It’s a mentality that’s catching on. Recently, Parachute, along with a major partner, won a six-figure contract with a major Canadian electrical utility, beating out several large IT organizations, including global companies. (The deal has not yet been made public.)
“I don’t know that I can aptly describe how that felt,” says Mr. Linton of the moment they received the news that they were chosen to complete the work. “We thought it was a long shot because of the competition and the size of our company and the size of the company we were winning the bid from.”
He chalks it up to the calibre of their partner, but also his firm’s ability to be quick and flexible because they’re so small (they have a full-time staff of three, plus a roster of about half a dozen contractors they call on regularly). The company’s previous experience on a similar project didn’t hurt, either.
Since Parachute’s inception, business has picked up as more funds are allocated to environmental initiatives, Mr. Linton says.
“In the early going, our challenge was finding budgets to do as much as you wanted,” he says. “Now the challenge is just responding to all the different types of programs and making sure we’re focusing on the ones we feel are beneficial.”
There’s also the pesky problem of companies using “green washing,” where they make an environmental claim that’s nothing more than a marketing ploy. “We have dealt with these and graciously declined those opportunities,” he says.
But nonetheless, true opportunities abound.
“We’re seeing that companies want to get involved because of the shift of perceptions and the choices of the average consumer based on the environmental positions of these companies,” Mr. Linton says. “Being a market leader and maintaining that position has to include social and environmental responsibility.”
By the numbers
170,000
Number of vehicles recycled through programs that use Parachute’s software. This is equivalent to removing approximately 10,000 tonnes of smog-forming emissions.
150 million
The amount, in kilowatt-hours, that programs using Parachute’s software have reduced energy consumption. This is equivalent to powering approximately 20,000 homes a year.
230,000
The number of mercury switches that programs using Parachute’s software have recovered from cars and homes. This is equivalent to about 200,000 grams of mercury. A single gram of mercury can contaminate an eight-hectare lake.
