Sustainability Policy

1. Overarching Principles

In 1987, the Brundtland Commission formally defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, thus establishing the core principle of balancing current needs with those of future generations. When interpreted more broadly, sustainable practice requires a balanced implementation in three crucial areas: environmental sustainability, financial/economic sustainability, and social sustainability.

To promote consistent, informed and responsible decision making around its sustainability practices, Sheridan has formally adopted the four science-based sustainability principles of The Natural Step (See
Appendix A for more detail). These principles provide a framework through which Sheridan can consider its professional practices.

2. Policy Statement

This policy expresses Sheridan’s commitment to enmeshing sustainable practice within the varied facets of Sheridan activity, with the aim of fostering an institutional culture defined by informed and responsible decision making that reflects the crucial balance between economic, social and environmental priorities. Sheridan meets this commitment by:

• challenging ourselves to continuous improvement and developing innovative solutions in business operations to address issues of energy and water use, waste reduction, air quality improvement, and product procurement;
• working to ensure that all members of the Sheridan community continuously seek to minimize adverse impacts that Sheridan’s activities have on the environment and society;
• Considering applications of sustainability thinking in its professional practices; and
• demonstrating to students, employees, partners, community and the world how a 21st century organization carries out its core operations and advances long-term institutional objectives while navigating a forward-looking, informed, evidence-based sustainable path

For the full policy document, please click HERE.