MONTREAL, Aug. 11 /CNW Telbec/ - Launched in Canada earlier this year, the world's first online encyclopedia of sustainable business practices now has the support of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). Seeing the role this new resource could play in helping small and medium-sized Canadian businesses move towards greener operations, BDC has become the official sponsor of the site's Canadian case studies.

The website in question, "ethipedia.net", hosts a database of documented practices adopted by organizations seeking to incorporate greater social and environmental responsibility into their operations. With an initial store of over 75 case studies from around the world, this is the largest free reference of its kind. The project's goal is to offer a library of replicable strategies for applying sustainability principles to one's organization. By making this information accessible, this site hopes to accelerate the market shift towards sustainable operations. This tool has already earned early praise from key sustainability experts including Amy Domini, the pioneering ethical investing specialist in the U.S. and U.K.'s John Elkington, renowned author and Co-founder of SustainAbility.

"We welcome BDC's support at this early stage of the site's development.

We also applaud its foresight and appreciation of the value this assembled knowledge will have for Canadian businesses striving to gain a competitive edge by becoming sustainability innovators," states ethipedia Co-founder, Brenda Plant.

About ethipedia ethipedia.net was launched by ethiquette Inc., creators of the green consumer portal, www.ethiquette.ca, in partnership with Fondaction, Quebec's labour-sponsored venture capital fund.

ethipedia is online, in English and French, at the following address: www.ethipedia.net -0- 08/11/2009 /For further information: Tom Liacas, Co-director, ethiquette Inc., (514) 771-5120, tom(at)ethiquette.ca/ CO: Ethiquette Inc.

ST: QuDebec IN: ITE SU: -30- CNW 06:00e 11-AUG-09