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Partners and Sponsors
The BuySmart Network works with many organizations, both as partners and sponsors, to carry out its mission. In this section you'll find a brief profile of each organization.

Founding Partner


Vancity is Canada's largest credit union. Based in Vancouver, BC, it has $14.5 billion in assets, more than 410,000 members, and 60 branches throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, and Squamish. Vancity and its subsidiary companies are guided by a commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), and to improving the quality of life in the communities where they live and work. Vancity is a carbon neutral company, and has won awards for its CSR reports. Read more about how they live their values.

Gold Sponsor


Mills Basics is one of the last locally owned and operated office supply teams in BC. As a member of Basics Office Products Ltd. buying group, Mills offers competitive prices and a wide array of products to its customers, including over 400 environmentally-preferred products. They supply the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, are Forest Stewardardship Council Certified, and have just announced they are a carbon neutral company. Read more about Mills Basics' commitment to operating in an economically and environmentally responsible manner.

Silver Sponsors


As the third largest electric utility in Canada, BC Hydro endeavors to provide energy solutions to its customers in an environmentally and socially responsible way by balancing British Columbian's energy needs with the concerns of the environment. Their Power Smart program enlists business and residential customers to reduce their energy usage, to help meet BC Hydro's goal of energy self-sufficiency by 2016. Discover the tools, resources, and Power Smart success stories.


MEC is the largest retail co-operative in Canada, supplying outdoor equipment to over 3 million members worldwide. Their passion for the outdoors is the foundation for their commitment to sustainability. They were the first Canadian retailer to disclose the factories that make their gear and clothing. They've partnered with bluesign©, the independent industry textile standard, which audits textile mills. They have been "greening" their buildings for over a decade. And they've established an Ethical Sourcing Program to help improve the human condition in factories. Learn more about sustainability at MEC.


With assets exceeding $7 billion, The Co-operators is the largest Canadian-owned, multi-product insurer in Canada, providing a wide range of wealth management products, investments, and real estate management services. Sustainability has always been an integral part of their success; their sustainability strategy, based on The Natural Step, focuses on climate change, zero waste, reduced paper consumption, procurement, product development, and stakeholder engagement. Learn more about sustainability at the Co-operators.

Premium Supporters


Hemlock Printers, based in Burnaby, BC,  is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest. The company has taken a leadership position when it comes to promoting environmental awareness, and have been recognized as the Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for the past four consecutive years. Hemlock recently announced that it is the first Canadian printing company to achieve carbon neutrality, and won the Heidelberg Eco Printing Award 2008. Find out how Hemlock lives its sustainability mandate.


Wastech is a Western Canadian leader in waste and recycling management. The company has implemented an Environmental Management System that is ISO 14001:2004 certified. They were also awarded the Solid Waste Association of North America's Bronze Excellence Solid Waste Management Award in Transfer Station for their Surrey Transfer Station (STS) along with the Greater Vancouver Regional District (now MetroVancouver), in 2005. The award recognizes outstanding solid waste programs and facilities that promote socially, environmentally, and economically sound management of solid waste. Learn more about Wastech.


Global Network


Acquisti & Sostenibilità is a not-for-profit Italian Association, established in 2007, including a broad network of partners in Italy and around the world working to create economic, social and environmental value in purchasing and supply chain sustainability initiatives. They provide studies, data, training, and tools; create and implement projects; and support the efforts of partners committed to sustainable purchasing and supply chains.

Support Our Mission

If you'd like to add your organization to this list, read our Corporate Partner Program information or contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .