Sustainability Profile: Open Your Eyes Media

1. What is your company's brand promise, vision or statement of values, and how does it relate to sustainability?
Open Your Eyes Media is a video production company that incorporates social and sustainable values. OYEM films special events, corporate videos, social documentaries and much more. Before we earned our first dollar, we decided to use environmentally friendly practices, help social and/or non-profit organizations, and dedicate one per cent of our profits to help the community.
2. How are your products or services environmentally and socially sustainable?
Our videos open people's eyes to events in their lives and in the world that require attention. They can be used by companies and other organizations to promote their sustainable business and environmental practices, giving consumers an ethical choice. We try to use more efficient, green, and sustainable energy sources in every step of video production.
3. How does your company give preference to suppliers who create positive social and environmental benefits either through their products and services or through their community partnerships?
• We buy and rent from local suppliers.
• We recycle and e-cycle with reputable companies to make sure items are properly reused, or disposed of.
• Unfortunately, much of our equipment is produced overseas. We try to make up for that through our own initiatives.
4. How does your business minimize the environmental impact of its operations?
• We purchase 100 per cent wind power for our computers, battery chargers, and office equipment.
• We work from a home office, which eliminates the need for daily commuting. When we need to travel for a project our transportation consists of using Calgary Transit for most freelance work (in the downtown core) and ethanol blended gasoline for travel outside of downtown.
• We reduce our waste by e-mailing videos to clients for approval instead of using DVDs, we reuse everything we can and rent rather than buy some equipment, and use only 100 per cent recycled paper.
• We recycle everything possible including paper, electronics, batteries etc.
• We turn off all equipment, and unplug battery and phone chargers when not in use.
• Bathrooms have low flow toilets, and our home is set up with a compost for food waste. We also have a programmable thermostat and heat our house through sunlight as much as possible. Our air conditioning consists of fans and screen doors.
• We use non-toxic cleaners in our home and home office, including Kogi Home cleaner, Seventh Generation soap, and Claudia's Choice laundry powder. We're still experimenting to see what works best.
5. How does your business demonstrate ethical business conduct?
We are a small, home-based business that does not yet have the need for third party procedures and governance structures.
6. What strategic community partnerships does your company have in place?
• Business Member in REAP Business Association
• Pro bono work for Alberta Ballet
• Pro bono work for Kidsport
7. What policy or guidelines exist to support charitable contributions?
We give a minimum one per cent of profits to charitable or non-profit organizations.
8. How many people do you employ locally?
2
9. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee health and safety?
Not yet applicable.
10. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee development and job satisfaction?
Not yet applicable.
11. How does your business support employees to lead balanced lives and be active participants in their communities?
We are encouraged to follow our passions. Work and life are treated as a partnership. Both are needed to support each other. One cannot excel at the expense of the other. We are also encouraged to come up with one community initiative every six months (i.e.: a community garden, charity fundraisers, etc.).