Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands – Zero Waste Policy

The Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands in The Hague recognizes the importance of reducing its environmental footprint and playing a leadership role in its community, in alignment with Canadian and Dutch commitments for sustainability. These include, in particular, Canada's Greening Government Strategy and the Netherland's National Programme on Circular Economy 2023 to 2030. In 2023, the Embassy launched its pursuit of the TRUE Zero Waste certification alongside the Sustainable Buildings Program team at Global Affairs Canada headquarters. The Embassy is proud to be the first Government of Canada facility, as well as the first embassy of any foreign affairs ministry, to pursue TRUE certification.

This Zero Waste Policy outlines how the Embassy intends to achieve and maintain zero waste operations.

The policy will be reviewed annually and updated at least every 3 years.

On this page

• Scope
• Objectives and achievements
• Context
• Zero Waste Champion and Coordinator
• Key partners

Scope

This policy applies to the Embassy's chancery; however, it is noted that opportunities will exist to reduce waste across the Embassy's real property portfolio which includes the official residence and staff quarters.

The scope encompasses all solid, non-hazardous discards (referred to as “materials” herein) generated within chancery operations. This includes materials generated during regular operations, as well as those generated during episodic activities (construction and demolition, special events, etc.). Hazardous materials are defined by the local jurisdiction. Liquid waste and wastewater are not included.

The policy is co-led by the Embassy and the Sustainable Buildings Program team.

Objectives and achievements

1. The Embassy will achieve its initial TRUE Zero Waste certification in 2025. The Embassy is targeting at least Gold level certification.
2. The Embassy will take steps to improve or at least maintain its TRUE performance at each three-year recertification opportunity, with the ultimate goal of reaching Platinum level certification.
3. The Embassy will ensure that all applicable laws and regulations are followed.
4. The Embassy will support upstream waste reduction practices before relying on downstream waste diversion options. This includes evaluating existing resources before procurement to avoid making purchases as much as possible.
   1. When purchasing, the Embassy will prioritize products made of repurposed, refurbished, and recyclable materials.
5. The Embassy will maintain multi-stream waste diversion options for employees and visitors.
6. The Embassy will achieve, at minimum, a 90% waste diversion with no more than 10% contamination.
   1. The Embassy will strive to improve its diversion rate by 0.5% annually.
7. The Embassy will integrate TRUE progress and waste data collection into its regular property management reporting.
8. The Embassy will maintain an internal zero waste champion whose responsibility will be to communicate and promote zero waste initiatives.
9. The Embassy will organize and lead zero waste initiatives to inspire other embassies and community partners.
   1. The Embassy will engage other embassies, local subject matter experts, and stakeholders to achieve its zero waste goals.
10. Green procurement: The Embassy will assess suppliers based on their adherence to waste management principles and sustainability practices.
    1. The Embassy will provide clear requirements on acceptable packaging materials and environmentally responsible disposal and recycling requirements.
    2. The Embassy will audit and collaborate with its Common Services Delivery Point and its vendors to reduce the overall size/amount of product packaging.
    3. The Embassy shall strive for all contracts to include a requirement to eliminate non-recyclable packaging by January 1, 2026.
11. Ongoing monitoring: To track progress, the Embassy will conduct an annual waste audit of all waste streams.
    1. The Embassy will also work with its waste hauler to receive accurate, timely waste data to support decision-making and project planning.
    2. The Embassy will seek and respond to employee feedback on its zero waste initiatives.
12. Guidelines and training: The Embassy will provide regular zero waste training to all staff and integrate Zero Waste as part of the onboarding process of new employees.
13. Transparency: The Embassy will provide regular updates and zero waste reporting on zero waste progress.
14. Construction, renovation, and demolition: The Sustainable Buildings Program team will ensure that all major and minor capital projects led by HQ at the Embassy embed zero waste requirements to support maintenance of the TRUE certification.

Context

This policy operates in the context of:

• UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Greening Government Strategy
• Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
• Policy on Green Procurement
• Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
• National Programme on Circular Economy 2023-2030 (Netherlands)
• National Waste Management Plan (Netherlands)
• The Hague Climate Agreement (City of The Hague)

Zero Waste Champion and Coordinator

The Embassy will identify a member of the Committee of Mission Management (CMM) to act as Zero Waste Champion. This individual will act as a key advocate for sustainability, working to embed zero-waste practices into the fabric of our daily operations and culture. The Champion will also be responsible for reporting on zero waste progress and initiatives during management meetings.

The Embassy will identify a Zero Waste Coordinator to oversee the implementation of the policy, ensuring comprehensive awareness among Embassy staff and driving initiatives for waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. This individual will be allocated time in the work week to dedicate to zero waste initiatives.

Key partners

The active involvement of employees, suppliers, existing or new contracts, other embassies, and community organizations is crucial for the policy's success. Engaging all relevant stakeholders ensures a collaborative approach to achieving zero waste goals. Key partners include:

• The Embassy management team, who provide the support and leadership needed to ensure that resources will be allocated to maintaining zero waste practices.
• The Embassy team, especially those with purchasing capacity, who will implement zero waste practices in their own activities and initiatives.
• Embassy visitors, including those from elsewhere in Global Affairs Canada, who need to adopt zero waste behaviours and practices during their time at The Embassy.
• Embassy clients, who will be asked to reduce the waste they bring into the Embassy and to sort it correctly.
• Global Affairs Canada headquarters colleagues, who will integrate zero waste principles into investment planning and capital projects, to not jeopardize certification.
• The Embassy's waste hauler, Renewi, who facilitates meeting local regulations around waste management and who will provide waste data to support certification.
• Vendors and service providers, who are engaged to provide environmentally preferred products with reduced packaging, and environmentally-conscious services.
• The International Greening Network of like-minded embassies in The Hague, who can learn from the Embassy's experience, and share their own zero waste practices and lessons learned.
• The City of The Hague, who will provide local context and guidance on municipal priorities and zero waste opportunities.
• Local organisations, who may provide local expertise and who will be asked to provide zero waste goods and services.