![sustainability champion](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-10/234-3-3683.jpg?h=e4f440a4&itok=PCF3DuFT)
Sustainability Champions
Our Sustainability Champions program recognizes outstanding commitment to environmentally friendly practices by individuals, organizations, and businesses in Saskatoon.
These dedicated green-thinkers help protect the natural beauty of this land while reducing waste and inspiring future generations to embrace thoughtful stewardship of the earth.
![Ferris wheel with a hot air balloon floating in the sky](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-11/Nutrien%20Children.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=dOKZyVgX)
Nutrien Children's Festival of Saskatchewan
The Children's Festival of Saskatchewan has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to sustainability initiatives. Since 2016, their annual festival has adopted the following practices to reduce their environmental impact:
- Bike Valet service to encourage emissions-free transport
- Recycling containers throughout the site to reduce waste
- Recycling caravan featuring family-friendly games and activities to promote recycling
- Reducing single-use plastic water bottles in favour of refillable/reusable bottles
- Reduction in disposable plastic flagging tape
- Biodegradable/compostable PLA cutlery
![three individuals with medals around their necks in running clothing](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-11/Saskatchewan%20MarathonSK.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=MMils9iC)
Saskatchewan Marathon
The Saskatchewan Marathon has adopted a host of sustainable practices to reduce waste at their event, including:
- Recycling cups from all 13 on-course water stations
- Providing participants with Virtual Event Bags to reduce material consumption and waste
- Water refilling stations at the finish line to reduce demand for single-use plastic bottles
- Online-only race booklet
- Bike Valet service to encourage emissions-free transport
- Environmentally conscious reassessment of signage needs, with stickers used to modify older signage rather than reprinting new signs
- No-Styrofoam policy on site (since 2017)
![Actors on stage performing a play](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-11/shakespeare1.jpg?h=72e0457b&itok=siio-fOr)
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan has put sustainability top-of-mind in festival operations, with a host of environmentally conscious practices including:
- Greater focus on digital communications over printed materials
- Digitized internal communications
- Digitized till system to replace paper receipts
- Greater efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling wherever possible
- Reusing old materials, including construction materials and event signage
- Meetings related to the festival are held in-office in order to eliminate travel requirements; emphasis on walkable meeting locations and carpooling when necessary
- Reuse of water on site to water flower beds, grass, trees, etc.
- Policy of doing as little as possible to disturb the natural beauty of the festival grounds in consultation with the Meewasin Valley Authority
![Individuals dancing on stage in colourful clothing](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-11/folkfest%201.jpg?h=c222274f&itok=UvSSLz0M)
Folkfest
Folkfest works with community partners such as SGI and the City of Saskatoon to encourage the following green practices:
- Emphasis on public transit/city busses as transportation method of choice for 35,000+ festival goers
- Recycling bins located throughout the festival grounds