My name is Charlie Gage, I am an HBA 1 student and took Management and Organizational Studies in my first two years at Western University. I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. I have a passion for marketing and hope to work at a consumer packaged goods company upon graduation. Outside of work, I love to travel, spend time in the outdoors, whether it is hiking, kayaking or fishing and am a big sports fan, cheering for the major Toronto sports teams and taking an interest in sports analytics.

What is your personal definition of sustainability? 

Sustainability means using the earth’s resources, whether on an individual basis to meet basic needs and provide entertainment, or for a company to provide a good or service to generate profits, in a way that allows future generations to extract the same benefits from the earth. The term stresses consideration of the long-term in decision making, ensuring today’s activities can be continued in a way that is non-detrimental to the future. Acting sustainably requires recognizing the interconnectedness of humanity and ecological systems and making a conscious effort to preserve the value of that relationship.

What role do you see sustainability playing in your professional career?

Sustainability is paramount to ensuring a liveable planet for future generations and will continue to grow in significance as the impacts of human activity continue to degrade the environment. As someone who hopes to work in a marketing role at a consumer packaged goods company, an organization’s sustainability efforts and policies are a large consideration for me when applying for jobs. CPGs, especially those involved in food production, can have very detrimental environmental footprints if sustainable thinking isn’t at the forefront of decision making.

In my career, I see myself using the education I would receive about sustainability to inform marketing decisions such as advertising mediums, product placement and brand messaging. I want to help the company I work for see the value in sustainability as not only a compliance necessity, rather something that can provide both financial and social benefits that help to achieve the company’s core goals. I think it is also important to be an advocate of sustainability, holding others accountable for their actions and creating a shared understanding among coworkers of how it can be integrated into daily processes.

What sustainability projects have you been engaged in?

One of my greatest sustainability contributions was my role last summer working for the Muskoka Lakes Association, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the sustainable enjoyment of the Muskoka region. A significant part of my job was co-leading the water quality testing program, examining seasonal and year over year changes in nutrient concentrations, water levels, temperature and bacteria count to better understand humans’ and climate change’s impact on the area’s bodies of water. I also was a key member in running the association’s annual seedling day that encourages members to purchase plants for their properties to enhance biodiversity and improve shoreline integrity. The event serves as a space for local environmental groups to set up educational booths to inform members as they pick up their orders.  

I was also a member of my school’s sustainability council that both educated the student body and ran fundraiser to support local non-profit groups. In addition to this, I wrote my IB Extended Essay on the negative externality of consumption in Toronto’s housing market, exploring ways in which Toronto could limit the large negative impacts housing has on the environment through government intervention.

Please list any sustainability-related interests you want to explore during the certificate. 

• Integrating/applying sustainability to jobs (if not in an official sustainability focused position)
• Sustainability as a means of enhancing profitability/limiting costs
• Balancing environmental sustainability with financial feasibility
• Role of government in a sustainable future
• Limiting greenwashing and enhancing transparency around sustainability
• Achieving buy-in compared to compliance from companies