5 sustainability-driven organizations in Toronto to follow

​By Ivan Chen

Many sustainability organizations are based in Toronto. (Credit: sputnik72/Pixabay)

Toronto is home to numerous grassroots and community-driven sustainability organizations. From repairing damaged household items to advocating for stronger environmental policies, many groups and initiatives strive to help residents make greener choices in their daily lives. 

Here are five organizations helping to shape a more sustainable Toronto.

1. Repair Café Toronto

Launched in 2013 by Torontonians inspired by a movement that began in the Netherlands, Repair Café Toronto aims to combat throwaway culture. The group hosts events each month across the city in community centres, Toronto Public Library branches and other local venues. 

Volunteers, known as fixers, teach people how to repair broken household and personal items, such as small appliances, computers, electronics, clothes and jewellery, for free.

The goal is to extend the life of everyday items, reduce landfill waste, teach people new skills and encourage people to rethink and value their belongings. Since its first event, the group says thousands of items have been fixed and diverted from landfill. 

While volunteers always strive to do their best, successful repairs are not a guarantee. The process still fosters conversation, learning and awareness about how things are made and why repairing matters.

Repair Café Toronto is a partner of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group’s REmarket event, bringing their invaluable service right to the community.

https://repaircafetoronto.ca/ 

2. CultureLink Bike Hub

Based in North York, CultureLink Bike Hub is an initiative by CultureLink Settlement and Community Services. CultureLink Bike Hub seeks to support cyclists and promote a repair and reuse culture by offering services and workshops on bicycle repair and maintenance, like DIY hours and the Earn-a-Bike program. This teaches people practical new skills while promoting environmentally friendly transportation. 

The group also collects used bicycles, recovers usable parts and builds new bikes, which can be given away to those who need them. 

By promoting cycling as a low-cost, eco-friendly and accessible mode of transportation, CultureLink Bike Hub supports climate action while teaching Torontonians useful skills and knowledge. As another REmarket partner, it highlights how transportation and the circular economy can go hand in hand.

https://www.culturelink.ca/bike-hub/ 

3. FoodShare Toronto

Food insecurity and waste are major issues in Toronto. One organization that seeks to tackle these issues is FoodShare Toronto. FoodShare advocates for the right to food, partnering with communities and organizations to ensure that marginalized groups, in particular, have access to affordable, fresh and mostly local foods that are also relevant to their needs.

Some initiatives that FoodShare is a part of include Flemo Farm, a community farm in the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood, and Sunshine Garden, a recreational gardening program and market in collaboration with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). 

FoodShare also operates Toronto’s largest mid-scale compost program beside its urban farm at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute. Residents can drop off their food scraps to be composted. In 2019, the group diverted 56,088 lbs of food waste from landfill.

FoodShare’s mission highlights how environmental health and human well-being are deeply interconnected.

https://foodshare.net/ 

4. Toronto350
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Part of the international 350.org movement, Toronto350 is a volunteer-led group dedicated to climate action. The group works to push governments, corporations, banks and other institutions to divest from fossil fuels, accelerate the transition to renewable energy and support a more just, sustainable and equitable world for all.
         
Toronto350 also engages people through education, advocacy and rallies, underscoring the need for both grassroots action and systemic change in addressing the climate crisis. By bringing together environmental protection, social justice and civic engagement, Toronto350 aims to build a more livable, sustainable and inclusive future.

https://www.toronto350.org/ 

5. Toronto Environmental Alliance

For over three decades, the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) has served as the city’s environmental watchdog. With the goal of promoting a greener Toronto, TEA engages with residents, community groups, workers, professionals and city councillors to drive discussions and address local issues. TEA covers a wide range of issues, including climate change, waste reduction, environmental policies and sustainable transit.

TEA’s work has influenced municipal decisions. For example, in 2017, amid plans to privatize garbage collection in Scarborough, TEA released a report that highlighted concerns about waste diversion rates being lower in areas with privatized collection. The report was shared with city councillors and the mayor and was featured in mainstream media. City Council later voted to defer privatization plans to gather more information. This work reflected TEA’s focus on accountability and data-driven policy, ensuring that Toronto’s sustainability goals are backed by evidence.

TEA also leads an initiative called Reusable Toronto. Working with local organizations, businesses and community members, it strives to reduce single-use plastics and promote reusable alternatives through advocacy, policy change and community engagement.

TEA and its efforts represent the policy aspect of sustainability, illustrating that collective advocacy can drive change across Toronto.

https://www.torontoenvironment.org/ 

Summary

Each of these organizations plays an important role in the sustainability movement. Together, they demonstrate how meaningful change starts small and locally, and that everyone has a role to play in building a cleaner, fairer and more resilient Toronto.

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Edited by Jess Blackwell