Due to the positive response Glass Works had to our fall interview, we are pleased to share with our readers another interview with the President of Mother Nature, Inc.
GW: Thank you for allowing us to interrupt your busy schedule.
MN: My pleasure. Time is not the only precious factor in business, yet most North American companies act as if it the only truly non-renewable resource. It would behoove them to treat all resources with as much respect. It would make them far more efficient and competitive if they did.
GW: Does your reference to resources mean natural resources?
MN: Certainly natural resources are a part of any business. However a truly competitive enterprise is one which considers all resources as part of its business case. In a sustainable business scenario resources include six key yet distinctive categories.
GW: Six? Aren't most businesses built on the three legged stool concept - money, management, and technology.
MN: No, but that's why so many fold - they fail to recognize all six resource categories. Each resource has an important role in sustaining a business.
GW: What are the six resources?
MN: The six categories are:
Natural, Human, Knowledge, Energy, Financial, and Time. Without understanding the role and relationship of each one a business is at risk.
Managing all six resources is needed to achieve balance, hence my firm will only look at biological business cases.
GW: Bio-business cases? It sounds like plans for a hydroponic operation.
MN: It may sound a little strange but I would certainly like to see the business that could operate without water, land or air. Imagine how long you could last without oxygen, just try to operate in a vacuum. Go ahead, take a deep breath, I'll give you one for the road.
GW: No, it's okay, I get your point Mother Nature. Really!
MN: Anything else, I can help you with?
GW: Can you show Glass Works the connection between these resources so readers can better understand the relationships within a bio-business case?
MN: Certainly, it is in everyone's best interest to have all as resource full as possible. My assistant Father Thyme will show you a copy of my Resource Checkpoints on your way out. (See Diagram below - GW)
GW: Thanks for your insight, Mother Nature, and the air time.
MN: No problemo.
It's that time again to sharpen your pencils, and count your blessings, uhmm, make that packaging.
Between mid March and mid April Statistics Canada will be collecting data from 7500 establishments to determine production, use, consumption, reuse and recycling of packaging in Canada. The results of the survey will be used to measure the success of Canadians in meeting the 1996 milestone of 35% diversion from disposal compared to 1988.
| PROVINCE | % PART | REGIONAL HOST |
| PEI | 2% | Holland College Eptec National Exhibition Centre |
| Nova Scotia | 2% | Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History |
| New Brunswick | 2% | Science East Association Inc. Aitken Bicentennial Exhibition Centre New Brunswick Museum Moncton Museum MacNaughton Science & Technology Centre |
| Newfoundland | 2% | Newfoundland Museum |
| Quebec | 17% | EcoMuseum Montreal Biosphere |
| Ontario | 53% | Science North CN Tower-EcoDek Ontario Science Centre Royal Botanical Gardens |
| Manitoba | 8% | Manitoba Museum of Man & Nature Fort Whyte Centre |
| Saskatchewan | 5% | Saskatchewan Science Centre |
| Alberta | 10% | Edmonton Space & Science Centre Kerry Wood Nature Centre |
| Yukon | none | Raven Recycling |
| NWT | 1% | |
| 100% | 21 REGIONAL HOSTS |
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