taking Action for Our Oceans:

How has Sparx helped our oceans and waterways? Along with amplifying sustainability initiatives, we’ve also partic ipated in ocean cleanups, including one we hosted ourselves. Check out our social media accounts, including the Sparx Instagram, @sparxpg, for stats and pictures from our impact-driven endeavours.

Circularity 2024 Recap:

Earlier this year, Sparx travelled to Chicago for Circularity 24, a game-changing sustainability event. Check out our take aways for insights from the event, including stats about the ocean plastic crisis from “The Blue Paradox” exhibit, at sparxpg.com/blog.

Purpose-Driven Events: On a mission to make the world bet ter? Sparx has put together a list of purpose-driven events so you can advance your impact goals. Visit our blog at sparxpg.

com/blog to check it out.

Support Make The World Better Magazine: Enjoy reading stories of impact?

Now you can help support our publication and join a growing purpose-driven community with the Make The World Better Magazine Patreon!

patreon.com/mtwb

CONTRIBUTORS GUEST AUTHORS Alan Shapiro, Principal at Shapiro & Company and Advisor for Working for Watersheds Kariann Aarup, VP of Program Development and Impact at AquaAction

4OCEAN Alex Schulze, Co-Founder & CEO

BRILLIANT BLUE CHALLENGE Omar Hussein, Brilliant Blue Challenge Director

CANADA'S OCEAN SUPERCLUSTER Nancy Andrews, Chief Engagement and Communications Officer

CLEANHUB Joel Tasche, Co-Founder & Co-CEO

OCEAN AMBASSADORS CANADA Alison Wood, Executive Director, and Max Abu-Laban, Zero Waste Coordinator

PAUQUACHIN FIRST NATION Pauquachin First Nation Community

RAINSTICK SHOWER Alisha McFetridge, Co-Founder

SHARC ENERGY Hanspaul Pannu, CFO & COO

WATER FIRST EDUCATION AND TRAINING Brenda Lapell, Digital Communications Manager This issue helps advance progress on the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

There is no green without blue. That is as much a maxim of how colours are made as it is a truth that describes the key to life on Earth.

From the giants of ocean advocacy, like Dr. Sylvia Earle, to the deeply rooted wisdom of Indigenous teachings across the world, there have been increasingly louder warnings that human impacts on oceans and water systems are putting all living creatures on our blue planet, both on land and beneath the waves, at existential risk.

And yet, despite their almost incalculably cru cial importance to every facet of life as we know it, neither the oceans nor the water systems that sustain us get anywhere near the coverage or attention they deserve.

I am certainly out of my depth (pun intended) when it comes to anything close to a nuanced understanding of oceans and waterways. Where I am not a fish out of water, however, is in mar keting. And it was the stunning juxtaposition of the lack of awareness of the importance of oceans and waterways, coupled with the gen erational opportunity for positive impact that is possible through marketing, that gave rise to this issue of Make The World Better Magazine.

With nine organizations ranging from pub licly-traded companies to charities, as well as the in-depth perspectives of two leading voices in the Canadian context, Alan Shapiro and Kariann Aarup, this edition provides a unique compilation of views and approaches to water-related issues in a variety of contexts.

It spotlights plastic pollution and the many, many negative consequences that arise from that; smarter solutions to conserve and work with water in our homes and community build ings; ways to engage and inspire youth as well as entrepreneurs in the “blue economy” to be catalysts for change; models of reconciliation and revitalization with Indigenous communi ties; and more.

Despite their different starting points, geog raphies, journeys, or impact mechanisms, the sparks that got these featured organizations and individuals started are remarkably similar. Many of them witnessed firsthand the destruction of this incredibly beautiful and essential resource and knew that something must be done to halt this catastrophic course for the creatures, landscape, and humankind. All of them also had hope.

It is abundantly clear that our water systems globally are telling us that we must work quick ly, thoughtfully, and concertedly to change course. We have, in just a matter of decades, managed to eviscerate a life support system that has taken millions — if not billions — of years to form. While that is a terrifying reality to come to grips with, the logic that we have been afforded as a species enables us to ratio nally assert that we have the technical tools and acumen to very quickly restore and revitalize what has been pillaged and destroyed.

I am constantly asking how marketing fits into different conversations related to sustainability.

In many cases, the answers centre around ed ucation and awareness. Rarely, however, is the prescription imagination.

If there is one small contribution I can make to this conversation, it is that we need to infuse into our collective imagination the opportunity to dream about oceans and water the way we do about space or mythical lands or the backdrop to everyday life. We need to make oceans and water systems visible to all of our senses, and most importantly, to our imaginations.

It’s fitting to close this letter by again referencing a challenge from Dr. Sylvia Earle as a guide on how we can go forward. She says, “We can change the way people think. It’s called mar keting. So can we please market hope? Can we make it fashionable to care? Compassion is something we should be celebrating — for one another and for nature.”

On behalf of Make The World Better Magazine, all featured in it, and all of our readers: chal lenge accepted.

Hamish Khamisa Founder, Sparx Publishing Group This edition provides a unique compilation of views and approaches to water-related issues in a variety of contexts.

Letter from the Editor Visit our blog for purpose-driven marketing tips that will help amplify your impact story.

Plus, discover more changemakers who are making the world better, enjoy takeaways from mission-aligned events, and learn about Sparx’s team and initiatives. Read now: sparxpg.com/blog

Paciﬁc Canada's hub for the Sustainable Blue Economy Funding opportunities, subsidized workspace, courses, and more.

Connect with other ocean innovators in British Columbia and beyond.

canadacoast.ca/join

SUSTAINING THE FLOW: WATER’S ROLE IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY SLR Consulting explains how water stewardship, a stakeholder-inclusive and catchment-driven approach to water management, can contribute to organizations’ circular economy initiatives and sustainability goals. Thank you to Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC), who we were proud to feature in The Circular Economy Issue of Make The World Better Magazine, for sharing this story with us! Visit slrconsulting.com/eur/insights/waters-role-in-a-circular-economy to read now.

HOPE IN THE WATER Streaming on PBS, Hope in the Water is a three-part series that explores the work of dedicated fishers, aqua farmers, and scientists harvesting aquatic species to feed our planet while saving our oceans. Fed By Blue, one of the organizations that helped create the series, received support from impact investing platform Builders Initiative, which provided grant funding to assist in getting this important series up and running. Visit pbs.org/show/hope-in-the-water to watch now.

COEXTINCTION Watch as two female filmmakers fight alongside Indigenous leaders and scientists to protect a critically endangered species of orca, their collapsing ecosystem, and human life in the Pacific Northwest. Check out the film, made in collaboration with several impact partners, including purpose-driven organization Story Money Impact, at coexistenceﬁ lms.

com/coextinction.

STORIES OF IMPACT In this issue of Make The World Better Magazine, you’ll be diving into the depths of today’s most pressing water-related challenges and making amazing discoveries about our limitlessly valuable oceans and waterways. Check out these inspiring stories, which serve as excellent companions to this edition.

Oceans & Water Soak up inspiration with these stories

ABBY BARROWS Get to know plastics-free oyster farming champion, marine scientist, and researcher Abby Barrows. Directing microplastics research since 2012, Abby Barrows helped compile one of the largest global datasets on every ocean and continent in the world to understand the extent of plastic contamination in understudied oceans and fresh waters. Currently, impact platform Builders Vision supports Abby Barrows's research on plastic-free oyster farms through her work with College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Visit abbybarrows.com to learn more.

CHANGEMAKER SPOTLIGHT

Sustainable aquaculture supporting regenerative agriculture At Cascadia Seaweed we grow local species of seaweed on low-impact ocean farms in partnership with coastal First Nations.

We then harvest that seaweed and manufacture products for regenerative agriculture, helping land-based farmers increase yields and reduce emissions.

We aim to do so at a large enough scale to meaningfully impact climate change and food security, making the world a better place.

Building a more resilient food system with biostimulants and agrifeeds derived from cultivated seaweed.

To learn more, please visit www.cascadiaseaweed.com C - 9774 Third Street Sidney, British Columbia V8L 3A4 info@cascadiaseaweed.com Join the conversation on social!

These changemakers are creating a purpose-driven deluge Overflowing With

IMPACT

FEATURE Welcome to the eighth issue of Make The World Better Magazine!

In this edition, uncover the stories of changemakers making waves to help protect one of our greatest resources and turn the tide on various water-based challenges.

Read on to learn about nine incredible organizations, communities, and initiatives that are combatting the ocean plastic crisis, collaborating with Indigenous communities to solve water challenges, empowering youth to access opportunities in the blue economy, generating holistic restoration outcomes through a community marine program, connecting coastal communities with waste collection solutions, convening partnerships to develop solutions to ocean challenges, igniting a love for our waterways to inspire action, creating a water-saving solution for homes, and contributing to conservation by harnessing wastewater. Plus, learn about the power of freshwater innovation and the watershed economy in editorials from guest authors Kariann Aarup and Alan Shapiro.

Taking Climate Action Through Freshwater Innovation:

Putting Freshwater Health at the Centre of Solutions and Enterprises By: Kariann Aarup AquaHacking Challenge expedition sharing circle.

The future of freshwater depends on turning these innovative ideas and dreams into impactful reality and getting their solutions to market.

Water: the essence of life as we know it. Without water, life is simply not possible. If we stop to think about it, we know this fact. But how often do we consider this essential truth and weave it into our daily lives and all that we do? Based on the 2023 report by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water,1 which predicts that by 2030, our global freshwater demand will exceed global water supply by 40%, the answer is surely “not often enough.” And that must change. Urgently.

That urgency is the raison d’être behind organizations like AquaAction2 and its community of 85+ water entrepreneurs who are working to make an impact in watersheds, communities, and local economies across North America.

Building a Community of Water-Focused Enterprises Established in 2015, in Montréal, AquaAction is a registered charity in both Canada and the United States. Through two complementary tech innovation–focused programs — the AquaHacking Challenge and AquaEntrepreneur — AquaAction spans the full tech development arc from problem definition through ideation, design, and piloting, to implementation and impact.

Clarifying the issue to be solved is the first important step. Water experts bring their problem statement to the AquaHacking Challenge, our startup launchpad, where post-secondary students and early-career professionals ignite their creative spark to brainstorm, design, and develop water-positive solutions. Along their 10-month journey, these young innovators are exposed to the 21st-century skills needed to navigate our complex, interconnected, and climate-impacted world: creativity, collaboration, communications, Indigenous ways of knowing, innovation mindset, and entrepreneurship. A new generation of entrepreneurs is born, one squarely focused on freshwater health. Winners of this competitive program are awarded seed funding, are secured incubation, and turn their ideas into water-positive impact startups.

