An Ontario Worker co-operative is helping the province meet climate change targets one building at a time


GUELPH, Ontario, Sept. 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Fourth Pig co-operative, one of the most innovative sustainable construction companies in Ontario, is improving the environment for our province and those living and working in their buildings.

“The simple fact is that conventional buildings are a climate change catastrophe. If we don’t change the way we make them, then we will not meet the greenhouse gas targets we need to address climate change,” says Matt Adams, one of the co-operative’s founders and director of operations and education.

Set up as a worker co-operative - a business owned and operated by its members – the Fourth Pig uses ecologically sustainable construction materials to create healthy buildings and communities to address climate change in the GTA, the Golden Horseshoe and the Muskoka region.

And the Fourth Pig is more than a green construction company. Choosing to be a co-operative means the business has made a commitment to invest in their community. They provide public education by hosting talks on green building and hands-on skill-building workshops. They also raise awareness of the importance of green buildings in our communities with our public policy makers.

“Sustainable building means a cleaner environment, more efficient energy generation and use, more effective use of building materials, and healthier living spaces,” says Adams. “The result is buildings that are good for the planet and good for your health.”

The Fourth Pig’s push for a more collective approach to construction in Ontario is reflective of their unique business model, which is inherently co-operative, sustainable and democratic. It’s a model that drives their mission and their approach to building as well.

Learn more about The Fourth Pig Worker Co-operative online at https://www.fourthpig.org/ or by contacting them at 416-778-5223, or at info@fourthpig.org.

ABOUT THE ONTARIO CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION (OCA)

Co-operatives are a different kind of business model that are driven by people, planet and profit. OCA supports, develops, educates and advocates for Ontario’s 1,500+ co-operative businesses. We exist to strengthen and unite the co-operative movement and we believe that co-operatives are the solution to creating stronger communities, which help to build a better world.

To learn more, visit ontario.coop. facebook.com/ONcooperatives. twitter.com/ONcooperatives, or contact Erin Morgan, Executive Director at 519.763.8271 x 30 or at emorgan@ontario.coop.