As of September first, Mills Basics is a certified CarbonNeutral company,
please click here to learn more on our commitment to the environment.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our Commitment
Corporate and Environmental Social Responsibility (CESR) is our commitment to operating in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner while recognizing the interests of our communities, customers, and employees.
Our CESR program involves four main areas: Employees, Community, Environment and Customers. Check out some of the great things we have done below to support our CESR mission.
2007
Mills Basics Annual Silent Auction a Success
On October 25th, Mills Basics hosted a silent auction at our annual catalogue launch and tradeshow raising over $1500 dollars in support of Breast Cancer Research and the downtown eastside charity H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society. Thank you to all of our vendors, customers, and staff who made the auction a success.
Mills Becomes the First Stationer in Vancouver to be FSC Certified!
Mills Basics Office Supplies and Printing has received FSC chain-of-custody certification as meeting international standards for forest management. Companies with FSC certification have demonstrated their commitment to the highest environmental excellence and their willingness to stay above the curve as markets shift toward sustainable products. For more information click here >>
Mills Revives Training Program in the Downtown Eastside
Previously Cook Studio, H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society is a new and innovative program to help residents of the Downtown Eastside gain job skills and employment. Each Curriculum runs for 8 weeks to teach students culinary skills, and upon graduation are placed into restaurant kitchens of the members of the BC Restaurant and Food Association. Mills Basics is a founding partner in this initiative donating significant time, money, and other resources to the initiative. Click here for more information >>
Staff Shave Their Heads for Cancer!
In support of a long time employee Mills Basics hosted a BBQ fundraiser, where 15 staff members shaved their heads to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. Thank you to everyone for their support in raising over $11,400! For more information and before and after pictures click here.
Don't Forget to Wear Jeans!
For the second year Mills staff proudly wore buttons and pins with their jeans to support the BC Children's Hospital Jeans Day fundraiser. We would like to thank all staff and customers who made this event a success.
Mills a Gold Sponsor for Dress for Success
For the second year in a row, Mills is proud to support the IMPACT annual fundraising event to raise awareness and money for Dress for Success Vancouver. Mingle, have a drink, and engage in the live and silent auction. Award-winning journalists Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic of WTV's "the Shopping Bags" are the MC's. The event will be held on April 24th, For more information and to buy tickets go to http://www.impactevent.ca
2006
Catalogue Launch Silent Auction Raises over $3000 for Charity
On October 26th, Mills Basics hosted its annual Catalogue Launch and Tradeshow at the PNE. As part of this event, Mills held a Silent Auction to benefit the following charities: Vancouver Food Bank, Breast Cancer Foundation, Dress for Success, and Literacy BC. We would like to thank all participating customers, vendors, and staff for making the auction a success.
Breast Cancer Awareness at Mills Basics
As part of the October Breast Cancer awareness month campaign Mills generated a company-wide effort to support this great cause. A very successful 3M "pink" product promotion, a silent auction, and company bake sales raised thousands of dollars in the support of Breast Cancer research.
Mills Supports the Search for a Cure
Mills Basics is proud to be a sponsor for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Rockin' for Research fundraising event. Last year, $770,000 was raised for this great cause. This year's event will be held on November 11th, 2006. For more information please go to http://www.jdrf.ca/rockin .
Annual Barbeque for Charity a Success
On July 30th, we invited our neighbours and hosted a barbeque and midway in our very own parking lot! Burgers and hotdogs were served while employees and guests played several games including a dart toss, ring toss, and hula hoop tournament. $800 was raised for The Vivian, a transitional house for women located in the Downtown Eastside. Click here to see a slideshow of the event
Mills holds Silent Auction for Charity
For a full week Mills employees bid on several items in a silent auction to raise over $300 for charity.
The Vivian, a transitional house for women in the Downtown Eastside, was selected to benefit. For more
information about The Vivian please visit their website at: www.triage.bc.ca.
North Vancouver chooses Mills Basics
In the June edition of Purchasing B2B Magazine Mills Basics is highlighted for our commitment to the
community - the reason why the City of North Vancouver selected Mills Basics as their office supplier.
Please click here to read the article.
