What happened: 麻豆传媒映画construction firm hires city鈥檚 former mayor as vice-president
Why it matters: Nexii and Gregor Robertson say the company鈥檚 proprietary building material can have a positive environmental impact
Vancouver鈥檚 former mayor is taking to the corporate world once again.
Nexii Building Solutions Inc. announced Tuesday (Jan. 21) it鈥檚 tapped Gregor Robertson as the construction firm鈥檚 new executive vice-president of strategy and partnerships.
The company, which was founded in Moose Jaw before relocating its head office to Vancouver, is known for developing a building material known as Nexiite that can be used as an alternative to cement and concrete for floors, walls and roofs.
Cement has a large carbon footprint, due to its energy intensity.
About 900 kilograms of CO2 is produced for every tonne of Portland cement, according to a 2018 study published in Science Direct.
Materials that have similar properties as cement, but lower carbon intensities, are being pursued as a way to decarbonize the construction sector.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be part of a Canadian company with significant potential to make a huge positive impact on the environment and communities globally,鈥� Robertson said in a statement.
"We are currently facing a global housing shortage, and faster construction processes and retrofit solutions for existing buildings will help improve cost efficiencies and drive housing supply. We need zero emission buildings that are affordable to build and operate, and we need to retrofit existing buildings that are the number one cause of climate change."
The Nexii job isn鈥檛 the former mayor鈥檚 first foray into the corporate world.
Robertson is the co-founder of Happy Planet Foods Inc., .
Since announcing in 2018 he would not seek re-election for the city鈥檚 top job, Robertson has been working part-time with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy as the organization鈥檚 ambassador. 听
Nexii employs about 50 workers at its head office in 麻豆传媒映画and another 35 at its manufacturing plant in Moose Jaw.
, while the company has raised $10 million in investment from Lotus Capital Corp., the Beedie Group and Omicron Canada Inc.
鈥擶ith files from Nelson Bennett
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