How to make greener choices: Things to look for in the Product Lifecycle

Making greener choices can help reduce your ecological footprint, and it is especially important to consider the lifecycle of the products you purchase. Single use disposable products have the shortest lifecycle but many products support a circular economy. This includes re-usable, rechargeable, re-cyclable and biodegradable products. Here are some other ways to help make more mindful choices.

Recycled Content – Using recycled materials in manufacturing can reduce energy use and impacts on ecosystems.

Organic Ingredients – For food, textiles and other plant-based products, organic production can reduce the need for fossil-fuel-based fertilizers and is easier on ecosystems.

Ingredients of Concern – This is especially important for products that go in, on or around us. Ingredients such as BPA, benzene, formaldehyde, parabens, polyethylene glycol, toluene and others are found in everyday products. Companies that make better alternatives will also generally post ALL product ingredients on their websites.

The Environmental Working Group has a great online resource for researching personal care ingredients.

Renewable Energy – Look for products made in facilities powered by renewables such as wind and solar.

Local Production – Products produced closer to home require less shipping, and profits from locally-owned businesses tend to have better community impacts.

Packaging: Reduced / Recycled / Recyclable – Look for packaging that uses recycled materials and can be recycled. The most recyclable plastics are #1, #2, #4 and #5. (Avoid #6, #7 or packages with no number)

Buy Durable, Buy Less – A product designed to last longer is better than one that needs to be replaced every year. Quality counts.

Products designed to Operate ‘Greener’ – The use of a product has its footprint, too.

  • Consider buying rechargeable batteries.
  • Pick up a power bar that lets you completely shut off energy-using appliances.
  • Look for new reusable options in categories like menstrual products.
  • Choose reusable options like Tupperware, over single-use plastics.
  • Use a cold-water laundry detergent.
  • Choose LED light bulbs.

Every choice can make a positive difference.

The Circular Economy is one model designed to minimize waste and environmental impact.

Buy from a ‘Green’ Company

Today’s shareholders are looking for companies that care about the climate and the environment. Many corporations are implementing broad and meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plans, covering everything from carbon footprint to diversity and inclusion initiatives. (See B Corporation here) Visit a company’s website and look for their CSR or Sustainability section. (Example: https://www.unilever.ca/planet-and-society/) You can also look for companies that contribute to social and environmental causes, such as 1% For the Planet.

As a consumer, when you support companies who are trying to do it better, it’s a win for the whole planet.

Stay positive and keep making those small changes.

Nobody can be a perfect sustainable shopper, but every effort counts. Make a difference where you can, but don’t feel bad if some of your favourite products aren’t as green as you would like…yet. And if you would like them to do better, let them know.

What makes a product ‘greener’?

Eco-friendly, earth-friendly, recyclable, organic, carbon-neutral… how can we know what really makes one product better for the environment than another? Here’s a look at some factors to think about if you want to shop a little greener.

Third-Party Certifications

If you don’t have time to do homework, there are some well established certifications that you can trust to help you out.

B Corporation – A company that is a Certified B Corporation has met high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. If you see this seal on a product you can be sure it is doing a better job in many important areas.

Certified Organic – The Canada Organic label is only permitted on products that have an organic content that is greater than or equal to 95% and have been certified according to the requirements of the Canada Organic Regime. (The USDA 100% Organic standards are similar) This helps ensure products are produced using practices that promote ecological balance, maintain and improve soil and water quality, and minimize the use of synthetic materials.

Fair Trade Certification – This seal means products have met rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards, including safe working conditions, environmental protection, sustainable livelihoods and community development funds.

Every product has an environmental footprint.

From the raw materials used, to energy, packaging, shipping, and use & disposal of the product itself, there is nothing produced that does not leave an impact on the environment. This chain of activity is called the product lifecycle, and by looking at these different stages, we can start to understand which products might make less of an impact than others. More and more manufacturers are including details about their ingredients, materials and manufacturing on their website or even on the package itself.

Battery Recycling at London Drugs

London Drugs has won the Call2Recycle® 2021 Leader in Sustainability Award for our customers returning over 62,000kg of batteries for recycling.

Every year, millions of batteries are used in everything from toys to tech. But if those batteries are just thrown away and end up in landfills, toxic materials they contain can harm wildlife and the environment. That’s why Call2Recycle and London Drugs work hard to collect as many batteries as possible for responsible recycling.

