join the toronto climate week challenge

We’re calling on Torontonians to take action by focussing on one of the most impactful ways that we as individuals can reduce our CO2e emissions, choosing what to eat.

Some of Toronto’s favorite restaurants, chefs, personalities and brands are serving up sustainable recipes for you to cook. All you have to do is follow the three simple steps listed below and you’ll be part of a challenge that will have the equivalent impact of taking 170 cars off the road for a month!

As an added bonus, participants who complete the challenge will unlock a host of recipes from our sustainable brand partners.

Chef Lauren Toyota of Hot for Food, is a leading voice in plant-based food culture, an award winning cookbook author and has a loyal community of hundreds of thousands of followers across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

You'll find her recipe for a plant-based Pulled Pork Sandwich, inside the challenge platform.

The challenge is simple and all it’s about is cooking delicious food! Challenge participants will choose one of 20 delicious recipes from local chefs, restaurants and cookbook authors that are intentionally lower in carbon emissions. It’s that simple. Here are the three steps.

how the tocw challenge works

Step 1: Sign up, and select a climate-smart recipe

Sign up and select one of 20 delicious, climate-smart recipes from some of Toronto’s favorite local restaraunts and chefs.

Step 2: Cook the delicious meal you selected

Shop for any ingredients you need, and cook your selected dish.

Step 3: Upload a photo, see your impact, get rewarded

Upload your photo, see your impact and unlock deals from sustainable brand partners.

why a food challenge

Our food system creates more emissions than every car, plane, train and boat combined. That means your kitchen is one of the most powerful places in your home to have an impact.

one meal, cooked by many can have big impact

While it can sometimes feel like one small action couldn’t possibly make a dent in such a big problem, when hundreds, and then thousands, and then millions of us work together at it, the impact is real. Just check out these calculations.

impact projections:

5,000 participants = 32 tonnes CO₂ saved = Taking 85 cars off Toronto roads for a month

10,000 participants = 64 tonnes CO₂ saved = Taking 170 cars off Toronto roads for a month

20,000 participants = 129 tonnes CO₂ saved = Taking 340 cars off Toronto roads for a month

And you don't need to overhaul your entire life, big change like that is rarely lasting. This is just one small change, and then maybe you make it part of your regular meal rotation, then add another. Small change is what lasts and that’s what we want to inspire with this challenge. 

here’s a taste of the recipes you can choose from

We’ve partnered with local restaurants, chefs, and cookbook authors to give you 20 recipes to choose from that are specifically designed for flavor. From familiar comfort foods to exciting new flavors, every recipe delivers on taste while reducing environmental impact.

rewards, rewards and more rewards

Challenge participants will unlock rewards from our sustainable brand partners. Thank you to our amazing rewards partners!

faq section

  • Absolutely. Every recipe includes step-by-step guidance, cooking tips, and technique videos. We've designed this challenge to be doable for everyone..

  • Not at all. This is about making one climate-smart meal choice, not changing your entire week of meals. This should be easy, fun and delicious.

  • We compare each recipe's emissions to traditional alternatives using established environmental databases. You'll see exactly how much CO₂, water, and money you saved.

  • Every recipe includes substitution suggestions for dietary needs and ingredient availability. The shopping list highlights Toronto-accessible options.

  • Anytime throughout October 2025. The extended timeline removes pressure while maintaining the collective momentum.

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