From the canvas of this startup launchpad program, emerging enterprises embark on their cleantech startup journey. It is arduous at best; it’s personally taxing, financially demanding, and often seemingly impossible. Yet, the future of freshwater depends on turning these innovative ideas and dreams into impactful reality and getting their solutions to market.

AquaAction seeks to help accomplish this through its AquaEntrepreneur program: a tailored scale-up program in which entrepreneurs are matched with specialized coaches to help secure pilot projects or new contracts within the municipal or private sectors.

Here, they land a first client or pierce new markets to fast-track getting their solutions into the real world.

Along with the three cohorts of AquaEntrepreneur, the flagship AquaHacking Challenge has been held 14 times since 2015 and has served as a platform for urgent community action in different watersheds across Canada, as well as bi-nationally across the Great Lakes Basin. Through programs like these, emerging startups are tackling a multitude of critical freshwater issues, including microplastics, nutrient loading, blue-green algae, stormwater overflow, invasive species, PFAS, lead contamination, grey water recycling, water-eﬃ ciency, rapid legionella detection, closed-loop water systems, and so much more.

These tech-savvy, climate-concerned enterprises are bringing fresh ideas and different perspectives to the world of water. Together, those in the AquaAction community constitute the AquaNation and are creating a wave of positive impact. Economically, they generated over $200 million in revenue in 2023 and raised over $45 million in capital. Socially, they created over 270 jobs in the blue economy and are majority led by female co-founders. Environmentally, they enabled the recycling of 3.6 million litres of water, 90% reduction of groundwater contamination and 80% reduction of freshwater wastage in residential homes, avoided the use of over 1 million plastic water bottles, and restored over 13 hectares of wetlands, to mention just a sample of their impact.

Each of these enterprises has a compelling story to tell, but we’ll focus on three to better understand the diversity of their journeys: one tech pivot toward the world of water and with it a deepened sense of purposeful innovation, one born of a deep personal concern for the water quality of their local lake that is now shepherding nation-wide water quality data reporting, and one that is on the verge of transforming a national water advocacy issue into an innovative municipal best practice.

X-TELIA: Tracking and Preventing Residential Water Leakages Did you know that the average household's leaks can account for nearly 38,000 litres of water wasted every year? X-TELIA3 is bringing its expertise in IoT devices, particularly cloud-based networks, low-power wireless sensors, and open data, to help municipal utilities conserve water and reduce demand. With these tech tools, utilities can use real-time data to locate leaks and excessive water use at the source, potentially saving thousands of gallons of costly drinking-quality water.

Founded in 2016 with a mission to help municipalities leverage the emerging power of IoT solutions for many things other than water, X-TELIA came to the AquaEntrepreneur program to pivot to a new market.

Using LoRaWAN (low-power, wide area networking protocol) to wirelessly connect to the internet and manage communication between end-node devices and network gateways, X-TELIA has developed a Smart City application to support a variety of use cases including advanced water metering. Often municipal staffdon’t have the tools they need to meet their important water-related goals, such as reducing drinking water waste, detecting water leaks, and reducing emissions. With tools such as hourly meter readings and leak alerts which provide a more detailed picture, X-TELIA’s solutions provide valuable decision-making input and move cities toward their water management goals.

The dynamic and entrepreneurial innovators behind X-TELIA admit that when they started the business, they were mostly excited about the limitless possibilities for IoT technology, but as they learned more about the freshwater issues we are facing, they realized that while it’s cool to build things that are stimulating from a technological perspective, it’s even more motivating to develop solutions that can truly make a difference for the natural world and our communities.

Water Rangers: Empowering Citizens and Reporting on Water Quality Across Canada Winner of the very first AquaHacking Challenge in 2015, the Water Rangers4 story starts much earlier, on a freshwater lake with a father who tested water quality every year for 20 years and had a filing cabinet full of data because he cared about his lake and knowing that it was safe. Surely, he was not alone.

The daughter of that father entered the AquaHacking Challenge and developed an easy-to-use handheld water quality test kit and open-source data platform to collect and share water data publicly.

Fast forward nine years, and Water Rangers can proudly say their test kits are used by 300+ community groups in more than 20 countries, they’ve trained more than 25,000 people and have distributed close to 6,000 kits, and their web-based platform hosts more than 200,000 publicly accessible water quality data points.

Water Rangers has actively engaged citizens in Canada and beyond to be informed and engaged freshwater stewards since 2015, and through AquaEntrepreneur, adapted their business model to reach even more Collaboration workshop at the AquaHacking Challenge Great Lakes 2024 expedition.

Water Rangers’ community water quality testing.

1. Learn more at turningthetide.watercommission.org.

2. See aquaaction.org/en.

3. See en.x-telia.com.

4. See waterrangers.com.

5. Check out watershedreports.wwf.ca/#intro to learn more.

6. See clean-nature.ca.

municipalities and community groups.

They continue to scale their mission-driven ingenuity and, most recently, became the new stewards of Canada’s Watershed Reports.5 The reports have been a driving force in open data sharing in Canada and the publication of the third Watershed Reports assessment will help Canadians access and understand water health data.

Clean Nature: Real-Time Data for Efficient Road Salt Dispersal, Saving Ecosystems and Money Did you know that approximately 5 million tonnes of salt are used on winter roads every year in Canada and that of the estimated annual average cost of $12.7 billion, 91% is attributed to maintenance and repair due to excessive road salt, including to public infrastructure, roads, eco-systems, and vehicle corrosion?

In 2019, World Wildlife Canada brought the issue of road salt to the AquaHacking Challenge, and three young women put their skills to work to solve this problem. They developed guiA, an AI-based smart decision-support tool that uses real-time meteorological data and information on road conditions to optimize road salt dispersal while still assuring road safety. This user-friendly, interactive map enables more accurate site-specific decision-making for precision dispersal.

In 2023, their emerging startup, Clean Nature,6 joined AquaEntrepreneur and secured its first pilot project in partnership with the city of L'Assomption, Québec.

Through extensive and careful testing, the solution proved its effectiveness: an approximate 20% reduction in salt use and close to 25% reduction in associated costs.

Deployed at scale, this represents a tremendous amount of positive impact for the health of inland waterways and a major opportunity for process-innovation for those municipalities that embrace it.

Freshwater-Focused Ingenuity in Action All three stories highlight the potential of human ingenuity to help solve critical water issues. They also demonstrate the value of putting freshwater health at the centre of how a problem is defined to ensure freshwater health is also at the centre of the solutions that are developed. This is freshwater-focused ingenuity in action.

In the context of climate change and the water-scarce future that is predicted, this is the ingenuity urgently needed to make the world better.

Ready to take action for freshwater?

We invite organizations and individuals to unleash their eco-centric ingenuity and consider checking out aquaaction.org for the next AquaHacking Challenge and cohort of AquaEntrepreneur in a watershed near them!

Kariann Aarup is the VP of Program Development and Impact at AquaAction.

In the context of climate change and the water-scarce future that is predicted, this is the ingenuity urgency needed to make the world better.

aquaaction.org facebook.com/TakeAquaAction x.com/TakeAquaAction (@TakeAquaAction) linkedin.com/company/aquaaction instagram.com/takeaquaaction_/ (@takeaquaaction_) linktr.ee/TakeAquaAction linkedin.com/in/kariannaarup Clean Nature receiving the second prize at AquaHacking Challenge 2019.

Our coastlines, beaches, and oceans have become overrun with plastic pollution, a crisis that threatens everyone’s quality of life. Luckily, individuals and organizations have been working hard to clean up our waterways and innovate to prevent plastic from ever reaching our oceans. Now, it’s everyone’s turn.

We spoke with Alex Schulze, Co- Founder and CEO at 4ocean, about how this organization is helping to put an end to the ocean plastic crisis and creating a sustainable future for our planet.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start your organization?

The spark that ignited 4ocean came from a surfing trip to Bali with friend and co-founder, Andrew Cooper. We were out there to surf, but what we found was a crazy amount of plastic. It was everywhere — in the water, on the beaches, even entangled in the reefs. It was heartbreaking to see such an awesome place overwhelmed by pollution. We realized that if we didn't do something, this problem would only get worse.

That trip was our wake-up call. We knew we had to take action, and that's how 4ocean was born in January 2017. Our mission was clear:

clean the ocean and create a sustainable future for our planet.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Our biggest success has to be reaching the milestone of removing over over 17 million kilograms of trash from oceans and coastlines.

It's a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team and the incredible support from our global community.

4ocean Cleaning oceans and waterways to safeguard our future Co-Founders, Alex Schulze and Andrew Cooper, walk along a polluted beach covered in plastic and trash, reminding them of their mission. A beach similar to this one is what inspired them to start 4ocean in 2017 while on a surﬁ ng trip in Bali.

One story that stands out is from our cleanup operations in Guatemala. We partnered with local communities along the Rio Motagua, one of the most polluted rivers in the world, to remove plastic waste and provide job opportunities. The impact was incredible — not only did we clean up the environment, but we also helped improve the quality of life for many families. The locals were incredibly engaged and passionate about restoring their environment, and it was amazing to see the community come together to tackle such a massive problem. Seeing the smiles on their faces and knowing that we made a difference in their lives was incredibly rewarding. It's moments like those that remind us why we do what we do.

How can protecting oceans and waterways help make the world better?

Protecting our oceans and waterways is crucial for the health of our planet.

Oceans are the lungs of Earth, producing over half of the world's oxygen and absorbing a significant amount of carbon dioxide. They regulate our climate, provide food and livelihoods for billions of people, and support a diverse range of marine life. When we protect our oceans, we're not just preserving a vital ecosystem, we're also safeguarding our future. Clean oceans mean healthier communities, more sustainable economies, and a better quality of life for everyone. It's all interconnected, and by taking care of our oceans, we're taking care of ourselves.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

One of the biggest challenges we face is the sheer scale of the plastic pollution problem. Billions of kilograms of plastic enter the ocean every year, and it's a constant battle to keep up with the influx.

Another challenge is raising awareness and changing behaviours. It's not enough to just clean up the trash; we need to address the root causes and prevent plastic from entering the ocean in the first place. This requires a collective effort from individuals, businesses, and governments.

Additionally, operating in remote and underserved areas can be logistically challenging, but it's essential to reach these high-impact zones.

Despite these challenges, we're committed to our mission and continuously innovate to overcome obstacles.

Top: A 4ocean crew member guides a traditional Indonesian outrigger canoe, called a jukung, through a garbage patch.

