Mountain Equipment Co-Op Wants to Keep Canada Wild

Canadian summers are marked by time spent outdoors. We are lucky to have a mostly uninhabited country with plentiful waters, mountains, forests and a national parks system that includes over 40 designated areas. Approximately 10% of Canada's "wild" is currently protected to ensure Canada's wildlife and native flora thrives with little to no human interference. For a company such as Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), helping preserve Canada's "wild" is part and parcel of doing business. It makes business sense and is rooted in its mission.

MEC is a retail co-operative that sells outdoor gear, including clothing and accessories. It also provides services such as courses and equipment rentals. While sales and service are offered exclusively to members, a lifetime membership is only $5 Canadian.

In line with its business, MEC's sustainability goal is to "promote a culture of recreation and activity in Canada; and increase conservation of ecologically and recreationally important places." [1] To fulfil its goals, MEC seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle for Canadians by helping conserve the outdoors and encourage more people to enjoy it.The Big Wild is a business- and NGO-led initiative that encourages activism to help achieve the goal of protecting Canada's public land and water forever.

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Meirav Even-Har is a Justmeans staff blogger. She reports on Canadian CSR issues. Meirav is an independent sustainability consultant and writer working in Toronto, Canada.