Thanks to YOU, our customers, we have kept a HUGE amount of batteries out of the environment. In 2020, the pandemic challenged our recycling collection systems, but in 2021, you bounced back, bringing in 62,570kg of batteries to London Drugs stores across Western Canada. That’s about as heavy as 30 average passenger cars!

The Leader in Sustainability Award is granted each year to organizations that display exceptional commitment to battery recycling. “Each year, Canadians recycle more and more of their used batteries with Call2Recycle thanks to the exceptional partnership of organizations like London Drugs,” said Joe Zenobio, President of Call2Recycle Canada, Inc. “With your customers’ support, we have been able to achieve record collection targets year after year, helping to protect wildlife, the environment and our communities by keeping toxic metals out of landfill.”

What kind of household batteries can you recycle at London Drugs?

Almost all types of single use and rechargeable batteries from household products can be returned, including alkaline and lithium AAA, AA, C and D-cells, 9V and button batteries. We also accept dry-cell rechargeable batteries up to 5kg such as the ones found in cordless phones, laptops, and cameras, including Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), and Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) types. (We cannot accept vehicle batteries, or rechargeable batteries from tools or other larger appliances) Just make sure you tape the terminals, or store each battery in its own bag. For more information on safe battery storage and recycling click here:
https://www.call2recycle.ca/consumers/

What happens to recycled batteries?

The metals and elements in batteries are reclaimed through industrial processing with partners such as Retriev, located in Trail, BC. Depending on battery type, the raw materials are used in products such as golf clubs, silverware, pots & pans and new batteries.

Help us celebrate National Battery Day – Feb 18, 2022 – by bringing in even more batteries for recycling!

Greener choices for baby products – because you’re never too young to make a difference

When a new person comes into the world, it’s natural to want to make their environment as pure and nurturing as possible.

Here are a few choices for your baby (or that baby shower) that help care for the big planet as well as the little people.

Lotions and Potions

Keeping baby clean, moisturized and smelling sweet goes a long way to creating happiness. Here are some more sustainable options that can help make the planet a little happier, too.

Attitude Products

This Canadian company produces the Little Leaves baby care line that is hypoallergenic, vegan and comes in packaging that contains recycled plastic. Look for products that are EWG Certified (Environmental Working Group) for the most stringent ingredient standards.

 

Live Clean Baby

The gentle effectiveness of plant-based ingredients without parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), or harsh chemicals. Made in Canada.

 

Burt’s Bees Baby

A selection of products made with no phthalates, parabens, petrolatum or SLS, from a company that is CarbonNeutral® certified and supports honeybee health and biodiversity.

 

Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen

More and more authorities are recommending mineral-based sunscreen these days. Baby Bum is free of frangrance, gluten, sulfates and oxybenzone. It’s reef-friendly too.

 

Go Organic at Feeding Time

Besides keeping your baby’s food free of pesticides, organic agriculture has been shown to help regenerate the health of soils and ecosystems.

Love Child Organics

Started in a Canadian kitchen, this brand offers the best of organic ingredients in puree pouches, snacks, and cereals.

 

Baby Gourmet

Baby Gourmet’s tasty organic baby food and toddler food delivers high quality, non-GMO ingredients, free from fillers, added sugar or salt, and artificial preservatives. And it’s Proudly Canadian as well.

 

Alb Gold Organic Kids Pasta

For toddlers and up, this certified organic pasta offers nutritious and fun eating with animal shaped noodles. Plastic-free packaging helps reduce waste.

 

Diapers

Ever wonder what’s in your baby’s diaper before they fill it? Check out these greener alternatives.

Hello Bello Diapers

Plant-derived core liner, sustainably harvested fluff pulp & processed chlorine-free.

 

Seventh Generation Diapers

Made without fragrances, lotions, or chlorine bleaching, and using only FSC® Certified, sustainably sourced wood pulp that’s a bit easier on our planet’s forests. 

Zoocchini Organic Cotton Training Pants

Made from super soft organically grown cotton certified by Global Organic Textile Standard

 

Toys and Things

Here are a few ideas for fun and function that help baby take some first steps with a smaller footprint.

BioBuddi Eco Blocks Set

These educational building blocks are made from the leftovers of sugarcane plants and are recyclable. (But still just as painful to step on)

 

Red Rover Bamboo Fiber Plates and Bowls

Made of lightweight easy-to-handle bamboo, they’re stackable, durable, dishwasher-safe and free of BPA and phthalates

 

Tot2Walk 

Help build motor skills while saving your back! This innovative toddler walking aid is made in Canada from a closed-cell foam free of phthalates, heavy metals, PVC and latex

 

3 New Natural Products Found at London Drugs

With June almost here, we’re back with more unique and interesting items you can find at London Drugs. From zero waste soaps to naturally friendly oral care and beauty items, we have some exciting new products to share!