These ships have been used by 4ocean crews and their ancestors for generations to catch things like jellyﬁ sh and layur (hairtail ﬁ sh). Each craft has been lovingly refurbished and customized speciﬁ cally to collect ocean plastic.

Bottom: Two 4ocean crew members sort through the trash collected from the Indonesia coastline to be recycled into sustainable bracelets.

When we protect our oceans, we're not just preserving a vital ecosystem, we're also safeguarding our future. Clean oceans mean healthier communities, more sustainable economies, and a better quality of life for everyone.

1. Learn more at 4ocean.com/products/bracelet-subscription.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’d like to share?

We just recently launched our partnership program, where virtually any business has the opportunity to implement a sustainability program and partner with us to clean plastic from the ocean. This has been critical for our cleanup expansion and ongoing cleanup efforts.

What can people do to help support your mission?

The best way to support our mission is for people to get involved in local cleanups, wherever they may be. Not everyone lives by the ocean, but cleaning up rivers, lakes, and other waterways can stop the flow of trash out to the ocean and help raise awareness about the ocean plastic crisis.

We encourage everyone to track their monthly plastic consumption and look for ways to cut down on single-use plastics in their daily lives. Even a small change can make a big difference. Look for sustainable products to help make the transition, so you can start to live a life that is plastic-free or even plastic-negative!

For people who want to make a big difference right away, I’d recommend joining our Bracelet of the Month Club program.1 Every month, we send out a limited-edition bracelet dedicated to a marine animal like turtles, whales, and sharks. Each bracelet pulls 4.5 kilograms of ocean trash for double the impact, plus includes VIP early access to new products, mystery gifts and surprises, and updates from 4ocean about how your support is helping us put an end to the ocean plastic crises.

We are also looking for businesses and brands that are looking to partner with us to implement sustainability programs and help us clean the ocean.

4ocean.com facebook.com/4oceanBracelets x.com/4Ocean (@4ocean) linkedin.com/company/4oceanpbc instagram.com/4ocean (@4ocean) youtube.com/@4Ocean (@4Ocean) pinterest.com/discover4ocean tiktok.com/@4ocean vimeo.com/4ocean Not everyone lives by the ocean, but cleaning up rivers, lakes, and other waterways can stop the flow of trash out to the ocean and help raise awareness about the ocean plastic crisis.

Top: Alex Schulze, Co-Founder and CEO, poses with crew members after a successful beach cleanup in Indonesia. Plastic is collected into large sacks and shipped via barge to 4ocean’s processing facilities.

Bottom: Some of 4ocean's Bali artisans who handcraft 4ocean’s recycled bracelets made from ocean-recovered materials.

Across Canada, many Indigenous communities are disproportionately aﬀ ected by complex and varied issues that impact their clean water supply.

Through education, training, and meaningful collaboration, we can create a ripple eﬀ ect of safety and sustainability that helps solve these issues.

We spoke with Brenda Lapell, Digital Communications Manager at Water First Education and Training, about how this non-profit organization is collaborating with Indigenous communities in Canada to address local clean water challenges.

What was the “spark” that inspired your founders to start your organization?

In 2009, we began operating as Tin Roof Global to bring drinking water to rural schools in Uganda. But after a few years of operation, we realized that there were very few organizations addressing clean water challenges here at home.

In 2012, we started collaborating with First Nations in Canada. The projects were small, but they were successful. In 2016, we changed our name to Water First Education and Training, and our mandate to work exclusively with Indigenous communities.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Our biggest successes are definitely the interns and participants of our programs who have gone on to great careers in or near their home communities or as they continue their education in the water field. Water First interns and alumni will have decades-long careers and opportunities ahead of them, which is such a testament to their hard work and dedication. Many program participants and interns also stay close to the Water First community to become mentors and active alumni, providing a really special way to stay connected — some people even end up coming back to work with Water First!

How can addressing local water challenges help make the world better?

The water challenges that Indigenous communities face are complex and varied and are not new. From climate change to aging infrastructure, Indigenous communities are also disproportionately affected by these challenges. Across Canada, 14% of First Nations are currently living under a water advisory. Many Indigenous communities in Canada have identified the need for more local, qualified personnel to support solving water issues independently and for the long term. Working with and supporting Indigenous communities The cohort of Drinking Water interns from Ogemawahj Tribal Council communities.

Water First Education and Training Addressing clean water challenges in Indigenous communities

in determining the solutions and training that fit their communities best leads to greater control over their own land and resource use. This helps to create a ripple effect of safety and sustainability that is far-reaching.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

Water First often works with Indigenous communities in remote areas and inclement weather, so when we’re training in the field, there are lots of opportunities for problem-solving! From equipment malfunctions to severe weather events, our teams have to be flexible and smart to keep everybody safe and projects on track.

A challenge that we face, and embrace, as an organization is to always continue our cultural learning. We are a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees, and in our work, we strive to build lasting, trusting relationships with partner communities. So while we offer technical training, our team also seeks out our own learning opportunities as well as reciprocal learning opportunities from our partners. We’ve recently taken part in Inuit cultural learning, a Two-Spirit workshop, and a Red Dress Day sharing circle. And we have land-based learning opportunities scheduled for this fall.

We also recently launched a brand-new internship program that focuses on environmental water management and technical training and are currently working toward accreditation to certify participants that complete the training.

This has been a long process and a learning experience for us all, but the benefits to our participants will be worth it.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

It has been another year of growth.

Together with community partners, we have expanded programming in western Canada and our programming with school-aged children.

In March 2024, we began a Drinking Water Internship with Interlake Reserves Tribal Council1 in Manitoba. Interns from seven communities are taking part in a 15-month program to gain technical skills and training. This will lead to valuable water operator certifications and help trainees begin their careers in the water field. This internship is significant as it marks the first for us outside of Ontario.

The next initiative we’re excited about is the launch of our very first Environmental Water Internship. This internship was launched in collaboration with Mamaweswen,2 The North Shore Tribal Council. It focuses on skills training and certification in Water Quality, Environmental Data, and Fish Conservation. We feel a great deal of privilege to be able to build this program with such a fantastic community partner and know that it will serve as the blueprint for additional internships and the expansion of the program.

What can people do to help support your mission?

Get to know the issues surrounding water safety and sovereignty in Indigenous communities, get to know Water First, and of course, we’re a charity, so donations matter. To keep up with our news and all the fantastic collaborations we’re involved in, sign up for our quarterly newsletter!

And don’t forget to follow us on social media — and help spread the word!

1. See irtc.ca.

2. See mamaweswen.com.

waterfirst.ngo facebook.com/waterfirstngo x.com/waterfirstngo (@waterfirstngo) linkedin.com/company/water-first-ngo instagram.com/waterfirstngo (@waterfirstngo) youtube.com/@waterfirstngo (@waterfirstngo) threads.net/@waterfirstngo tiktok.com/@waterfirstngo Across Canada, 14% of First Nations are currently living under a water advisory.

Many Indigenous communities in Canada have identified the need for more local, qualified personnel to support solving water issues independently and for the long term.

Dillon Koopmans, Senior Manager of the Schools Program, working with students on an activity in the Full Circle.

During the ﬁ rst week of the Water Quality Analyst (WQA) exam prep, interns use a range of water science equipment to make studying hands-on and experiential.

Vast potential lies beneath the surface of the world’s oceans, but many people are unaware of the economic and environmental opportunities within its depths. By learning about the blue economy from a young age, individuals gain the power to tap into its boundless benefits while protecting our oceans.

We spoke with Omar Hussein, Brilliant Blue Challenge Director at Brilliant Labs, about how this competition is empowering youth around the world to access opportunities in the blue economy and bring innovative ocean-based solutions to life.

What was the “spark” that inspired Brilliant Labs to start the Brilliant Blue Challenge?

Realizing the huge lack of awareness among youth, globally, about the blue economy and the vast career opportunities it has to offer, we knew we had to take action.

After consulting with key stakeholders in different sectors of the blue economy in Canada, the team at Brilliant Labs1 launched the Brilliant Blue Challenge,2 a global annual ocean innovation competition for high school students that is endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade.3 Sparking interest in the blue economy is important, especially within the Canadian landscape, where awareness of academic and career opportunities in the ocean industries among youth is limited. This is a crucial step for combatting the significant shortage of skilled workers in areas such as ocean mapping, data analytics, and autonomous underwater vehicles, and tapping into the environmental and economic potential the blue economy provides.

Our program objectives include raising awareness about the boundless opportunities in the ocean industries; fostering soft, technical, and entrepreneurial skillsets; and providing an experiential learning platform that connects students to industry professionals.

Ultimately, the Brilliant Blue Challenge empowers youth around the world while supporting the Ocean Decade's outcomes, including ensuring a clean, healthy, resilient, safe ocean that is productive, accessible, and inspiring.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Our inaugural competition, held virtually in December 2023, was a major success, showcasing the incredible creativity and dedication of young minds from all over the world toward ocean innovation. It was incredible to garner interest and participation from 14 countries, including Canada,4 Nigeria, Indonesia, and Senegal.

Over 20 teams presented innovative youth-created solutions in the categories of Marine Autonomous Systems, Healthy Marine Life, and Marine Renewable Energy, and the event ended with more than 10 winning teams.5 How can supporting the blue economy help make the world better?

The ocean is a frontier for innovation, from biotechnology to renewable energy.

Protecting our oceans and supporting the blue economy is invaluable for advancing innovation and maintaining biodiversity, as oceans host nearly 80% of Earth's life, providing critical habitats for countless species. Oceans also act as a climate buffer, Brilliant Blue Challenge Sparking global interest in the blue economy Two refugee teams participated and received awards in the inaugural competition.

absorbing over 90% of the excess heat from climate change and about 30% of human-produced CO2, and provide food security, as over 3 billion people rely on the ocean for their primary source of protein.

The blue economy is also critical for economic development and is projected to reach $4 trillion by 2030. Sustainable ocean practices can create jobs, boost economic growth, and ensure long-term prosperity for coastal communities.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

Convening K-12 students, academia, industry, and policymakers is not a trivial task when working on a global early talent pipeline program but is a necessity for achieving our goal of raising awareness of and contributing to the blue economy.

We work to overcome the challenges involved in this through online participation as well as helping potential participants and mentors see the benefits of taking part.

Our program provides a quadruple-win scenario for youth, the public sector, the private sector, and academia. By helping students develop skills and grow their knowledge of the blue economy, the program attracts students to ocean programs and career opportunities, which in turn builds an inclusive, innovative talent pipeline.

