2012 CWEA Finalist: Denise Taschereau

Denise Taschereau, CEO & Co-founder, Fairware

 As the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Fairware, a custom-branded sustainable products company based in Vancouver, B.C., Denise Taschereau has dedicated herself to changing to the world through the simple act of buying.

Fairware makes custom-branded promotional products for some of North America’s top sustainable brands, including AVEDA, Patagonia, MEC and Nature’s Path Foods. Denise is fascinated with the notion of influencing social and environmental sustainability at the beginning – not the end – of the supply chain, and Fairware’s mission is a reflection of that passion. Denise’s day to day involves business development, communications and product sourcing.

Denise is a former Policy and Communications Director for the Recycling Council of BC, and also worked as Director of Sustainability and Community for Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada’s largest outdoor retailer. At MEC, she oversaw the co-op’s national environmental programs, community grant-making and ethical sourcing programs, and wrote their groundbreaking Sustainability Report.

She holds a degree in Environmental Management and International Development at Trent University and a Master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University. She is a member of the Promotional Products Association International Green Product Task Force and recently joined Green America’s Certification Advisory Committee.

When she’s not working, Denise pursues a keen interest in municipal politics and public policy. She is an active member and former co-chair of Vision Vancouver, a local civic political party, and is an inaugural fellow of Action Canada, a national public policy leadership organization.

Denise has two true loves: bicycles, and her family. On any given day, she can be found taking on the city by bike with her partner and two young sons.

all finalists >