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Eco-Industrial Networking Opportunities

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The Regina Eco-Industrial Network Association (REINA) brings together representatives of Ross Industrial Park businesses, with an emphasis on industrial and non-retail commercial businesses, and the Regina Old Warehouse District Association, a registered Business Improvement District. REINA supports an eco-industrial networking approach to improve businesses' financial performance while minimizing their environmental impact and contributing to a better quality of life in Regina.

What are they doing?

Ross Industrial Park is home to more than 400 businesses, ranging from large refineries to small scale distribution facilities, and over 18 million square feet of building space. With its location near the Trans Canada Highway, the trucking, transportation, and logistics sectors comprise a large part of the businesses in the park. The park is also served by rail. Businesses also have access to freight services at the Regina International Airport.

During a previous workshop, transportation-related issues were identified as a top priority. For example, businesses noted that the road network is poorly planned, creating congestion, causing logistics delays, and increasing idling and related emissions. Other businesses felt they weren't able to capitalize on the presence of rail in the park. Many businesses also reported frustration that public transit routes and schedules made it difficult for employees in the industrial park to take the bus to work. Similarly, there are no bike paths within the park or connecting the industrial park with the rest of the city. One of the businesses in the park noted that convincing its management to purchase hybrid vehicles would be easier if other businesses were doing the same.

This project seeks to apply an Eco-Industrial Networking (EIN) approach to identifying sustainable transportation opportunities for the park. By working together, businesses hope to increase the economic, environmental, and social performance of sustainable transportation opportunities. Furthermore, the businesses anticipate that co-operation will facilitate the implementation of pilot projects that would not be feasible for one business to implement on its own. Finally, because the transportation-related activities are such an important part of the economic viability of Ross Industrial Park (Regina's largest industrial park), the project would also seek to sustainably improve the profitability and competitiveness of businesses in the transportation sector, and to reduce their environmental impact.

Some of the pilot projects might include:

  • Land use planning to improve the flow of materials in and out of Ross Industrial Park, increase road use efficiency, and reduce road operating and maintenance costs;
  • Co-ordinated public transit programs for employees;
  • Co-ordinated logistics, including exploration of more rail use;
  • Shared shipping and receiving;
  • Improved performance in the transportation-related industry operations which represent a significant number of the businesses in the park;
  • Jointly supported pilot projects for alternative fuel vehicles;
  • Co-ordinated commuting and transit (e.g., work with Regina Transit to improve bus access).



Date modified:
2010-08-30