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Stantec

Stantec

Which of the 17 SDGs is your organization working towards and actively promoting?

SDG 6 Clean Water and Santiation

Please describe the actions/objectives towards achieving the SDGs that you have selected above.

Stantec’s SDG support comes from internal and client-facing actions. Below we highlight some impactful project examples from both the developing and developed world.

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Our services protect and conserve water resources, maximize water and sanitation planning, and deliver water reuse and recycling solutions.

For example, in partnership with the Seychelles’ government, Stantec-led water programs address access to and vulnerabilities of clean water resources as well as increase conservation through water-saving devices, rainwater harvesting, and water reuse. The master plan we developed improves the resilience of sanitation systems to help the government increase sewage infrastructure access from 15% to 90% of the population. Analysis of water and wastewater systems also resulted in energy-efficiency measures in conveyance and treatment.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Stantec designs renewable energy and storage systems to increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. We also design buildings that further the energy efficiency of the industry.

Stantec supports the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s efforts to finance public and private sustainable energy investments through the Turkey Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (TurSEFF) Program. Another example is seen in the cold climate of the northern city of Prince George where Stantec designed Canada’s soon-to-be-first Passive House educational building for the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) – a research space dedicated to helping the local forestry industry discover more sustainable ways to integrate wood into building design and construction.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Stantec’s work with sustainable communities encompasses design of energy- and water-efficient buildings, re-development of brownfield sites, planning of walkable communities served by quality transit, and support of community efforts to conserve resources.

For example, the City of Calgary committed to divert 80% of their landfill waste. The award-winning Stantec-designed composting facility – the largest of its kind in Canada – is key to reaching this goal. Not only does the Facility reduce landfill waste, it also conserves water and energy. Water run-offs are reclaimed and reused onsite and process heat is captured for reuse. Additionally, the associated Stantec-designed energy- and water-efficient educational annex is the first commercial building in Alberta registered under the LEED v4 sustainability rating system.

Goal 13: Climate Action

Stantec incorporates sustainability practices into corporate activities to minimize our Company’s climate impact and helps clients take climate action. We incorporate resiliency into urban and disaster planning, include sustainability in infrastructure design, restore habitat to protect ecosystems, support actions for carbon reductions, and develop climate change policy.

In the Seychelles, Stantec was instrumental in helping the government implement their Climate Change Strategy, as well as develop their Intended Nationally Determined Contribution for the 2015 Conference of Paris. Our work with the government under the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus Initiative (funded by the European Union) strengthens their climate change sector policy framework and provides capacity building and adaptation for coastal areas affected by climate change.

Please specify the impact of your organization’s actions on the SDGs that you have selected above.

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation:

Stantec is a leader in clean water and sanitation and we are recognized by Engineering News Record (ENR) as the #1 Top 10 International Design Firm in Water and Sewer/Waste. Stantec-designed treatment plants clean more than 38 billion litres (10+ billion gallons) of water and wastewater per day.

For the Seychelles example, Stantec-led planning efforts are helping the government address drought risks, manage water demand in an energy efficient manner, and respond to rising sea-levels. Our efforts are also supporting government efforts to provide sanitation services to an additional 75% of the residents of the three main islands: Mahé, La Digue and Praslin.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Stantec-designed renewable energy systems have produced more than 175,000 MW of renewable energy and our efforts support renewable energy financing on projects around the world. We have also designed hundreds of buildings certified for their energy efficiency.

For the TurSEFF example, over EUR 500 million of funds have been utilized to finance more than 1,000 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects resulting in 448 MW of new renewable energy power. The resulting emission reductions are equivalent to what is emitted by almost 800,000 cars every year and the total energy savings are equivalent to the energy consumed by almost 3 million people in Turkey every year.

For the UNBC project example, the new Wood Innovation Research Laboratory is rated as the most airtight building in North America. The building uses 90% less heating and cooling than a standard building, and 70% less energy overall. Passive House construction is a growing trend in the building industry, thanks in part, to Stantec’s pioneering efforts. The laboratory’s success in developing sustainable forestry practices will also help reduce deforestation and support the timber industry’s transition to a more sustainable future.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Stantec is recognized by ENR for our sustainable design and listed as the #1 Top 5 Green Design Firms for educational facilities and #9 of the overall Top 100 Green Firms.