Are there any other initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

After the success of our virtual inaugural competition, we recently organized the first hybrid competition in Nova Scotia, Canada. The 2024 edition of the Brilliant Blue Challenge took place on October 25–26, 2024, and connected youth with subject matter mentors as they explored real-world, pressing challenges in the blue economy. You can learn more through our website.

What can people do to help support your mission?

We're actively recruiting partners who can help us provide the best experience for the participating students through promotion, recruiting subject-matter experts as mentors, access to data and relevant industry resources, recruiting volunteer judges, availing scholarship and internship opportunities, connections with incubators and incubation programs, co-designing curriculum, and hosting competitions and summer camps.

1. See brilliantlabs.ca.

2. Check out brilliantlabs.ca/brilliant-blue.

3. Learn more at oceandecade.org.

4. Read "Halifax students create winning micro-ecosystem for global ocean innovation challenge" from December 21, 2023, on the CBC News website, cbc.ca/news.

5. Read “Brilliant Blue Challenge: A Global Showcase of Ocean Innovation For The Blue Economy” from December 21, 2023 on the Brilliant Labs blog on Medium, brilliantlabs.medium.com.

brilliantlabs.ca/brilliant-blue facebook.com/brilliantbluechallenge brilliantlabs.ca facebook.com/brilliantlabslaboscreatifs x.com/brilliant_labs (@brilliant_labs) linkedin.com/company/brilliant-labs-labos-creatif eventbrite.com/o/brilliant-labs-labos-creatifs-66545680693 Left: The Nova Scotian award-winning team received scholarship and internship opportunities by participating in the Challenge.

Right: Team Senegal won the overall Excellence Award at the inaugural Brilliant Blue Challenge in 2023.

The ocean is a frontier for innovation, from biotechnology to renewable energy. Protecting our oceans and supporting the blue economy is invaluable for advancing innovation and maintaining biodiversity, as oceans host nearly 80% of Earth's life, providing critical habitats for countless species.

Sources:

1. Our World in Data 2. UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission 3. CleanHub 4. The Ocean Cleanup 5. The Ocean Cleanup Video Report 2024

OCEAN PLASTIC CRISIS OCEANS & WATER Ocean pollution aerial view.

Though estimates vary wildly, recent forecasts project between 1 million and 1.7 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year.1 This has amounted to approximately 50- 75 trillion pieces of plastic and microplastics in the ocean, which either sink or float to form garbage patches2 that continue to gather waste daily.3 Of the five garbage patches that have accumulated, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest, covering an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres, with a mass of approximately 100,000 tonnes, and consisting of an estimated 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, which is equivalent to 250 pieces for every person on the planet.4 Studies show that it would cost US$7.5 billion to clean the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, less than 2% of the net profits of the world's plastic producers.5

Sources:

1. The Ocean Cleanup 2. Oceanic Society 2024 Cleanup Report 3. Ocean Wise 4. Ocean Wise Plastic Reduction Program

FACTS Photo by 4ocean.

Around the world, passionate individuals and organizations, including those featured in this edition, are working hard to pull plastic directly from our oceans and prevent waste from entering our waterways.

The Ocean Cleanup is aiming to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 20401 and international initiatives like the 2024 Global Ocean Cleanup, led by the Oceanic Society in partnership with Sea Turtle Week, saw thousands of people unite around the globe to remove 35,597 kilograms of waste from 87 kilometres of ocean and coast.2 In Canada, Ocean Wise has gathered over 1,000,000 volunteers to conduct 27,800 cleanups along 44,262 kilometres of shoreline and has diverted 2 million kilograms of waste from Canada's waterways since 1994.3 By working together and adopting available solutions, we can reduce the flow of plastic into our oceans by 80%4 and make a lasting impact.

Coles Bay, near Pauquachin First Nation, in the early morning.

Pauquachin First Nation has always held a strong relationship with Coles Bay, the Nation’s main shellfish harvesting beach, where community life and marine life are deeply interwoven. To turn the tide on the beach’s nearly three-decade closure, a program was created to generate holistic restoration outcomes and reclaim this important connection.

We spoke with the Pauquachin First Nation about how their marine program is reconnecting the community to life on the beach through powerful environmental stewardship and shellfish restoration.

What was the “spark” that inspired your community to start your marine program?

Pauquachin First Nation has always taken a proactive and involved approach to environmental stewardship and management. Members from Pauquachin First Nation have always been strong advocates to our community leaders, indicating the importance of caretaking the active and cherished areas of importance within Pauquachins’ traditional territory. This territory spans from Saanich Inlet to Saturna Island and beyond, with trade networks and stopover sights all the way to the mainland of British Columbia.

Despite the immense capacity and financial challenges associated with starting a novel marine program, in 2019, Chief Rebecca David and elected councillors created the “spark” that initiated a long-term community vision of creating an environmental stewardship department. This department was always envisioned as centring a holistic and involved community role, allowing for community members to reaccess areas in the territory where they were excluded Pauquachin First Nation Restoring life on the beach with a holistic marine program

Pauquachin Stewardship staﬀ assisting Malahat First Nations' sea garden restoration works.

due to the continuing effects of colonial settlement. We wanted a department where youth, Elders, knowledge holders, language speakers, and community felt safe, comfortable, and engaged with their environment. The department additionally allows Pauquachin First Nation to take an active stewardship role, leveraging our examples of local environmental management based on our cultural values to enact regional change in collaboration with local governments, non-profits, neighbours, and interested parties.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

The first and biggest success represented by the establishment and realization of this department was the community support and integration it offered. It was a big step to create a novel workplace and a series of job opportunities uniquely woven in to bring necessary skillsets, training, and economic opportunities to our community.

When access to traditional foods was limited due to various historical factors including urbanization, increased pollution, and watershed changes, we needed an option to generate membership employment opportunities on-reserve. Our department leverages the skills and ecological knowledge of our community, allowing them to interact with their territory while generating useful and needed data utilized by the Nation in the unyielding tidal wave of referrals, government interactions, policy commentary, and other inputs consistently requested to First Nations. These positions and roles give a major sense of pride in the community, as well as act as a social safety net for our members who can rely on each other and act as leaders to others while positively contributing to the long-term vision of the Nation.

Our main restoration successes involve rekindling a strong relationship with Pauquachins’ main shellfish harvesting beach in Coles Bay, which traditionally was a centre point for the community where knowledge was exchanged, youth were taught, ceremonies held, and food gathered. This beach has been closed since 1997, and through that closure by the Department of Fisheries, a strong sense of isolation, fear, and disconnect occurred due to the ever-present and previously not understood pollution sources in the bay. Our members were simply told the beach was not safe and to leave this rich cultural space entirely. Hope was quickly leaving, as multiple generations of Pauquachin youth were raised without the important connection the beach represented.

Our environmental stewardship staffand marine department have been working tirelessly Our main restoration successes involve rekindling a strong relationship with Pauquachins’ main shellfish harvesting beach in Coles Bay, which traditionally was a centre point for the community where knowledge was exchanged, youth were taught, ceremonies held, and food gathered.

for four years to change that narrative. Through both scientific and cultural management practices, Pauquachin First Nation has changed the tide, so to speak, surrounding the shellfish closure in Coles Bay.

Initial efforts involved a detailed review of the clam populations that used to support us, identifying which populations were still healthy and which had changed in the three-decade closure.

We have additionally finalized identification of the cumulative effects driving the pollution, as well as the types of pollution we are facing along the path of cultural shellfishery revitalization. Both marine and freshwater inputs are sampled all year round by stewardship staffto ensure seasonal variations in pollution are also understood.

We additionally have been aiming to re-introduce, through both community restoration days and seasonal stewardship staffpractices, traditional shellfish management methods that brought health and life to the beach before the closure. These involve long discussions on the wider environment, with Elders and knowledge holders, as well as youth events where we teach young people about the life they are connected to on the beach. Tilling, moving of stones, and re-seeding of shellfish, as well as protocol around harvesting sizes and stories are being shared much more readily now as part of this effort.

To initiate political action, Pauquachin reviewed the policies driving this closure and combined a summary of obligations in three reports to all governmental levels in Canada, with specific recommendations to surrounding municipal, provincial, and federal governments. These recommendations centre our treaty right guaranteed under the Douglas Treaties to “fish as formally,” and are a guidebook to local partners on how to meet our needs along their own laws, as well as Pauquachins’ own traditional laws and practices. Due to the recommendations in these reports, Coles Bay is now being identified as a prime example for a novel provincial shellfish management strategy, called the “BC Healthy Shellfish Initiative,” which is expected to be initialized in 2024.

How can restoration and remediation of the Pauquachin First Nation’s traditional marine resources help make the world better?

Our restoration efforts specifically aim to centre First Nations’ harvesting and Treaty Rights while weaving together necessary scientific practices alongside cultural practices to generate holistic restoration outcomes. This model, which we are aiming to document and present to other Nations and the Canadian government, has the potential to bridge political inequities present in shellfish management policy with reconciliatory action for the Left: Pauquachin First Nation and Malahat First Nation Stewards collaborating to review clam densities. Right: Pauquachin First Nation and Capital Regional District staﬀ saving an eroded Saskatoon berry tree in a regional park.

Through both scientific and cultural management practices, Pauquachin First Nation has changed the tide, so to speak, surrounding the shellfish closure in Coles Bay.

benefit of the environment. Other Nations, as well as crown governments looking to meet reconciliatory mandates and goals, can utilize this example from both a scientific and management perspective to revitalize shellfish management across Canada.

For Nations that have been disenfranchised through current shellfish management systems, losing culture, ecological integrity, and harvesting areas, our work represents a groundbreaking management model that could allow them to additionally regain beach access. We hope our work is able to be highlighted and reviewed at both the provincial and federal scales for all Nations currently impacted.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

There are many challenges related to shellfish management and beach restoration work that have accumulated over decades of ineffective policy, with specific gaps related to First Nations’ harvesting rights and lack of restoration mandates by the Crown at all levels. Multijurisdictional management of shellfish is one of the largest challenges, as it seems like each section of government only holds a handful of pieces. Ultimately, however, it lands with all crown governments to uphold their obligations to the Douglas Treaties of which they are signatories, and we feel hope in that they are now aiming to recognize and meet those obligations.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We are aiming to continue restoration work within Coles Bay, with a multitude of infrastructure and shoreline improvements to alleviate pressure on the shellfish populations present there. We are additionally aiming to fund and host a gathering, currently unconfirmed, to bring together both First Nations and surrounding interested municipal parties to celebrate the beach, restore and create novel clam sites together, and discuss the many challenges that lay ahead in our collaborations.

What can people do to help support your mission?

