(TORONTO) APRIL 8, 2020 – Students at Wilfrid Laurier University – Waterloo have created package-free single-use bathroom products for hotels and consumers.
The Enactus student team at the University of Ottawa enables local, community-led plastic recycling by manufacturing systems that allow people to shred and transform plastic waste into new and innovative products.
Thanks to these initiatives, Enactus Wilfrid Laurier University – Waterloo and Enactus University of Ottawa have been named 2020 Scotiabank Climate Change Challenge Regional Champions. The teams were picked by Canada’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and program supporter Scotiabank.
“The innovation our students showcase through their environmental initiatives is incredibly inspiring,” said Nicole Almond, President of Enactus Canada. “They’re proof that when organizations and communities collaborate, we have the power to drive sustainable change.”
Through their project, EarthSuds, Enactus Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo has impacted over 3,400 people whilst saving over 12,000 litres of water.
UOttawa’s project Poly has impacted over 600 people and has diverted 3500 pounds of waste.
“Congratulations to the Regional Champions of the Scotiabank Climate Change Challenge,” said Haijin Lee, Mississauga District Vice President at Scotiabank. “Through their work, these students have demonstrated the impact that young people can make on moving towards a low-carbon economy, and tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time – climate change. Scotiabank is proud to support this program and to play a part in helping young people reach their infinite potential.”
The Scotiabank Climate Change Challenge empowers post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach viable solutions to relevant environmental issues. For instance, since 2009, 10,426 Enactus students have helped conserve 77,364,179 litres of water, divert 542,154,784 pounds of waste, and introduce 10,258 organizations to green business practices.
Student teams from Central Canada presented the impact of their climate change projects virtually to panels of business executives as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Competition.
Enactus Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo and Enactus University of Ottawa will now move on to the national level of competition taking place in May 2020.
ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, a national charity and the country’s largest post-secondary experiential learning platform, is shaping entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 3,400 post-secondary students led 267 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, directly impacting over 50,000 lives.
As a global network of 37 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
ABOUT SCOTIABANK: Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: “for every future”, we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 100,000 employees and assets of approximately $1.2 trillion (as at January 31, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.
Media Inquiries:
Jennifer Falzon
Vice President, Programs & Marketing
Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca | 416.304.1566 x222 | 416.315.2099
Kate Simandl
Scotiabank
kate.simandl@scotiabank.com
416.866.6806