About BBOT

The Burnaby Board of Trade

The Burnaby Board of Trade (BBOT) is a member-based organization that brings businesses together to develop strong networks, represent the interests of the business community to local government, and foster economic development in our community. Learn more about the BBOT.

The Burnaby Board of Trade and Sustainability

The Burnaby Board of Trade (BBOT) embraces the triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental sustainability as a core value. So what does this look like for our organization in terms of sustainability? It means that we believe in putting value into action. In a world of dwindling resources, growing global population combined with an increasingly competitive business environment, reducing, reusing, recycling our collective resources is at the heart of building resiliency in business and in our communities. We believe that we need to be leaders in helping our businesses in this new world marketplace. Embedding sustainability in your business isn’t just about doing the ‘right’ thing, it is also about doing smart business by creating market advantages, unleashing innovation, engaging employees and seizing opportunity.

• 74% of companies with CSR programs are seeing financial benefits: new customers, lowered costs, and increased productivity.
  (Source CS-CGA-ECOFORUM-BOOKLET)
• 10,000 Vancouver businesses already participate in energy-efficiency initiatives.
  (Source CS-CGA-ECOFORUM-BOOKLET)

The Pledge for a Sustainable Community is a resource developed to help businesses get started or share their sustainability journey, a place where they can publicly pledge their actions , join a community of other Pledge takers, be inspired by the success of others and be recognized for their role in helping to build resilience in their business and community.

The Pledge for a Sustainable Community is an award-winning program

The BBOT Pledge for a Sustainable Community was named finalist at the 2015 World Chamber Competition in the category of Corporate Social Responsibility and in 2017 it received the Outstanding Core Competency Award from the Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE). On 2013 the Burnaby Board of Trade was awarded a Star from the City of Burnaby for Business Stewardship in 2013 and in 2017 was recognized by the City of Burnaby for Environmental Stewardship.

About the BBOT’s Environmental Sustainability Committee

The Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) identifies sustainability issues that are important to the performance and well being of both business and the community. The Pledge for a Sustainable Community is an initiative of this committee and promotes the building of a green economy, and developing resources for improving environmental sustainability in the workplace as well as recognizing businesses for the steps they take toward reducing their environmental footprint. Learn more about the ESC.

The Pledge is an initiative of the BBOT’s Environmental Committee whose members provided guidance and support throughout its implementation. Expertise for the Pledge resources were also provided by Environmental Consultant, Clare Matheson; and the BCIT Sustainable Business Leadership Program.