Pauquachin First Nation is always open to discussing collaborations and opportunities to assist in moving the work forward and will be aiming to solicit volunteers to work alongside us on restoration days on the beach. We are additionally able to receive donations, for both in-kind and monetary contributions for this work, should that be available. All information requests and discussions related to PFN’s shellfish restoration work can be sent to Info@pauquachin.com.

Invasive species removal with Pauquachin First Nation staﬀ, near Goldstream Provincial Park.

Pauquachin First Nation and University of Victoria PhD collaborators completing marine water quality lab training.

Authors’ Note: Authorship is labelled as "Pauquachin First Nation" in alignment with our community's values of collective representation and acknowledgement of the collaborative nature of our work.

pauquachin.ca linkedin.com/company/pauquachin-first-nation This model, which we are aiming to document and present to other Nations and the Canadian government, has the potential to bridge political inequities present in shellfish management policy with reconciliatory action for the benefit of the environment.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start your organization?

It was a love of the ocean that led my co-founder, Florin Dinga, and me to start CleanHub. As passionate travellers and surfers, we witnessed firsthand the heartbreaking reality of plastic pollution. It was everywhere. Disheartened but motivated, we resolved to dedicate our working lives to keeping plastic out of the sea. Many thought it was impossible and doubted we could make a difference.

Fast forward to today, we’ve collected over 9,000,000 kg of plastic waste and partnered with more than 300 brands, helping them reduce plastic and collect more than they use.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

At CleanHub, we believe our biggest success is achieving TÜV SÜD1 verification according to ISO standards. This ensures our waste collection and management processes are transparent and reliable.

We've developed technology that meticulously tracks everything from collection to disposal, allowing waste managers to prove they’re doing what they say and giving everyone confidence in our impact. Our verified tech meets the highest standards on the market.

In addition, all CleanHubs are certified or working toward the highest social standards, like the SA8000 Standard2 for workers' rights and our own verified plastic credit standards for non-recyclable plastics.

The SA8000 certification is the leading social certification globally, providing a holistic framework for the fair treatment of workers. Recently, three members of CleanHub's Impact Team have become certified SA8000 internal auditors. With this, our team can better support our mission of promoting sustainable and ethical practices in the waste management sector.

Left to right: Florin Dinga, Co-Founder, Joel Tasche, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, and Louis Pﬁ tzner, Co-CEO.

CleanHub Keeping plastic out of waterways Plastic pollution is a widespread epidemic that has crept dangerously into our waterways. To protect marine systems and ensure a healthier life for everyone, plastic pollution needs to be addressed on land using eﬀ ective waste management systems.

We spoke with Joel Tasche, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at CleanHub, about how this organization is connecting people in coastal communities to waste collection to prevent plastic pollution from reaching waterways.

Two workers push a cart ﬁ lled with collected plastic waste as part of the Clean Konad Project by CleanHub.

How can protecting oceans and waterways help make the world better?

The ocean is our greatest ally against climate change5, producing 50% of the oxygen we breathe and absorbing 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions.

However, plastic pollution severely hampers these natural processes. Each year, about 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans, causing severe harm to marine ecosystems and contributing to global warming. Marine microplastics, for example, hinder the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

Stopping plastic pollution at the source — land and rivers — is the most effective strategy, as 80% of ocean plastic originates from these areas. Eff ective waste management systems are crucial to prevent plastic from reaching waterways. In many regions, the lack of such infrastructure forces locals to burn or improperly discard waste, harming both local ecosystems and human health. Around 2 billion people in coastal regions worldwide lack access to proper waste management, leading to open burning, dumping, or piling of waste in poorly managed landfills. This mismanaged plastic waste has a massive impact on our climate: open burning contributes 2–10% of global CO2 emissions, and waste in landfills releases methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

We must build waste management systems in areas where they don't yet exist to stop plastic waste before it gets burned or ends up in landfills or oceans.

By addressing plastic pollution on land, we can protect our oceans and their crucial role in combatting climate change.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

One challenge CleanHub faces in implementing waste recovery in vulnerable communities is awareness and education. Educating communities about proper waste management is essential for long-term change. Many residents in vulnerable areas are unaware of the environmental and health impacts of improper waste disposal. Before starting any project, we conduct surveys to assess local attitudes toward waste and run awareness programs to educate residents about plastic pollution.

Another challenge revolves around policies and regulations. Eff ective policies and regulations, such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, We also have many impact stories on the ground; one of them is the Clean Konad3 project in Kerala, India. Before our intervention, the community had no state waste management services, leading most locals to burn (66%), dump in the ocean (19%), or bury (10%) their trash. Our seven-point plan helped transform the community and consisted of the following steps:

1. Meeting the community to gather local opinions and explain the project 2. Setting out a blueprint plan in collaboration with families, forming a local collection team 3. Carrying out a baseline survey to assess waste management practices of 175 families 4. Running a collection trial that estimated waste volume and collection needs 5. Raising awareness and educating locals on plastic waste issues 6. Integrating our app, which ensured transparent and eﬃ cient data logging 7. Rolling out the program and beginning regular waste collections We made an impact in four key areas:

clean nature, in which we stopped harmful waste disposal methods, improving health and the environment; clean communities, in which we increased awareness and support for waste management from less than half to 99%; clean jobs, in which we provided employment for local women, boosting their income; and clean oceans, in which we prevented ocean dumping, significantly reducing plastic pollution.

This initiative not only improved waste management in Konad but also transformed community attitudes and provided sustainable jobs. This project was made possible by our partner, Green Worms,4 a waste management hub active in over 50 municipalities in South India that provides safe, dignified jobs for over 300 women.

We’ve collected over 9,000,000 kg of plastic waste and partnered with more than 300 brands, helping them reduce plastic and collect more than they use.

1. See tuvsud.com/en-us.

2. Learn more at sa-intl.org/programs/sa8000/.

3. Learn more at cleanhub.com/impact/clean-konad.

4. See greenworms.org.

5. Learn more at cleanhub.com/plastic-problem.

are essential. EPR mandates that producers manage the entire lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer waste.

However, without robust infrastructure and enforcement, these laws are diﬃ cult to implement. In addition, there is a need for international treaties to mandate brand responsibility for waste, creating a level playing field and guiding business investments. This regulatory framework is critical for holding producers accountable and driving systemic change in waste management practices.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We're excited to share that our own CleanHubs are in the works, including new projects in the Philippines and Guatemala.

These hubs will serve as plastic waste collection centres in coastal areas and regions without proper waste management systems.

Our goal is to expand our impact by establishing CleanHubs in all plastic pollution hotspots around the world.

What can people do to help support your mission?

There are several impactful ways to support CleanHub's mission to combat plastic pollution. One way is to reduce plastic use by minimizing your reliance on single-use plastics and opting for reusable alternatives.

This helps decrease the overall demand for plastic production and waste.

Another way is to support sustainable brands, choosing to purchase products from brands that prioritize sustainability and are committed to reducing their plastic footprint. By doing so, you encourage more companies to adopt eco-friendly practices.

A third way is to raise awareness. You can do this by sharing information about plastic pollution and sustainable practices with friends, family, and social networks.

You can also follow CleanHub on your favourite platform and help us spread the word. After all, education is a powerful tool in driving behavioural change.

And lastly, eco-conscious and forward-thinking brands can be part of the solution to plastic pollution by funding the collection of plastic waste. By partnering with CleanHub, they can prevent plastic from ever polluting the environment; improve people's lives and create safe, dignified jobs; and collect more plastic waste than they use.

Right: Workers sort plastic waste at the Green Worms facility, a CleanHub partner since 2020. Left: A worker uses the CleanHub app to log plastic waste collection to ensure transparency in waste management eﬀ orts.

cleanhub.com facebook.com/join.cleanhub linkedin.com/company/cleanhub instagram.com/cleanhub.io (@cleanhub.io) youtube.com/@cleanhub_oﬃ cial (@cleanhub_oﬃ cial) Our goal is to expand our impact by establishing CleanHubs in all plastic pollution hotspots around the world.

Anchored by Purpose Building a resilient future for water Our Purpose is to bring environmental

and social prosperity to the region we serve through our commitment to Love Every Drop.

Only 1% of our planet’s water is drinkable, and with challenges like climate change, being the UK’s fastest-growing region, and playing a critical role in food production, it’s more important than ever that we build a resilient future for water.

Our Water Industry National Environment Programme is one of the largest investment programmes in the water industry, with £811 million worth of improvements and enhancements planned for the region.

How we’re enhancing our environment and communities through our purpose:

- Make the region resilient to the risks of drought and flooding - Work with others to achieve significant improvements in ecological quality across our catchments - Be a net zero carbon business by 2030 - Enable sustainable economic and housing growth Find out more: anglianwater.co.uk Or scan the QR code

What was the “spark” that inspired your founders to start your cluster?

Canada launched a competition to form five superclusters, and more than 100 applications from consortiums across the country responded. As a result, in 2018, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) became one of Canada’s five national clusters, making us an industry-led national ocean cluster with funding from the federal government.

Since then, we have built a network of 700 members across the country and globally, co-invested in more than 100 ocean innovation projects within the industry, and helped convene partnerships across different regions and sectors to accelerate the development of solutions to shared ocean challenges.

We are also focused on building a robust innovation ecosystem to support the momentum and growth we are seeing in the sustainable ocean economy in Canada, where we deliver projects focused on startups, workforces, and capabilities building for the future of the ocean sector.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

We built Canada’s Ocean Supercluster from the ground up. Just six years ago we didn’t even have a bank account. Today, we have 30 staffworking across eight provinces, 700 members in Canada and beyond, and exciting global partnerships that are opening up new opportunities for Canadian companies. Our project portfolio has 300 partners working together, and their work will see more than 220 new, made-in-Canada ocean products and services for sale in global markets.

During the pandemic when things were slowing down, we were able to ramp up more new projects, triggering industry investment when there may have otherwise been less. As a result, we saw member companies not only maintain operations and staffbut grow.

A point of pride for the OSC is certainly the recognition it and Canada are garnering globally. In the last two years alone, Canada’s rankings in the strongest ocean innovation ecosystems in the world have jumped two points, which is a testament to the work we and many other key regional hubs across the country are doing.

Just four years after announcing it, our Ocean Startup Project was named a top Canada's Ocean Supercluster Accelerating Canada’s sustainable ocean economy Answers to many of today's biggest challenges can be found in one place:

the heart of the ocean. From climate change solutions to economic opportunities, Canadians can build thriving communities and a healthier planet by harnessing the ocean's potential and protecting it for generations to come.

We spoke with Nancy Andrews, Chief Engagement and Communications Oﬃ cer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, about how this national ocean cluster is convening partnerships to develop solutions to shared ocean challenges.

If you look at many of the world’s biggest challenges (and opportunities), our oceans are where the answers exist. From energy transition to food security to decarbonization of marine shipping, and other climate solutions, it’s our oceans that are at the heart of the solutions we need.

CEO Kendra MacDonald speaking to the Students On Ice audience.

accelerator in North America. From that project, many companies have grown further and moved on to lead and partner on core Ocean Supercluster projects, a clear indication that the model is working as intended.

How can oceans and water provide solutions to help make the world better?

A report released by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy1 showed last year that close to 40% of the emissions required to meet our net zero targets can come from oceans.

Oceans are not only important to the health of our planet in all these ways, but in providing those solutions, there is also significant economic opportunity that in turn provides good jobs and contributes to thriving communities and an innovation economy.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

Oceans matter to us all, whether you live by an ocean or not — from the air we breathe, the food we eat, the way we move goods and people, to the regulation of the planet. But the ocean is not always top of mind for Canadians who don’t have a direct connection to it. And so, we not only want to build greater awareness around the future of Canada’s sustainable ocean economy but excitement for the transformational growth potential it presents through Ambition 2035,2 a platform to shape a $220 billion ocean economy by 2035.

So whether we’re speaking with a technology company that has never considered a marine application, a policymaker who is shaping economic priorities for the country, an investor who is exploring opportunities to get involved in the ocean economy, or workers who may not be aware of the really exciting work in both traditional and emerging sectors in the ocean, we want them to get excited about the possibilities and make ocean top of mind.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

Recently, we were excited to announce the $8 million Phase 3 of the Ocean Startup Project.3 This is a project that has helped more than 180 new ocean companies in Canada get a start, many of which have gone on to grow and scale, and now are leading or partnering in commercially-focused projects with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, including companies like OnDeck Fisheries.4 What can people do to help support your mission?

For those who want to get involved with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, there are associate and industry memberships available. Visit oceansupercluster.ca for more information and to get started.

Whether you are an OSC member or not, we encourage you to get involved in Ambition 2035. This is a transformational opportunity that will take all of us! Visit ambition2035.ca for more information and to start using the toolkit.

1. See oceanpanel.org.

2. Learn more at oceansupercluster.ca/ambition-2035.

3. Read "Canada's Ocean Supercluster Announces $8M Ocean Startup Project - Phase 3" from July 11, 2024, on the Canada’s Ocean Supercluster website, oceansupercluster.ca.

4. Learn more at ondeck.fish.

oceansupercluster.ca facebook.com/canadasoceansupercluster x.com/CanadaOSC (@CanadaOSC) linkedin.com/company/canada-s-ocean-supercluster instagram.com/canadaosc (@canadaosc) youtube.com/ @canadasoceansupercluster9399 (@canadasoceansupercluster9399) tiktok.com/@canadaosc Left: Roundtable activity at the Ocean Innovation for a Sustainable Arctic Workshop in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Right: Alexander Dungate, CEO & Co-Founder of OnDeck Fisheries AI, pitching at Oceanfest 2023.

LOCAL WATER CHALLENGES OCEANS & WATER While Canada has the third largest freshwater reserve per capita in the world, the water many Indigenous communities depend on is difficult to access or contaminated1 with 73% of water systems at high or medium risk of contamination.2 In Indigenous communities, the amount of water-borne diseases is 26x higher than the national average, and people living on reserves are 90x more likely to have no running water access compared to non- Indigenous people living in Canada.3 Water advisories are also common among Indigenous communities across Canada, with more than 100 drinking water advisories in place at any given moment.3 A single advisory can mean as many as 5,000 people lack access to safe, clean water. Some long-term water advisories have been in place for over 20 years, dating back as far as 1995.4 Sources:

1. BBC News 2. The Council of Canadians 3. University of Calgary News 4. The Council of Canadians

FACTS In partnership with First Nations communities, various initiatives and purpose-driven organizations, including communities and organizations featured in this issue, are making progress on local water challenges.

Since November 2018, Indigenous Services Canada has lifted 145 long-term drinking water advisories, prevented 282 short-term advisories from becoming long-term, and committed $7.1 billion to improve access to safe, clean drinking water.1 Employment and Social Development Canada has invested more than $3.6 billion to support 1,244 water and wastewater projects as of September 30, 2023, which will serve 591 Indigenous communities.2 In BC, the Indigenous Watersheds Initiative (IWI), guided by Indigenous Advisors and delivered through MakeWay and Watersheds BC, has granted nearly $12 million to support projects protecting and restoring watersheds and ecosystems, (re)connecting with land and waters, and strengthening intergenerational connections.3 Much work is still needed, but together we can achieve a brighter future for all.

Sources 1. Indigenous Services Canada 2. Employment and Social Development Canada 3. Indigenous Watersheds Initiative

Ocean Ambassadors Canada Connecting disadvantaged youth in Canada with the ocean Alison Wood and Max Abu-Laban at the Zero Waste Booth, Hyack International Parade and Festival, May 2024.

Max Abu-Laban showing Ocean Camp participants a Dungeness crab molt east of Jericho Beach, Vancouver, BC.

Passion is a powerful motivator for positive change. Yet, many Canadians, especially youth who face barriers, feel disconnected from marine environments, despite how integral water is to all of our lives. With the right education and experience, however, we can ignite a love for our waterways that leads to far-reaching impact.

We spoke with Alison Wood, Executive Director of Ocean Ambassadors Canada, about how this organization is inspiring meaningful action by connecting disadvantaged youth with the ocean.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start your organization?

My co-founder Jennifer Wesanko and I noticed that people are increasingly disconnected from nature. Young people are spending hours each day on their electronic devices, are over-programmed after school and on weekends, and are not permitted to play in nature without adults due to safety concerns. As a result, young people are not spending time playing in and exploring nature.

We believe that unless people feel a connection to something, they will not care for it. As Jacques Cousteau said, “People protect what they love.”

Ocean Ambassadors was created as a response to this disconnect. Our mission is to connect people with nature, educate them about marine pollution and ocean health, and inspire them to take meaningful action.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Since our founding in 2017, we have connected roughly 30,000 young people with the ocean through our beach programs. Participants are encouraged to continue advocating for our oceans as part of a lifelong passion to “protect what they love,” and many go on to work on waste reduction projects at their schools after learning about the threats to marine sustainability. Helping inspire thousands of young people to love and care for the marine environment is an ongoing success, the results of which continue to amplify in ways we cannot fully account for.

The other work we do as an ocean-focused charity is through our zero-waste initiatives. Since beginning our zero-waste work in 2018, we have worked with close to 500 small businesses to decrease their waste output through our zero-waste coaching programs, which has led to an ongoing partnership with Metro Vancouver. Increasingly, our work is focused on waste reduction at festivals, and in May 2024, we launched our first-ever Zero Waste Festival pilot at Hyack International Parade and Festival, dramatically reducing single-use item waste at the event.

We speak to thousands of people every year at local festivals, and one thing that has been surprising and impactful is how many people are enthusiastic about the work we are doing. While levels of popular support for a transition toward a circular and low-waste economy are not currently being Our mission is to connect people with nature, educate them about marine pollution and ocean health, and inspire them to take meaningful action.

reflected in changes at the levels of policy and business practices, people understand the problem and want to see things change, which is incredibly hopeful.

How can protecting oceans and waterways help make the world better?

An expression heard from Indigenous activists and land defenders, “water is life.” Similarly, the oceanographer and marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle, an inspiration for us at Ocean Ambassadors Canada, gave a lecture titled, “No Water, No Life. No Blue, No Green.”1 That water is essential to — and the cradle of — life on Earth is not a surprising point, but the more we consider this reality, the deeper its implications become.

The health of oceans and waterways worldwide is suffering as a consequence of global heating and acidification, industrial runoff, global marine shipping, commercial overfish-ing, and plastic pollution. If we take seriously that there is a direct connection between water and life, it means that when oceans and waterways are harmed, it is humans who are ultimately harmed (though not equally), along with all life forms with whom we share this planet. But when we work to protect and care for oceans and waterways, we are working to safeguard life now and for future generations.

We believe the most effective way to inspire positive action is through education and advocacy and by giving people opportunities to experience the ocean for themselves and explore what this relationship means to them.

Our experience has been that this emotional connection often leads naturally to the desire to protect oceans and waterways from harm.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

Our purpose at Ocean Ambassadors Canada is to connect people directly with the ocean, nurture that connection through education, and inspire action to protect the marine environment that sustains us. As for connecting people with the ocean, the demographic we serve is primarily the urban youth of the Lower Mainland, and this comes with a number of challenges.

We want to provide opportunities for youth, especially youth with otherwise limited access to the marine environment, to help them build lifelong relationships with the ocean, and a challenge we face is getting disadvantaged youth into our programs. Socioeconomic barriers to accessing our programs, and to accessing the natural environment more broadly, mean that we have to work harder to ensure historically underprivileged youth — children of new immigrants, urban Indigenous youth, youth from working-class backgrounds — are included An array of reusable items on display to educate and inspire festivalgoers.

Our purpose at Ocean Ambassadors Canada is to connect people directly with the ocean, nurture that connection through education, and inspire action to protect the marine environment that sustains us.

1. Watch "No Water, No Life. No Blue, No Green - Sylvia Earle, at USI" on the USI Events YouTube channel.

in our programs. Initiatives addressing this inequity mean extra funding, and as a small charity, funding from outside our normal program revenues is what we require to ensure more equitable access to our youth programs.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

One of the areas where we see a lot of opportunity for positive change is in supporting festivals in Metro Vancouver to go zero waste. Public festivals, particularly those serving food and drinks, generate massive amounts of waste, contributing to the crisis of plastic pollution in the marine environment. We want to play a part in helping lead the necessary transition away from single-use items and toward circularity, and festivals are a great place to begin implementing and normalizing these changes. Currently, there are no policies in place to limit single-use item waste at festivals, and we aspire to provide resources and support for festivals to make the transition toward zero waste, sharing our insights with our partners at Metro Vancouver to inform potential policy measures.

On the water, we will continue to inspire the next generation of Ocean Ambassadors through our school programs and summer camps. Connecting young people with the ocean so that they feel inspired toward advocacy is where our roots are as a charity, and this experiential approach will always be central to the work we do in protecting the marine environment.

What can people do to help support your mission?

To support our mission of addressing the crisis of marine pollution, we are asking people to reuse the items they own, refuse environmentally harmful items and products, and reduce unnecessary consumption in their lives and communities, opting for quality over quantity. Systemic changes in production and consumption globally are required to address the causes of marine pollution, and we are working to get this change underway right here in our own region, where we can connect the impacts of our own actions on the marine environment with the health of the planet and with movements for sustainability around the world.

Another way people can support our mission is to get connected with the ocean.

This could be through volunteering with Ocean Ambassadors Canada to support our community initiatives and programs.

It can also be through connecting with the ocean in whatever way feels most meaningful to you: watersport, activism, walking the coastline, relaxing at the beach, or learning about coastal ecology and Coast Salish relationships with these waters. The ocean can help heal our disconnection and remind us what it means to be alive on Earth. Find your own way to feel that power and let it guide you forward.

You can also support our mission by donating to our organization via our website.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Max Abu- Laban, Zero Waste Coordinator, who also contributed to this piece.

oceanambassadorscanada.org facebook.com/oceanambassadorscanada x.com/OceanAmbCanada (@OceanAmbCanada) linkedin.com/company/ocean-ambassadors-canada instagram.com/OceanAmbassadorsCanada/ (@oceanambassadorscanada) youtube.com/ @oceanambassadorscanada7554 (@oceanambassadorscanada7554) Sorting reusable food wares at Hyack Festival 2024, Ocean Ambassadors Canada’s ﬁ rst-ever Zero Waste Festival partnership.

The ocean can help heal our disconnection and remind us what it means to be alive on Earth. Find your own way to feel that power and let it guide you forward.

Climate change has revealed that water is not as abundant a resource as we once believed.

As droughts and fires become increasingly common and utility bills skyrocket, engaging in water conservation on an individual level has taken on new urgency.

We spoke with Alisha McFetridge, Co-Founder of RainStick Shower, about how this organization is creating a water-saving solution for Canadian homes through innovative and sustainable technology.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start your organization?

The inspiration for RainStick Shower began in the Okanagan Valley, Canada’s only desert region. Both Sean McFetridge, Co-Founder and acting CEO, and I grew up in this arid environment, where the importance of water conservation was deeply ingrained. Sean's background in resource management, from his time as a lifeguard to his role as a national energy manager at Home Depot, coupled with my tech expertise and passion for sustainability from my international travels, fuelled our mission to create a water-saving solution for the home.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Our biggest success is the creation of the RainStick Shower, which has won multiple innovation awards, including TIME Magazine’s list of Best Inventions of 2023, Best of CES 2022 Innovations Award Honouree, and the Gold Sustainable Standout Award at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. One customer reported saving over 40,000 litres of water and 2,192 kilowatt-hours in their first year.

Depending on your location you can save as much as US$1,100 annually thanks to RainStick, based on a two-person household. This not only highlights the financial benefits but also demonstrates the significant reduction in water and energy usage that RainStick contributes to environmental conservation.

How can water conservation help make the world better?

Conservation is crucial in addressing the global water crisis. By reducing water usage, we can mitigate the effects of droughts, ensure sustainable water supplies for future generations, and decrease RainStick Shower Saving water from the comfort of home RainStick InWall, available early 2025.

Conservation is crucial in addressing the global water crisis. By reducing water usage, we can mitigate the effects of droughts, ensure sustainable water supplies for future generations, and decrease the energy required for water heating and treatment.

the energy required for water heating and treatment.

In Canada, where utility bills are rising and climate change is leading to more frequent droughts and fires, products like RainStick can play a pivotal role in making homes more resilient and environmentally friendly. Notably, the Residential End Uses of Water study1 shows minimal change in showering patterns, with the average duration in Canada holding steady at 7.8 minutes per shower and the flow rate decreasing by just 0.4 litres per minute from 1999 to 2016. This highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions like RainStick to drive meaningful change.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

One of the primary challenges we face is the initial resistance to adopting new technology. Helping homeowners, builders, interior designers, and architects understand the long-term benefits of water-saving devices and overcoming the perception that water is an abundant resource are ongoing efforts. Additionally, educating our market that RainStick is an “extremely hygienic”

shower appliance due to our robust three-stage cleaning process is crucial.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We are excited to announce a new model of the RainStick Shower designed based on the feedback we received from some of the top interior designers in North America. It is set to be oﬃ cially launched in early 2025 but is available for pre-order now.2 This model will be more cost-effective and easier to integrate into residential, commercial, and recreational homes, allowing for wider adoption in sustainable building projects.

You can also check out our latest BClocated off -grid installation3 in a property tour by Kerry Tarnow, which is available for viewing online.

What can people do to help support your mission?

Individuals can support our mission by choosing water-eﬃ cient products like RainStick Shower and advocating for water conservation in their communities.

Educating oneself about the importance of water conservation and implementing small changes, such as fixing leaks and using water-saving appliances, can collectively make a significant impact. Supporting policies and initiatives that promote sustainable water use is also crucial. As a startup, every little bit counts — so tell your friends.

1. Water Research Foundation. (2016). Residential End Uses of Water, Version 2 Executive Report.

2. See rainstickshower.com/products/rainstick-inwall-circulating-shower.

3. Watch "I Went Into the Mountains to See a Cottage Style PREFAB HOME and it Exceeded Expectations!" on the Kerry Tarnow YouTube channel.

rainstickshower.com facebook.com/rainstickshower x.com/RainstickShower (@RainstickShower) linkedin.com/company/rainstickshower instagram.com/rainstick.shower (@rainstick.shower) youtube.com/@rainstickshower (@rainstickshower) pinterest.ca/RainStickShower

■According to Stats Canada, the average Canadian two-person household uses over 400 litres of water per day; RainStick aims to reduce this significantly.

■RainStick reduces water and energy use by up to 80%.

■Customers report saving up to US$1,100 annually on utility bills.

■From 1999 to 2016, there was a 0% reduction in water use in showers and bathing, highlighting the urgent need for innovations like RainStick.

RainStick’s patented showerhead design.

Helping homeowners, builders, interior designers, and architects understand the long-term benefits of water-saving devices and overcoming the perception that water is an abundant resource are ongoing efforts.

Conserving freshwater is critically important for people and planet.

With innovative sustainable technologies that provide access to a forgotten renewable resource, not only can we save water, we can reduce harmful emissions and energy consumption.

We spoke with Hanspaul Pannu, CFO and COO at SHARC Energy, about how this organization is contributing to a more sustainable future by developing and installing innovative wastewater energy systems.

What was the “spark” that inspired your founders to start your organization?

The inspiration behind SHARC Energy stemmed from recognizing the untapped potential of wastewater. Our founders Lynn Mueller and Daryle Anderson, both seasoned professionals in geothermal heat pump marketing and mechanical contracting, envisioned harnessing this resource for wastewater energy transfer (WET). Their goal was to develop innovative solutions that could significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

One of our biggest successes is the adoption and effectiveness of our SHARC and PIRANHA WET systems. These systems have been implemented in over 30 installations worldwide, demonstrating substantial energy savings and environmental benefits from freshwater savings and carbon emissions reductions.

A notable success story is the PIRANHA system's performance during the EPRI Incubatenergy Labs 2020 Pilot Project,1 where it was validated by several large US energy utilities.

Additionally, the integration of our WET systems in four countries on three continents showcases the technology's reliability and applicability in diverse settings.

How can using wastewater as an energy source help make the world better?

Using wastewater as an energy source or sink offers numerous benefits. Firstly, it transfers thermal energy with wastewater, reducing the usage of gas or electricity for heating and cooling, which makes it extremely energy eﬃ cient. It also lowers greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing a renewable and consistent energy source, creating a positive environmental impact.

Additionally, wastewater energy transfer systems enhance energy resilience by providing access to a forgotten renewable resource. And SHARC Energy team members and project partners at the 3200 Bluﬀ Street installation site in Boulder, Colorado. This mixed-use development features the PIRANHA T5 system, which extracts heat from residential wastewater to preheat water for showers and sinks, contributing to the building's Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Carbon goals.

SHARC Energy Tapping into the potential of wastewater Wastewater energy transfer systems enhance energy resilience by providing access to a forgotten renewable resource.

And these systems help save freshwater by reducing the demand on cooling towers, which are significant water consumers, contributing in this way to conservation.

these systems help save freshwater by reducing the demand on cooling towers, which are significant water consumers, contributing in this way to conservation.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in carrying out your purpose?

We face several challenges, including resistance to change, as engineers and building owners can be hesitant to adopt new technologies, preferring tried-and-tested methods. Regulatory and compliance issues are other challenges we face. Ensuring that WET systems meet building codes, safety standards, and other regulations can be complex. And awareness and education can also be challenging.

Many potential customers are unaware of the benefits and capabilities of WET systems, which require education and demonstrations to overcome.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We continue to expand our reach with new installations and partnerships. We are actively working on integrating our systems into larger district energy networks, or Thermal Energy Networks (TENs), and exploring new opportunities in adjacent markets to new build residential.

The leləm̓ project2 employs our Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) system to meet the heating and cooling needs of the community. The centralized energy facility uses a low-carbon wastewater energy transfer system to meet 80% of the thermal energy needs of the community and provides significant carbon savings, energy eﬃ ciency, and freshwater savings compared to traditional systems.

What can people do to help support your mission?

Individuals and organizations can support SHARC Energy's mission in a few key ways. They can adopt sustainable technologies and consider implementing SHARC and PIRANHA systems in their buildings to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. They can also spread awareness by educating others about the benefits of WET and promoting its adoption within their communities and industries.

Engineers and architects getting oﬃ cial professional development hours or continuing education can get training on how to incorporate the power of wastewater into their sustainable building projects with us at sharcenergy.com/training.

Another way to support our mission is by advocating for and supporting policies and regulations that incentivize the adoption of WET systems, including sewer access for thermal energy transfer for both private and public entities.

We’re also a public company (CSE:SHRC), so potential investors interested in supporting us and a clean energy future can visit our investor page.3 And lastly, we are happy to invite individuals and organizations to partner with SHARC Energy on new projects and research initiatives to further advance our technology and its applications.

1. EPRI. (2021). Incubatenergy Labs 2020 Pilot Project Report: SHARC Energy Systems — Piranha Wastewater Heat Recovery.

2. Learn more at sharcenergy.com/customers/leləm/.

3. See sharcenergy.com/about/investor-relations.

sharcenergy.com x.com/SHARCenergy (@SHARCenergy) linkedin.com/company/sharcenergy youtube.com/ @sharcenergy9642 (@sharcenergy9642) Team members from SHARC Energy, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, King County, and McKinstry celebrate the installation of the SHARC wastewater heat recovery system at the Alexandria Center for Life Science in Seattle, Washington. This system, scheduled to come online in 2025, will provide 70% of the heating needs for the 1.6 million square foot campus and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 99% compared to traditional methods. The project has also created over 5,200 construction jobs, contributing to the local green economy.

Installation of the PIRANHA T10 system at the Lake Louise Inn in Banﬀ National Park, Alberta, Canada. This system, commissioned in September 2018, recovers heat from the hotel's laundry wastewater, signiﬁ cantly reducing their laundry water heating energy demand by as much as 45% and the Inn's propane consumption by approximately 32,000 litres per year, resulting in an energy savings of 137 megawatt-hours annually and a reduction of 35 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Weaving a Watershed Economy By: Alan Shapiro Mockup renders of Permalution’s water collectors for its Abu Dhabi project.

Through the wide windows of the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster, British Columbia, visitors can look out at an industrial section of the Fraser River, where on any given day tugboats pull log booms downriver, container ships unload goods at port terminals, and dredgers clear sediment to keep channels clear for navigation. The museum display boldly announces the Fraser as a thriving, working waterscape that plays a vital role in shaping Canada’s economy.

These visible signs of industrial activity, alongside many forms of water infrastructure — municipal, agricultural, hydroelectric — are how we’ve come to think of water as an economic driver in BC and elsewhere across Canada.

Venture upstream to the protected Raush River (a tributary of the Fraser) or stroll through the restored urban watershed of Bowker Creek in Victoria, and thoughts of economy give way to nature and conservation.

This perceived divide between conservation and economy is a relic of the past, one that is increasingly at odds with the realities that communities in BC face, from the impacts of climate change to evolving global economic trends.

It’s time to reimagine the role that watersheds play as economic engines, both in the province and beyond.

BC’s Watershed Economy Across BC, the watershed sector is a significant driver of employment and economic development.

The sector encompasses activities that directly support the maintenance, restoration, and improvement of healthy watersheds. According to a recent analysis,1 the watershed sector supports 47,900 direct jobs and contributes $5 billion to the province's GDP. Watershed sector jobs range widely, from boots on the ground wetland restoration and water monitoring to the design and construction of urban water infrastructure. They even venture into the high tech, with emerging technologies supporting data collection, asset management, and water reuse.

So how do we bridge the concept of “watershed economy” into the mainstream? An emerging collaboration between industry, government, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations is looking to do just that.

Since 2021, the Working for Watersheds2 (W4W) initiative has brought together hundreds of people and organizations with an interest in the watershed sector to identify common goals and opportunities, mapping for the first time the contribution of watersheds as drivers of BC’s economy and employment. In 2023, the coalition published its roadmap,3 which lays out a strategic vision for how we grow and develop BC’s watershed sector over the next 5–10 years.

W4W and its network organizations work closely with the provincial government and its newly formed Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.4 The province has demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in watersheds since 2020, with $57 million invested in watershed projects through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative5 and Indigenous Watersheds Initiative,6 and an unprecedented $100 million invested in 2023 to launch a new Watershed Security Fund,7 established through a collaboration between the province and the BC First Nations Water Table.

Moving Beyond Water as a Resource From the early days of agricultural expansion and mineral exploration by settlers across BC, water was seen as a resource to be tapped and a force to be tamed. This colonial lens on water management, coupled with progressively more ambitious engineering works, led to the extensive modification of landscapes and river systems. Upon its completion in 1968, for instance, the Bennett Dam on the Peace River created Williston Lake, the largest artificial lake in North America, which stands out as a distinctive feature on any modern map of BC.

Conservation and restoration movements have gained significant momentum in the intervening decades, driving toward Canada’s current goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. But the question of sustainable economic development — how to responsibly steward our watersheds while providing long-term employment for people It’s time to reimagine the role that watersheds play as economic engines, both in the province and beyond.

The question of sustainable economic development — how to responsibly steward our watersheds while providing long-term employment for people and prosperity for communities — remains an area of active discussion.

and prosperity for communities — remains an area of active discussion.

Conservation-based economic models are gradually gaining momentum, from sustainable forestry to eco-tourism. On the West Coast, much of this work has been led by First Nations, protecting lands and waters, from Gwaii Haanas to the Great Bear Rainforest, while generating opportunities for people and communities.

In 2016, Heiltsuk Tribal Council partnered with Vancouver Island University and North Island College to develop an Indigenous Ecotourism Training Program,8 a seven-month program for students from coastal First Nations.

The program blends classroom and hands-on training in stewardship and tourism to prepare Indigenous people for careers in the conservation economy.

Beyond tourism, a groundbreaking partnership between 17 First Nations, the Government of Canada, and the Province of BC, led to the recent creation of the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence9 (PFP), establishing a co-governed model for conservation to support community-led economic development, long-term funding for Indigenous Guardian programs, and stewardship initiatives, including in Marine Protected Areas. The Great Bear Sea PFP will bring $335 million in new investment to coastal BC to conserve a globally significant marine ecosystem, while bolstering sustainable marine-based economies and creating thousands of jobs.

Taking Care of Business Beyond the leadership of First Nations and communities, what role can businesses play in the sustainable transition? Many sectors and organizations remain firmly grounded in the corporate social responsibility paradigm, where environmental investments remain outside the core business and fall into the category of “giving back.”

But a new generation of companies is bringing nature and climate into the boardroom, embedding them firmly within its business model.

As John Elkington, a leading authority on sustainable development, aptly reflects in his recent book Green Swans: The Coming Boom In Regenerative Capitalism: “How can we create multitrillion-dollar-per-year market opportunities by 2030? One answer: by meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].

These are a set of 17 ambitious goals and 169 related targets championed by the United Nations.

In effect, the first crowd-sourced global market research study.” Water cuts across numerous SDGs — including life on land, life below water, climate action, and sustainable cities — but the spotlight centres on SDG 6,10 achieving clean water and sanitation for all.

Mockup renders of Permalution’s water collectors for its Abu Dhabi project.

A number of purpose-focused organizations highlighted in this issue of Make The World Better Magazine are helping to advance that goal. Another business worth mentioning is Permalution,11 an innovative Québec-based social enterprise working to develop cloud and fog water forecasting and harvesting technologies to supplement municipal water sources. The company has deployed projects in agriculture, wildfire mitigation, and climate adaptation, with a core focus on government utility services and humanitarian development.

Permalution makes no promises of exponential growth through fog harvesting. Instead, it aims to deploy affordable, modular systems to support communities around the world for whom water scarcity, amplified by the impacts of climate change, remains a critical need. The result?

A business model built around advancing multiple SDGs without generating adverse environmental impacts in the process.

To unlock the potential of watersheds as economic engines, we must connect pieces of the puzzle that have long been isolated: environmental health, prosperity of people and communities, and sustainable economic development.

Put these pieces together and the divide between environment and economy falls away, yielding to a more holistic vision of watersheds as the connecting tissue for a thriving economy.

Alan Shapiro is the Principal at environmental consultancy Shapiro & Company and an advisor for Working for Watersheds, a collaborative initiative of industry, government, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations working to protect and restore healthy watersheds across British Columbia.

1. Delphi Group. (2021). Working for Watersheds: Opportunities for Growth in BC’s Watershed Sector.

2. See workingforwatersheds.ca.

3. Delphi Group. (2023). Working for Watersheds Roadmap.

4. Learn more on the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship page on gov.bc.ca.

5. Learn more at healthywatersheds.ca.

6. Learn more at indigenouswatersheds.ca.

7. Learn more at watershedsecurityfund.ca.

8. View the brochure at indigenous.viu.ca/sites/default/files/viu-aboriginal-ecotourism-brochure.pdf.

9. Read “Great Bear Sea PFP Agreement Creates New Pathway for Indigenous-Led, Collaborative Conservation” from June 26, 2024 on the Nature United website, natureunited.ca/newsroom.

10. See un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation.

11. See permalution.com.

To unlock the potential of watersheds as economic engines, we must connect pieces of the puzzle that have long been isolated:

environmental health, prosperity of people and communities, and sustainable economic development.

shapiro.eco x.com/watercomm (@watercomm) linkedin.com/in/alanyshapiro Permalution’s fog water harvesting project in the natural protected area Sierra de San Juan, Nayarit, Mexico, in partnership with the Secretary of Sustainable Development, SEDESU Nayarit and La Noria, for wildﬁ re mitigation and preservation of native orchids on the brink of extinction.

WATER FIRST RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE WEBPAGE Water First has put together an extensive library of resources to help individuals develop a greater understanding of the water challenges facing many Indigenous communities in Canada, including books, articles, podcasts, videos, courses, organizations to donate to, and more.

→ waterﬁ rst.ngo/what-you-can-do/resources-to-learn-more

CLEANHUB CLEAN OCEANS SURVEY RESULTS Find out what consumers in Canada, the US, and Europe think about plastic waste, sustainability, and the impacts on our oceans and how that influences buying behaviours.

→ cleanhub.com/resources/reports-guidebooks/clean-oceans-survey

CANADA’S OCEAN SUPERCLUSTER BLUE ECONOMY 101 TOOLKIT This resource helps connect blue economy jobseekers with purpose-driven careers, providing insights into in-demand positions in the space, tips for highlighting skills and positioning resumes, sample interview questions, organizations to follow, and more.

→ oceansupercluster.ca/wp-content/uploads/Blue-Economy-101_Toolkit_ English.pdf

AQUAACTION FRESHWATER IN CRISIS WEB RESOURCE Put the freshwater crisis into focus with an in-depth look at the main risks our waterways are facing, including life-threatening contaminants, failing infrastructure, and water scarcity.

→aquaaction.org/en/freshwater-in-crisis

4OCEAN CLEANUP GUIDE Get expert tips on organizing your own shoreline cleanup, including safety tips, steps for each phase, and ways to track plastic pollution at its source to make a lasting impact.

→ 4ocean.com/blogs/community/how-to-organize-a-community-beach-cleanup Oceans and Water Resources for Purpose-Driven Organizations Make waves of impact with these resources Learn more about today’s most pressing water-related challenges and take action toward protecting our oceans and waterways, conserving water, and more with exciting resources from changemakers featured in this edition of Make The World Better Magazine.

MORE OCEANS AND WATER RESOURCES Want even more resources?

Sparx has compiled a list of 30+ resources that will help you deepen your knowledge and make a lasting impact.

Visit our blog for the complete list.

→sparxpg.com/blog/30-oceans-and-water-resources-for-purpose-driven-organizations

Purpose- Driven Events Got an event of your own?

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CANADA’S LARGEST CIRCULAR EVENT ECONOMY 15-17 April 2025 Pre-Register Today: circulareconomysummit.ca Registration opens October 2024 Québec Pavilion | Textiles & Apparel Track | Expanded Expo | Site Tours

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