Responsible sourcing practices used at the Toronto Zoo include the consideration of the “cradle-to-grave” impact of all products or services. Giving preference to products or services that are deemed to be environmentally superior helps to achieve many of our green priorities. In the next four years, the Toronto Zoo will be working on a Preferred Green Vendor’s List to make it easier for staff to make the more sustainable choice.

The Toronto Zoo is proud to source:

• Sustainable palm oil verified products 
• Ocean Wise Approved seafood and freshwater products 
• Bird-friendly coffee 

Working to reduce, re-use and recycle in as many ways as we can, the Toronto Zoo is striving to be a leader in achieving the goals of the Province of Ontario’s Zero Waste Strategy. We are continuously looking for opportunities to divert items from landfill and have incorporated the following into our waste management strategy.

• TerraCycle Waste Stream program for Zoo staff and volunteers;
• 18 waste diversion programs for Zoo materials;
• 14 water bottle filling stations to reduce the number of single use plastic bottle used;
• divert 3,000 tonnes of organic material to the ZooShare Biodigester for the production of 500kWh of clean renewable energy for the Ontario hydro grid;
• divert waste items to the Durham York Energy Centre which produces energy from waste for the Ontario hydro grid;
• increase awareness about the environment impacts of manufacturing and consumable products on wildlife and biodiversity with our PhoneApes cell phone recycling program; and
• composting organics on site which is used in our indoor and outdoor garden beds.
• OSCAR Waste Management System, an interactive educational monitor for the public.
• Using fill sensor and interactive waste management technology to better understand how and what type of waste is generated at the zoo, and how to better service waste receptacle to improve the guest experience. This pilot project is a step forward in gathering global social reporting metrics (GSR) on waste, optimizing staff resources, improving job responsibilities, and analyzing opportunities to reduce waste.

The Toronto Zoo occupies 520 acres of valley, river, forest, field and meadow ecosystems at the edge of the Rouge National Urban Park within the Rouge River Watershed. We provide beautifully wild and ecologically sustainable spaces for staff, guests, our animal ambassadors and the diverse wildlife of the Rouge River Watershed.

Progressive development of the Zoo property to support wildlife conservation programs and work of the Toronto Zoo involves commitment to management and rehabilitation of the site and of critical habitats for local species at risk as well as help to mitigate climate change as with our Zookeeper initiative Acres for the Atmosphere.

The Wildlife Health Centre at the Toronto Zoo is a prime example of constructing green. Built to Tier 2 of the City of Toronto Green Standards, the Wildlife Health Centre contains 13 green infrastructure initiatives:

• leading-edge sustainable construction techniques, materials and technology;
• 5,113 ft² of green roof; 
• cooling roofing features to reduce urban heat island effect; 
• insulated foundation walls 
• low flow fixtures 
• LED lighting; 
• heat recovery system 
• bird friendly glazing on all transparent windows; 
• removal of suspended solids in storm water; and 
• low impact development with permeable pavers and water efficient planting; 
• all constructed using the footprint of the old facility where possible. 
• invasive species management plan to control and remove invasive plant species and remediate lands colonized by invasive species. 

In the past we have utilized features of the Zoo to increase awareness about the value of renewable energy technologies; however we are currently taking a step back from the solar panel and geothermal educational displays to invest in the renewal of the Zoo’s facilities. Upgrading existing energy services with more efficient systems is the Zoo’s current energy reduction priorities. Although not glamorous, it is a valuable step to reducing our overall carbon footprint. For the convenience of guests and staff, the Zoo is researching renewable energy production on site, electric vehicle charging stations and engagement opportunities to reduce our resource consumption for the future.

Energy Efficiency projects we are proud of, include:

• A total of 13,663 ft² of green roof;
• 50 solar thermal panels transferring energy from the sun to the hot water supply for the Administrative Support Complex;
• A geothermal base in the outdoor exhibit of the Ring-tailed Lemur Summer Home and Peafowl Winter Residence.
• Cooling the Caribou Café with ICE Bears;
• 46% of our transit fleet are electric or low-carbon emitting vehicles;
• Cooling Tower on the Zootique Gift Shop & Education Building;
• Variable Frequency Drives to the motors and pumps in the Indomalayan Pavilion has reduced energy consumption for the building by 50%.
• Replacement of the heating and distribution system in the Americas Pavilion with air-sourced heat pumps which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 162 tonnes of eCO2 annually.

We are proud of the efforts of Zoo staff and volunteers in helping us to surpass our 2027 water reduction target of a 40% reduction below 1990 levels since 2011. The changes made by our staff and volunteers in how they do their jobs accounts for approximately 85% of this reduction. Re-evaluating our objectives and targets, the Zoo can and will see more water consumption reductions. Investment in facility upgrades as well as investment in grey water opportunities such as the recently installed rain harvesting system for the Horticulture branch are key priorities in the near future.

Supporting our commitment to prevent pollution, we restrict the use of pesticides on site, opting for the use of ecological control methods for landscaping and bio-controls to help keep pests under control in the pavilions and greenhouses and remove invasive plant species from the site. To better manage our chemicals, we maintain an electronic database linked to a Globally Harmonized System for chemical management. We source, where possible, Ecologo certified or Plant-based products and are continuously evaluating new alternatives.

Educating the public and our staff about the environmental consequences of our actions is a key component of the Toronto Zoo conservation mission of connecting people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction.

The Toronto Zoo walks the talk on protecting wildlife and wild spaces. Increasing our communications on the actions we have taken to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment leads the broader community with practical examples of just how it can be done and supports our conservation message that everyone has a valuable role in the fight against climate change.

• Guest can take the Plastics Pathway journey at the Zoo and discovery what we can collectively do to address plastic pollution;
• See what can be done at your house, while playing with your children at our Sustainable Playhouse

Being green is part of everyone’s job here at the Toronto Zoo. We value the actions and suggestions from our staff and volunteers towards making our Zoo the Greenest Zoo in Canada. We challenge all personnel to make innovative strides by using tools and programs such as Partners in Project Green’s People Power Challenge and Plastic Free July Campaign. Our team has proven themselves time again with top awards each year we participated in the People Power Challenge which raised funds to help pay for a Rain Harvest system. We encourage our staff to find low-carbon emitting forms of transportation, including our carpool program, to reduce, reuse and recycle as well as create innovative workshops to engage our visitors in becoming more green.

The Plastics Pathway at the Toronto Zoo takes visitors on a journey along the value chain of plastic from production to end-of-life, highlighting how plastic can be a beneficial resource when treated responsibly each step of the way. It provides an opportunity to showcase important efforts underway to address plastic in the environment and to educate about the need to transition to a more circular approach to their use. The Plastics Pathway App guides visitors through the physical pathway but also engages them at home with games, activities and community action.