Fleming College

Fleming College and Earth Day Canada (EDC) have formed a new partnership to reduce the environmental impact of plastic water bottles.EDC has signed a formal agreement with Fleming College to develop a campaign incorporating Fleming H2O (F-H2O) marketing materials into a drive to reduce the use of plastic water bottles. The campaign materials will be promoted and distributed to schools across Canada in the near future.The F-H2O project, officially launched on March 19, saw the college install reverse osmosis water fountains at its Sutherland Campus in Peterborough to dissuade students and staff from using plastic water bottles, due to their negative impact on the environment.Students in the college’s Marketing program, taking an Applied Projects course, developed marketing materials and an awareness campaign to promote the new water systems at the college.The campaign brands the new water systems and fountains as “F-H2O refresh, retain, refill” with “free” being the key driver targeting students to make filling stations part of their daily routine at school. The Marketing students developed logos and taglines to create a brand identity, as well as campus advertisements to create awareness throughout the school community.“We are very excited that Earth Day Canada and Fleming College, represented by the Marketing program, are moving forward together to create and market what appears to be the first initiative to reduce plastic bottles containing drinking water in schools across Canada,” said Tony Macdonald, Coordinator of Marketing Applied Projects at the college.“The F-H2O campaign is fresh, unique and timely,” said Jed Goldberg, Earth Day Canada’s President. “This campaign has all the ingredients necessary to be hugely successful on any campus, school or workplace in the country,” Goldberg said. Students in the Marketing Applied Projects course will create the school-based program using the F-H2O campaign elements over the fall 2008 semester, in consultation with EDC. As in F-H2O’s initial campaign, the focus will be on the environmental impact of plastic bottles and the promotion of refillable stainless bottles as the primary solution.“This program has tremendous potential given the growing awareness and concerns around the issue. We cannot wait to get started working on this with Earth Day Canada,” said Mr. Macdonald.The Fleming College Marketing Applied Projects course is part of the college’s three-year Marketing program. It has been branded as the Fleming Applied Agency and works with real-world clients. For 15 weeks of classes, students are vested, card-carrying owners in the business. Students in the second or third year of the program have the opportunity to take the course.About Earth Day CanadaEarth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians, with the practical knowledge and tools they need to help the environment. It was recently recognized as the top environmental education organization in North America, for its innovative programs and educational resources, by the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), the world’s largest association of environmental educators. EDC regularly partners with 1000s of organizations in all parts of Canada. www.earthday.ca     – 30 -For more information: Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 ext. 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca