GUELPH, ON and OTTAWA, Nov. 8, 2011 /CNW/ - Canadians across the country are making efforts to be more environmentally friendly in their day-to-day lives. Now they have access to a new information resource in Sustainability at Home: Decision making help for your everyday choices, a toolkit released today by The Co-operators in partnership with The Natural Step Canada.

Sustainability at Home helps Canadians identify opportunities to "green" their homes in a way that works within the capacity of nature to sustain us over the long term. It presents practical tips and ideas on a room-by-room basis. The toolkit is designed as a guide for every kind of household, large and small, and includes sustainability advice on everything from grocery shopping to landscaping to disposing of medication.

"By using the new Sustainability at Home toolkit, Canadian homeowners and tenants can make strategic decisions to advance sustainability in their homes, save money, and create a healthier living space for their families," said Kelly Hawke Baxter, Executive Director of The Natural Step Canada. "We applaud The Co-operators for once again demonstrating their leadership and commitment to helping Canadians lead more sustainable lives."

Sustainability at Home encourages readers to consider their homes as a system of interconnected parts. These include the physical structure of the home; its inputs such as energy and water; outputs such as waste and heat; and activity inside the home including such things as heating, cooking, and eating. By making more sustainable choices, Canadians can help reduce the effects of climate change, protect Canada's natural resources, create healthy and resilient communities, and save money.

"We're committed to our vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable society, and this toolkit is one of the ways we're helping Canadians make a difference," said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. "It's a very comprehensive document that brings together a wealth of information and provides a framework for evaluating and improving the impact of your family's lifestyle on the well-being of our communities and the natural environment."

Available in French and in English, the toolkit is a free resource available for download at http://www.cooperators.ca/en/About-Us/about-sustainability/helping-our-client.aspx or www.thenaturalstep.org/canada/toolkits.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $41 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is ranked #1 among the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights, and listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

About The Natural Step Canada:
The Natural Step Canada is a dynamic non-profit organization with over a decade of experience helping organizations and individuals understand and make meaningful progress toward sustainability. Through award-winning learning programs and a unique suite of advisory, coaching, training, and process facilitation services, The Natural Step Canada translates the fundamentals of sustainability into practical steps businesses and communities can take to achieve lasting change. Learn more at www.thenaturalstep.org/canada.