Employee Climate Action Toolkit

Mohawk College’s Climate Action Plan relies on active participation from all staff. This employee toolkit offers resources, programs, and learning opportunities to help integrate sustainability into daily decisions. It will continue to grow in the coming years—stay tuned for more!

How Can I Help?

  1. Act sustainably – Consider the environmental impact in your everyday decisions (e.g. waste, purchasing, travel, energy).
  2. Be a champion – Promote sustainable initiatives in your area.
  3. Engage with us – Send your ideas to sustainability [at] mohawkcollege.ca (sustainability[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca) to help develop and implement actions to help us meet our targets.
  4. Engage with students – Incorporate sustainability into student projects and learning where possible.

Sustainable Resources for Employees

Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines

The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines provide Mohawk College employees tangible guidelines to assist in making sustainable purchasing choices across a variety of categories. These include office products, electronic and IT devices, catering, textiles, indoor furniture, cleaning and chemically intensive products, and other preferred purchasing practices. 

Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines [PDF]

Sustainable Swag Guide

The Sustainable Swag Guide outlines recommendations for the purchase of swag items that are valuable tools for student engagement while being useful items that contribute to a low environmental impact. It includes swag suggestions and tips for communicating during the swag interaction. 

Sustainable Swag Guide [PDF]

Programs and Services

The Sustainability Office offers a variety of programs, services and infrastructure that make it easier to act sustainably. These may vary depending on your campus.

Sustainable Transportation

Learn more

Waste Sorting Guidance 

Learn more

Food and Pollinators

Learn more

Smart Commute Hamilton

Smart Commute is your connection to commuting choices in Hamilton. This program is available in select Ontario cities and helps individuals and organizations travel efficiently and sustainably. Smart Commute helps employers and commuters explore different commute choices such as carpooling, cycling, and transit. Our goal is to ease gridlock, improve air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while making your commute less expensive and more enjoyable. 

Carpool Matching Tool (Smart Commute App)

There are many benefits to carpooling! Carpooling reduces traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, while helping you save money. 

Register now to save time and money by switching to a more sustainable commute. 

  • Plan trips

  • Find carpool partners

  • Track your commute 

The Smart Commute App can also connect you to cycling, walking and transit buddies! 

For more information visit Smart Commute | City of Hamilton

 

Emergency Ride Home (ERH)

As a member of a Smart Commute workplace, Mohawk College staff are eligible for the Emergency Ride Home program. If you have an unforeseen emergency, and you use a sustainable method to commute to work, you can request reimbursement for the cost of your emergency trip home (up to $75). Ensure you retain all emergency transportation receipts, as they will need to be submitted as part of the reimbursement claim.

For full details visit the Emergency Ride Home Terms and Conditions

Submit a claim through the Smart Commute App

For more information visit Smart Commute | City of Hamilton or contact smartcommute [at] hamilton.ca (smartcommute[at]hamilton[dot]ca).

Professional Development and Team Capacity Building

The Sustainability Office is dedicated to supporting you and your team in integrating sustainability into your operations, as well as individually. We want to help you feel confident in taking sustainable action.

Training available to all Mohawk College employees

Introduction to Sustainable Purchasing

More to come.

Customized support

Is your department interested in customized training or a team workshop? Do you have specific questions or a sustainability problem you need help with?

Email sustainability [at] mohawkcollege.ca (sustainability[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca) with your questions and we will explore opportunities to support you.

Organizational Memberships

The Sustainability Office offers organization-wide memberships to a number of groups dedicated to advancing sustainability. Staff and faculty are encouraged to take advantage of these memberships including by accessing their programming and learning opportunities.

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education empowers higher education faculty, administrators, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. The membership includes access to a Resource Hub, discussion forum, and discounted tickets to events and conferences. AASHE also offers Events and Education.  

How to access the membership?

Visit the AASHE Portal to create an account with your Mohawk email. When signing up, you can decide which newsletters you wish to receive.

Don’t want to create an account? You can sign up for any AASHE event with your Mohawk email. Be sure to indicate that your institution is a member to access the member pricing. 

Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC)

The Canada Green Building Council supports the building sector’s transition to green buildings. Membership extends to all employees, including access to CAGBC events, education, and research.  You can even help shape the industry by participating in committees and working groups.

How to access the membership?
Log in or create a new account and be sure to list Mohawk College as your employer.

Community Resources and Programs

The Bay Area Climate Change Council’s resources page provides information on climate solutions—such as improving home energy efficiency and resilience, understanding heat pumps and electric vehicles, and accessing local programs like free tree giveaways.