Why and How to Measure Food Loss and Waste
May 29, 2025
Private Sector Engagement
The private sector plays a critical role in driving economic prosperity, innovation and sustainable development.
By reducing their environmental footprints, embracing market-driven responsible practices, investing in sustainable technologies, driving innovation, and forming strategic partnerships and collaborations, the private sector is uniquely positioned to transform environmental challenges into opportunities—contributing to reduce gas emissions, mitigate pollution and protect biodiversity.
For over 30 years, the CEC has worked with the private sector to advance shared environmental priorities throughout North America. This collaboration reflects a long-standing recognition that meaningful environmental action requires engagement across all sectors, including business and industry.
Shaping a Sustainable Future through Private Sector Engagement in North America
Awareness Raising
Dialogue & Knowledge-Exchange
Capacity-building
Collaboration
The CEC engages with the private sector—including industry associations, chambers of commerce and related, not-for-profit organizations—in multiple ways, such as:
- Awareness Raising – promoting understanding of sustainable practices, climate action, and environmental priorities;
- Dialogue and Knowledge Exchange – fostering sectoral and multi-stakeholder discussions through virtual or in-person engagement, to share insights, challenges, and solutions;
- Capacity-Building – strengthening the ability of businesses and networks to implement and scale sustainability efforts; and
- Collaboration – establishing formal partnerships on specific projects, initiatives, or financial agreements, in support of CEC activities.
Considering the CEC’s proven track record in fostering collaboration between Canada, Mexico and the United States, benefits of engaging with us, for actors in the private sector, include opportunities to:
- share best practices across North America and increase literacy and capacity on key environmental topics;
- network with other organizations from the three countries;
- provide key input to high-level discussions on issues, challenges and opportunities; and
- increase exposure to emerging policies and best practices relating to areas such as Indigenous engagement, traditional ecological knowledge, multi-actor participation in environmental decision-making, and other leading sustainability priorities.
The CEC’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy
The CEC’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy is designed to support and promote increased private sector participation in addressing trilateral environmental priorities under the umbrella of the CEC. The Strategy focuses on achieving outcomes via four strategic goals:
- Establish a systematic approach for engaging the private sector in CEC activities.
- Reinvigorate the CEC’s engagement efforts with the private sector.
- Promote dialogue and knowledge-sharing between the Parties and private-sector representatives, on environmental issues of common interest.
- Increase the impact of CEC’s initiatives by leveraging private sector resources.
Private Sector Engagement at the CEC
Tools and Resources
Publications
Selected publications of our organization, with objectives and outcomes relevant to the private sector.
Projects
Selected projects with objectives and outcomes relevant to the private sector, from across our organization.
Alignment Between the Private Sector and the CEC’s Mission
The CEC’s engagement with the private sector is embedded in its founding texts. Under the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and the Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA), new opportunities emerged to strengthen private sector involvement in environmental action. Chapter 24 of CUSMA, particularly Article 24.13 on Corporate Social Responsibility and Responsible Business Conduct, affirms the Parties’ commitment to promoting responsible environmental practices and encourages enterprises to adopt voluntary best practices aligned with internationally recognized standards, helping bridge economic and environmental goals. Complementing this, Articles 9 and 11 of the ECA outline the modalities of cooperation and public participation, highlighting the role of the CEC Council in facilitating collaboration among a broad range of actors—including the private sector. These provisions support the exchange of expertise, the development of partnerships, and the creation of new channels for knowledge and technology transfer, all of which are essential for advancing regional sustainability efforts.
Contact
Samantha Gagnon
Advisor, JPAC and Private Sector Engagement
(514) 350-4329