CESR Challenge - Net Impact
In March 2006, Vancouver will have "30 Days of Sustainability"-a month filled with sustainability-related events
hosted by a plethora of groups. Mills has been selected to be a part an affiliate event to the "30 days of
Sustainability": SFU's Net Impact CESR Challenge. Teams from three educational institutions worked with Mills
to tackle a very important CSR issue that Mills faces today: Green procurement and marketing. Click here to view the Shaw documentary movie clip Click here to download a copy of the article in the Vancouver Courier.
Mills Supports Jeans Day
Buttons and pins were sold to support the BC Children's Hospital Jeans Day fundraiser. Mills Basics also held a
company-wide bingo tournament to help raise more funds. A great time was had by all. Thank you to all the
employees and customers who supported this cause.
Mills Begins New Partnership with Ecotrust Canada
As part of our commitment to the environment Mills is donating $1 to every toner cartridge returned for recycling to Ecotrust Canada. Mills is also donating 1% of the sales of its new line of 100% recycled pens.
Ecotrust's mission is to create a conservation economy on the BC Coast. Please go to Ecotrust's website for more information. Click here to read the press release.
Dress for Success' Impact: An Event for Change
Dress for success is an organization dedicated to helping low-income women obtain self-sufficiency through
career development and employee retention. Mills Basics is proud to sponsor one of their premier fundraising
events: IMPACT - An event for Change. Held on April 25th 2006, the event is conducted in a silent auction
format, where guests can bid on more than 100 coveted items include ng art, fashion, spa items and more!
For more information on Dress
For Success please visit www.dressforsuccess.org.
CVC Racing Club: Cycling towards better health and a better environment
The CVC Racing Club is a Vancouver based not-for-profit organization supporting cyclists to pursue excellence
in cycling, fitness, and over-all well being. Mills Basics joins a growing number of health and community
minded businesses that sponsor CVC's initiatives to promote bicycle racing, energy efficient transportation,
and healthy lifestyles within the Lower Mainland area. CVC Racing offers coaching to entry level cyclists,
year round fitness and training resources, and support from a great group of dedicated athletes! If you are
interested in becoming part of the growing CVC team, they would love to hear from you! Please visit them at
www.cvcracing.com.
2005 2005 Canada Place Avenue of Trees
Canada Place is partnered with the Strathcona Community Centre and all proceeds go to support the Food
Security for Children program at the centre, helping to feed hungry kids in our lowest income community.
Christmas at Canada Place also supports a number of other local charities including the CKNW Orphans' Fund,
CTV Kids Care, The Vancouver Sun Raise-A-Reader, among others. Click here to see a movie clip of the Canada Place Avenue of Trees.
Mills Basics is awarded the Bid to supply the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Learn how Mills' commitment to social and environmental sustainability helped us to win the bid to supply office
suppies to the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC). Click here to see the 2010 Commerce Center Newsletter.
Ethics In Action Award - Overall Leadership
Mills Basics was awarded the Ethics in Action Award for Overall Leadership in the small/medium sized business category.
This award is designed to recognize companies who demonstrate a commitment to corporate social responsibility and are leaders
in this area. Mills joins the winners circle with many other socially responsible companies like: Mountain Equipment Co-op,
Happy Planet, and Elite Earth Friendly Cleaners. Click here to see the EIA Media Release Award Winners of 2005.
Mill Basics is a Fast Track to Employment Success Story View the Shaw TV "Caring
Communities" short feature on Mills Basics and our success with Fast Track to Employment (FTE).
Read the article from the Province detailing Mills Basics involvement in FTE and the programs happening to
benefit the downtown eastside.
Mills Basics Annual Fundraiser Auction & Barbeque raises $1,100 for the Salvation Army
Every year in the fall Mills Basics holds an internal auction on items received from our suppliers. This year
we also added a bbq to help and raise more money for charity. In total we raised over $1,100 for the Salvation
Army. Click here to see a video click from the 2005 Annual Fundraising Auction & BBQ.
Clean Print BC Mills Basics is Certified by CleanPrint BC for environmentally safe practices in the print shop.
Read the Mills Basics case study about how the print shop is working with CleanPrintBC to minimize waste
and protect the environment click here.
For more information about how Mills is working to protect the environment please click here.
Mills a Gold Sponsor for Dress for Success
Breast Cancer Awareness at Mills Basics
Mills Supports the Search for a Cure
