Eco-Age friendly practices promote kindness to our Earth and all the people within it. 

The following checklists provide businesses the opportunity to identify the environmentally friendly and age friendly practices they currently provide, and encourage improvement in their progress.​

Eco Friendly Business Check: 
Eco-friendly best practices can be characterized within 3 main categories: the Space, Products and Culture. 

SPACE: 
Consider how the business’ physical space follows eco-friendly suggestions:
  • Composts organics such as food and yard discards.
  • Purchases post-consumer recycled materials. 
  • Works towards sustainable practices as it relates to reduce, reuse, recycle.
  • Collects hazardous waste (batteries, electronics, or fluorescent light bulbs) and creates a procedure for proper disposal.
  • Makes two-sided printing or copying the default practice.
  • Improves sign efficiency by using efficient signs (e.g. LED).
  • Reduces or eliminate the use of toxic cleaning products.
  • Uses rechargeable batteries.
  • Space is energy efficient.
  • Uses plants to filter air. 
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PRODUCTS: 
Consider how their products follow eco-friendly guidelines:
  • Made with recycled content.
  • Use of safer alternatives to potentially harmful products.
  • Eliminate use of disposable wares by using only permanent wares; refillable containers.
  • Use tap water instead of bottled water.
  • Reduce use of plastic bags.
  • Use of minimal or natural packaging.
  • Products are handmade, fair trade or certified eco-friendly.
  • Can be purchased as locally as possible, saving the large energy consumption of transporting.

Culture: 
Consider how the organization values and promotes sustainability:
  • Donates, sells, or exchanges unwanted but useable items instead of throwing them away.
  • Employees are both informed and engaged with sustainable philosophies.
  • Business encourages transparency: open about what is and isn’t working.
  • Conscious approach to capitalism - “way of thinking about capitalism and business that better reflects where we are in the human journey, the state of our world today, and the innate potential of business to make a positive impact on the world.”
  • Inviting of ideas and suggestions; organization of a ‘Green team’ within your employees.
  • Encouraging clients to follow eco-friendly practices! 
Age Friendly Business Check:
Age-friendly best practices can be characterized within 4 main categories: Comfort, Safety & Accessibility, Respect and Clarity. 

COMFORT:
Consider places to rest and refresh, such as:  
  • A comfortable area to sit while waiting. 
  • An easily accessible customer washroom.

SAFETY & ACCESSIBILITY: 
Consider how people with mobility limitations access the place of business. They will find it easier if there is:  
  • Fewer stairs, sturdy railings and non-slip surfaces, ramps to accommodate strollers, walkers and wheelchairs.
  • Wider aisles and uncluttered pathways.
  • Easy to open or automatic doors that provide more accessibility.
  • Clean and welcoming storefront.

RESPECT: 
Consider how the business shows that it promotes respect. Members of staff should: 
  • Have sensitivity training: how to treat clients with respect, use of respectful language when addressing a client.
  • Have options for serving customers in a more comfortable way.  
  • Be patient and ensure customers don’t feel ‘hurried along’.
  • Be friendly and authentic, knowledgeable, and offer thorough customer service.

CLARITY: 
Consider how people are able to see and hear what the business says:  
  • Lighting should be adequate and glare-free.
  • Signage has good contrast and wording is easy to follow, understand and read.
  • The service desk is clearly visible and free of debris so people can ask for help.
  • There is no or low volume background music and machine noise.
  • Ensure staff speak clearly and kindly.
What items in the checklist might you consider implementing? 

We are all together in our journey to becoming a more Eco-Age friendly community.