Home to one of the most diverse biological communities in the world, Canada has a long history of advocating for more sustainable and fair living. With around 50% of consumers feeling a brand’s values are important and should focus more on environmental care and consideration, it shows that a brand’s values are important to Canadian consumers. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of shoppers say they would likely buy a more sustainable brand if price and quality were the same. This makes the Canadian affiliate market a great launching pad for sustainable and eco-friendly brands.
Canadian consumers are also known to educate themselves on the ethical positions of the brands and companies they support. This makes them savvy when it comes to identifying practices such as greenwashing—where some businesses imply environmental friendliness without complying with established ecological certifications.

To effectively engage with these sustainability-conscious consumers in Canada, brands should consider the following strategies:

Share Your Story with Content Partners

Invest in ongoing content development that showcases your sustainability efforts. This establishes you as a green-thinking leader and naturally incorporates the product. It is also a great way to educate affiliates and provide them with credible information for their own content. It also helps to diversify and build up your content calendar to keep affiliates engaged with the program.

Remember Canada is Bilingual

Make sure to include a French version for your content outlets. Canadians are actively interested in regional and local sustainable efforts, so it’s important to cater to their preferred language. It will also help you connect to large French-speaking media corporations such as Québecor expanding your reach to almost 23% population of Canada who engage with content in French.

Offer Valuable Promotions

Pricing point remains a barrier to purchasing more sustainable products for many Canadians. Consider strategic partnerships with deal and loyalty partners, and offer valuable discounts and high cashback.

Follow National Regulations

When you are promoting eco-friendly products in Canada, make sure to follow national ecological regulations. Use correct labeling, especially if your green certification is from outside the country. Canada regularly updates its green labeling policies and standards, so it is crucial that you and your affiliates are aligned.

Optimize Retail Strategy

If your retail strategy includes reselling pre-loved or recycled items alongside your main collection, consider dividing your affiliate program. Create two separate programs under one brand: one for pre-loved or recycled items and another for new products. This will allow you to build a loyal affiliate base, streamline promotions, and manage ROI expectations of each collection independently.

Partner Up with Eco-Conscious Affiliates

Many Canadian affiliate partners are making sustainability a priority when they engage with their audience. Having the right angle for each type of partner will help you maximize your relationships.

  • Content – Although this partner group may take the longest to build due to its niche nature, bloggers and editors will serve as your primary ambassadors in promoting your green initiatives. For your content partnerships, consider a mix of smaller Canadian bloggers, ecology-savvy publications, and medium-sized media outlets like Daily Hive.

  • Influencers – Influencers, leveraging their credible voices and dedicated followings, offer another effective channel to communicate your brand’s commitment to sustainability. Their endorsements resonate deeply with environmentally conscious consumers, making them a crucial partner group in building awareness about products.

  • Loyalty – Major Canadian loyalty partners organize promotions for green initiatives such as Earth Day. Participating in these promotions is an excellent opportunity to build a presence on your loyalty partner’s platform targeting environmentally conscious consumers.

  • Deal Partners – Deal affiliates have been driving traditionally significant outcomes for brands. Consider partnering with top Canadian coupon sites such as SmartCanucks or RabaisQuebec to start up your program!

  • Canadian Mass Media – Explore the power of Canadian mass media outlets for opportunities to amplify your messaging across an almost 16 million reader base. Explore partnerships with PostMedia or ZoomerMedia that cater to multiple audience segments across provinces.

In Conclusion

The Canadian affiliate marketing landscape is ideal for green brands. Canadians are increasingly prioritizing green initiatives and show a strong preference for brands that align with their sustainability beliefs. However, they must balance these preferences with the associated costs. This dynamic presents a perfect opportunity for green brands to enter a new market and develop effective affiliate strategies.

If you would like to learn more about expanding your affiliate marketing efforts in Canada, make sure to download our in-depth eBook—Navigating the Canadian Affiliate Landscape. You can also reach out to a Canadian expert at AIM to help you tap into Canada’s diverse population and drive your growth.

Anastasia Fisenko

Hailing from Berlin start-ups, Anastasia brings 5+ years of performance marketing experience focused on mobile engagement, fintech, and eCommerce. Her background as an account executive underscores her commitment to understanding client needs and delivering exceptional results. Anastasia's multilingual and multicultural background enhances her ability to navigate international markets and support clients in exploring new opportunities.

Recent Posts

Is CPA the New CPL?

CPA vs. CPL: Which is right for your lead gen strategy? Learn how CPA drives…

3 weeks ago

And the award goes to…

We're honoring our team members and their amazing efforts with our D.I.G.G. AIMer of the…

3 weeks ago

The Power of Influencer Partnerships

Maximize conversions with influencer partnerships through strategic selection, effective campaign briefs, optimized links, and long-term…

4 weeks ago

B2B Affiliate Marketing in the E-Learning Era

B2B affiliate marketing drives engagement in e-learning by building partnerships, creating valuable content, and leveraging…

1 month ago