Innovations for sustainability can be realized more effectively through cross-sector industry partnerships.

1. The Value of Real Partnerships
February 2012

2. Definition of a Partnership

3. Definition of a Partnership
Mutual = “common” interests

4. Provocative Statement of the Day #1
There’s no such thing as a
real partnership….

5. Provocative Statement of the Day #2
…and that’s a good thing.

6. Why?
Because results are
amplified when each party
is honest about its own
self-interest.

7. About Summerhill Impact
Vision:
A future where individuals and organizations value and
always make better choices for a sustainable planet.
GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS CIVIL SOCIETY
THE RESULT:
Significant, tangible and transformative environmental impact across Canada.

8. Our Approach
Determine the End State.
Gather People Around You.
Engage the Public to Take Action.
Generate Results.
Analyze the Data. Repeat.

9. Voted #23 in 2011 Best Workplaces in Canada

11. What is Mow Down Pollution?
Mow Down Pollution encourages people to
replace their old two and four-stroke gas-
powered lawn and garden equipment with
cleaner alternatives.

12. Results
• More than 55,000 pieces of old
lawn equipment permanently
retired
• 2,000 tonnes of GHGs and smog-
forming pollutants saved
• In 2011, 27 million media
impressions
• Entering its 12th year

13. Our Self Interest
To drive our agenda:
1. Gas-powered lawn equipment releases about 80,000 tonnes of
emissions in Canada every year, using 151 million litres of gas.
2. Operating a two-stroke gas-powered lawn mower for one hour can
emit as much pollution as driving a car over 320 km.
3. In one year, the average two-stroke gas-powered mower can emit
the same amount of smog pollutant as the average car travelling
about 3,300 kilometres – almost the distance between Toronto and
Edmonton.
4. Gas-powered mowers with four-stroke engines are 70% more
efficient than their two-stroke counterparts. Electric mowers are
even more efficient, reducing pollution by 90%.

14. What I learned About Working with THD
1. Understand their timing.
2. Push, but you’ll only get so far.
3. Don’t back down on your agenda,
they’ll respect you even more.

15. Seventeen Years of Growth in Canada
CDN 180 stores
Over 27,000
associates strong
#1 consumer destination
for DIY projects
US Story: Over 2,066
stores
Canadian market
leader
US Story: Fiscal 2010
Sales $68 Billion
Over 40,000 articles in
our assortment

16. THD Destination for Product Authority
 Value
 Innovation / Assortment
 Customer Experience
Leader for new products, brands and innovation

17. Driving Value For Our Customer
 Focused on Everyday
value
 Innovative Assortments
 Same for Less or
More for Same/Less

18. Environment & our Customer
Challenge is to create environmentally
friendly and sustainable products &
packaging
Products need to be priced right and
deliver same results with little change to
how a customer uses the product.
Focus on best practices around the
environment.

Help us educate our associates on the
benefits of your products

19. Our Self Interest
Product Authority + HI Leadership
1. Customer is evolving (savings – short/long
term)
2. Over 27,000 Orange Aprons = knowledge and
product authority
3. Innovation & environmental leadership
4. Category ownership

20. What I learned About Working with SI
1. Listen, ask why/why not, listen again.
2. Don’t date - get married (its about
commitment)
3. Don’t back down on your agenda,
they’ll respect you even more.

21. Thank You!
Corey Diamond Paul Berto
Managing Director Director, Corporate Communications
Summerhill Impact & External Affairs
416-922-2448 x227 The Home Depot
cdiamond@summerhillgroup.ca (416) 412-4924
paul_a_berto@homedepot.com
twitter.com/SummerhillCorey
@homedepotcanada
facebook.com/SummerhillGroup @pbgoalie31
facebook.com/homedepot