Resources Sustainability
Sustainability

Sustainable Studio Program

RGD invites creative studios to minimize their carbon footprint by participating in our Sustainable Studio Program. Studios of varying sizes can carbon offset the energy produced by the studio through the partnership between LivClean and RGD. And by agreeing to adopt additional steps that will reduce your office energy consumption and contribute to a healthier planet.

 

What are Carbon Offsets?

Offsets are benefits from environmental projects that reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases and help us reach the goal of sustainable living. They work in different ways but they can avoid, reduce and eliminate gases that result from energy use. When you participate in RGD’s Sustainable Studio Program, you are essentially neutralizing the greenhouse gases that your studio energy use creates.

 

Who is LivClean?
LivClean is an organization with a global reach devoted to offering quality carbon offset products and solutions to both individuals and businesses. LivClean is 100% Canadian and independent from any local utility or government. In 2009, The David Suzuki Foundation ranked in among the top 8 high-quality vendors of carbon offsets in Canada.

 

What are the benefits of participating?

In addition to feeling good about your contributions to sustainability, as a participant in this program, you may include the program logo on your website, you will be recognized on the RGD website, and you will receive an annual printed certificate.

 

Sign Up:

For more info and to sign up, please email or call 1.888.274.3668 x 27.

 

Environmental Paper Policy

The RGD Board has voted to adopt a sustainable environmental paper procurement policy for the Association. This policy identifies guiding principles, as well as tangible steps, that RGD staff can undertake to minimize our carbon footprint and negative impact on the environment.

 

Download RGD's environmental policy.

 

RGD endorses DIAC Sustainable Design Charter

RGD has endorsed the Sustainable Design Charter created by the Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC). The Executive Board of the DIAC developed the Charter to highlight the critical role that designers play in reducing environmental impacts. Each of the professional design associations in Ontario has been asked to endorse it on behalf of their members. DIAC plans to promote the Charter through its ongoing series of cross-disciplinary Design Green seminars, and through other Design for Sustainability initiatives.

 

  • Links

    Useful Sustainability Links

    The AIGA Center for Sustainable Design is dedicated to providing designers with a wide range of information regarding sustainable business practice. Through case studies, interviews, resources and discourse, this site will encourage and support designers as they incorporate sustainable thinking into their professional lives.
     

    The UK Design Council is the national strategic body for design. The UK Design Council believes that Good design can help integrate environmental sustainability into the creation of attractive products and services. It can help shift customers’ consumption and lifestyle aspirations as well as stimulate the market for sustainable offerings.
     

    The Designers Accord is a coalition of designers, educators, researchers, engineers, business consultants, and corporations, who are working together to create positive environmental and social impact.
     

    Design Can Change is an effort to bring together the world's graphic design community to address the issues surrounding climate change. Take the Pledge!
     

    Design by Nature - an Australian resource established to inspire, educate and empower Australian graphic designers to work towards more environmentally sustainable practices.
     

    Renourish helps to start the conversation on green graphic design by providing defintions, tips, and links to sustainable resources designers can use to make their work a little greener.
     

    BoDo blogs about the business of design including: starting your own design business (online or off); marketing; dealing with clients; working with printers, photographers, copywriters and other surrounding industries; pretty much anything to help a design business grow.
     

    Organic Design Operatives (ODO) is a diverse collective of creative people brought together through the common mission of reconnecting people with nature by design.
     

    Spread The Word. Your design superpowers are a force for good. Changing the world is hard work, but when the benefits are so obvious and the need so crucial it’s hard not to answer the call. A sandbox for spreadtheword.org