Clean Cult

Packaging is one of the big issues with many consumer products. Clean Cult have taken this concern to heart, and have created beautifully designed refillable glass bottles with easy-to-recycle refills for their naturally powerful cleaning products. Their plant based non toxic cleaning product refills come in recyclable milk cartons to eliminate unneeded plastics. With a wide range of options including hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap and more, they will revolutionize your cleaning routine. Click here to browse their full selection.

hello Oral Care

A company that prides itself on being friendly and fun, hello Oral Care have a wide range or oral care products made without synthetic dyes, artificial sweeteners or artificial flavours. They are also made with sustainably sourced materials and ingredients like bamboo and stevia. Their boxes are printed using soy ink on 100% recycled paper to add an extra layer of natural to their products. With natural mouthwash and a wide range of toothpastes, including activated charcoal, and fluoride free options, you’ll want to be sure to check them out in store or online.

Nuxe Paris

Nuxe Paris create natural cosmetics with every aspect considered. From their natural active ingredients to their sustainable packaging, conserving natural resources is a major concern for them. The geographical origins of their active ingredients is fully traceable and their products are vegan with no animal biproducts or testing (with the exception of Reve Du Miel, which includes hive derivatives). Their rinse-off formulas are at least 80% biodegradable, ensuring the environmental impact is kept to a minimum. View their products in store or online.

This is merely a small sampling of some of the natural products we carry in store and online. If you’re looking for natural options, ask an LD Expert today!

It’s Halloween Wrapper Round Up Time

Keep your wrappers out of the landfill and environment with a simple trip to a British Columbia London Drugs location.

Sometimes the spookiest thing about Halloween happens after you bring all that tasty candy home – all those plastic wrappers ending up in our landfills and environment.  But they don’t have to.

You can bring your wrappers to local British Columbia London Drugs location and deposit them with Recycle BC’s ‘Other Flexible Plastics’ program. This is the collection box that accepts harder-to-recycle flexible plastics such as stand-up and zipper lock pouches, crinkly wrappers, chip bags, non food protective packaging and more (see the complete list below)

By collecting your wrappers you are doing your part to keep plastic out of our waste streams. And that can make quite a difference. In 2019 we collected 46.2 tonnes of other Flexible Plastic Packaging with Recycle BC!

So round up your Halloween candy wrappers, bring them into your local British Columbia London Drugs location and drop them in the Recycle BC box provided.

There’s no trick to it at all.

Other Flexible Plastic Packaging Take-Back List (BC Only)

Here’s a more detailed list of Other Flexible Plastic Examples. If you like, you can print off a PDF for handy reference on recycling day. Flexible-Packaging-Take-Back-List

Stand up and zipper lock pouches

  • Bags for Sugars, oatmeals, grated cheese, coffee and pouches with a zipper lock
  • Deli meat and cheese bags
  • Baby food pouches (leave the cap on)
  • soap refill pouches (leave the cap on)
  • Plastic pet food bags

Crinkly wrappers and bags

  • Crinkly bags
  • Candy bags
  • Chocolate and candy or energy bar wrappers
  • Dried food and pasta bags
  • Wet wipe bags (including with hard plastic dispenser)
  • Cookie bags
  • Cellophane
  • Foil gift wrap (the plastic kind, not metallic ink on paper)
  • Cheese slice bags (please wash them off!)

Flexible packaging with plastic seal

  • Vacuum seal packaging (please clean out any meat packaging)
  • flexible packaging with plastic seal (Fresh pasta)
  • Flexible lid with rigid base packages (bologna and some deli meats)
  • Woven and net plastic bags (plastic weave, not burlap)

Non food protective packaging

  • Plastic shipping envelopes
  • Bubble wrap
  • Plastic air packets (e-commerce)
  • Plastic bags with non 2-3-4 resin code
  • Shrink wraps on meats (wash them off please!)

 

 

London Drugs Stores No Longer Accepting Recycling


**Update: We have resumed our recycling collection.
London Drugs in-store recycling services will no longer be accepting customer recycling at our stores until further notice. Our top priority continues to be to focus on our customers and ensure that our staff and customers remain healthy and safe. We look forward to resuming recycling services when circumstances allow. In the meantime, please contact your municipal waste disposal and recycling facilities for their updates on recycling availability developments in your area.

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