For the Calgary Compost Facility example, the Facility is expected to help the City divert 65% of its residential waste by annually accepting 100,000 tonnes of organics from households and 45,000 tonnes of dewatered biosolids from the local wastewater facility. It will additionally save 40 million litres (10.6 million gallons) of potable water, equivalent to the amount of drinking water consumed by 40,500 people per year.

Goal 13: Climate Action

On average, Stantec manages 11,000 environmental projects at a time. We have performed more than 5,000 atmospheric science projects, have restored more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) of rivers, and performed more than 80 greenhouse gas and energy action plans.

For the Seychelles project example, our efforts help the islands become more resilient and respond to climate pressures in a way that protects the population, the environment, and the economy. Our programs help the government prepare for climate change through policy, planning, design, conservation, and coastal area adaptation.

Please describe your goals/action plans to advance the SDGs that you have selected above in the next 5 years.

Stantec has incorporated SDG action into our company business strategy. Our goal is to positively impact the developed and developing world through client activities and philanthropy.

Regarding Stantec’s client services, we established an inter-disciplinary, internal SDG committee that works together to actively nurture an integrated approach to addressing SDGs; pursue client opportunities that contribute to the goals; track our project work that support the goals; and share expertise, knowledge, and innovative implementation strategies across our business operating units (BOU). For example, our Buildings BOU and Water BOU both work on the Denver Water Operations Complex Redevelopment, in two different capacities (water rights and regulations vs design and implementation). Our internal SDG committee provides us a venue to share knowledge and best practices between the project teams so that we can efficiently support the client and further the sustainability impacts of our work.

Stantec also works directly with relevant UN agencies as a contractor on projects that support the SDGs. Earlier this year we registered with the UN General Marketplace and are currently identifying/pursuing procurement opportunities with the UN Development Program and UNICEF.

Stantec’s volunteer and donation activities support the SDGs. Annually, Stantec donates 1% of our pre-tax profits to philanthropic activities that further efforts related to the environment, education, wellness, and the arts. These donations are supplemented by various company-sponsored volunteer activities of our employees. In 2017, Stantec donated $3 million to charities and more than 5,000 employees participated in volunteer activities in 400 communities over 6 continents during our Stantec in the Community Week celebration.

Does your organization engage in any partnerships to advance the SDGs?

Beyond our participation with the UN Global Compact, Stantec regularly partners with companies and non-governmental organizations in ways that advance the SDGs. A few examples of partners in our international development work include the European Union Commission, World Bank, Millennial Challenge Corporation, US Agency for International Development, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In our philanthropy, Stantec partners with organizations such as Engineers Without Borders, RedR UK, and WaterAid.

Stantec additionally has a strong connection and commitment to supporting Indigenous communities. For 18 years, we have been a minority partner in numerous Aboriginal Partnerships throughout Canada. These programs connect our clients to local resources and provide Indigenous community members with employment, training, hands-on skills development, and direct investment to support economic growth. Connected to this effort, we also have an Indigenous Relations Program to further foster positive, productive relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses as well as support diversity and inclusion. Stantec is a member of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business; and our VP of Indigenous Relations is on the Council board of directors. For projects outside of Canada, Stantec also partners with Indigenous communities including, the Navajo Nation, the California Tribal Advisory Committee, Alaska Native tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, the Aboriginal People of Australia, and the Maori People of New Zealand. Stantec aims to increase these Indigenous experiences and relationships as they relate to the SDGs.

How are you communicating and measuring your impact towards the SDGs?

Stantec uses various means to measure our impact towards the SDGs, including:

  • Creating an inter-disciplinary internal SDG committee that meets monthly to share best practices and increase our SDG-related project activity
  • Redesigning our internal project database to tag projects with the SDGs it addresses or supports so that we can better quantify our impact
  • Tracking of hours volunteered and dollars donated for philanthropy supporting the environment, education, and wellness

Stantec uses various means to communicate our impact towards the SDGs, including:

  • Publishing an annual GRI-compliant Sustainability Report which outlines our commitment to sustainability leadership and progress against the SDGs
  • Providing internal and public communications that summarize partnerships formed and SDG-related client projects completed to raise awareness with our stakeholders of this important framework

Additional Information

Links to Videos:

Links to Webpages:

Sustainability Report: