One Small Change: 5 Easy Ways to Make Greener Choices This Earth Month

Person viewed from behind standing at a wooden table with small potted plants and gardening tools, with the words ‘One small change’ on a blue background.

What’s one small change you can make towards sustainability?  

Earth Month is a great opportunity to look at how our everyday choices impact the world around us. From the products we buy to the habits we practice at home, small decisions add up in ways we don’t always notice right away.  

At London Drugs, we believe in a world of greener choices—where all it takes to get started is one small change. Whether you’re exploring eco-friendly products, building sustainable living habits, or making more environmentally friendly decisions, Earth Month is the perfect time to begin your journey toward sustainability. 

Why “One Small Change” Matters

Green swaps should be simple, sustainable, and easy to maintain. If you take an all-or-nothing approach, it can quickly become overwhelming. 

The goal is to find manageable ways to build into your routine—small shifts that align with what you already do. You might walk instead of driving short distances or keep reusable bags in your car for grocery runs. Building on those habits and pairing them with accessible green products and sustainability programs at London Drugs makes it easier to keep going. 

5 Easy Greener Swaps 

If you’re not sure where to start, these simple swaps make it easy to incorporate more eco-friendly products and environmentally friendly habits into your routine: 

 

  1. Go Reusable

Single-use items are convenient but contribute to landfill waste. Switching to reusable options, like Stasher sandwich bags, reusable grocery bags, and Papaya Reusable Paper Towels, are some of the easiest and most impactful green choices you can make.  

 

  1. Choose Refillable & Low-Waste Products

Switching to refillable or low-waste options helps reduce waste over time and supports long-term sustainability. Try eco-friendly cleaning products like Tru Earth Laundry Strips or plant-based cleaners from Method 

For personal care, simple swaps like Dr. Bronner’s soaps or Native bodycare can reduce unnecessary packaging while supporting more environmentally friendly ingredients. Unbleached parchment and food wraps from If You Care, or everyday paper products made from bamboo, like Caboo tissues and paper towels, can also help reduce your environmental footprint.  

 

  1. Shop Greener Options

Checking labels for responsibly sourced ingredients or lower-impact packaging can make a big difference over time. Look for everyday items like plant-based beverages from Oatly, responsibly sourced coffee from Level Ground, or snacks from MadeGood. These small choices support broader environmental sustainability while making it easier to stick to your goals. 

 

  1. Recycle More Effectively

Contamination and improper sorting often prevent materials from being recycled. Rinse containers, sort items properly, and take advantage of expanded sustainability programs. London Drugs accepts items that don’t always go in curbside bins, making it easier to make environmentally friendly disposal decisions. 

 

  1. Adjust Small Daily Habits

Consistency creates impact. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, washing laundry in cold water, and unplugging unused electronics can all reduce energy and water use.  

 

Support Your Journey with London Drugs 

Making greener choices is easy with the right support, and London Drugs offers several ways to get started. 

London Green highlights products that meet environmental standards, so you can shop confidently for green, eco-friendly alternatives. London Green’s sustainability programs make responsible disposal simple and accessible, with in-store recycling programs that accept a wide range of items, including: 

  • Electronics and small appliances 
  • Batteries and light bulbs 
  • Ink and toner cartridges 
  • Phone cases 
  • Medications and health products 
  • And more! 

These programs go beyond typical curbside recycling, helping you manage waste more responsibly. Select locations also feature refill stations, like the Store 56 Refill Station, where you can reuse containers for everyday essentials and reduce single-use packaging. 

Together, these initiatives make it easier to take your first step—and keep going. 

How to Participate in Earth Month This Year

Choose your one small change by picking something realistic and compatible with your routine. Focus on consistency over perfection, and give yourself time to adjust before adding something new. Remember: each small step contributes to a bigger shift toward sustainability. 

You can also inspire others by sharing your journey. Post your #OneSmallChange on social media to help spread awareness and encourage others to make their own green choices. Tag London Drugs on Instagram to be part of a growing community working toward a more environmentally friendly future, one small change at a time. 

A World of Greener Choices Starts with One Small Change. 

Widespread, imperfect action is far more powerful than a handful of people doing everything perfectly. Real change happens when many individuals take small, manageable steps toward environmental sustainability. 

London Drugs is here to support your journey with eco-friendly products, accessible sustainability programs, and simple ways to build more sustainable living habits into your daily life. Shop greener choices and see what you can recycle at London Drugs.  

 

 

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.

5 Steps to Reduce Waste at Home

Tips to Reduce Waste at Home

Canadians generate an astonishing amount of waste. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians generated 10.2 million tonnes of disposable waste in 2016, roughly 3.5 tonnes per person, which is about the weight of an elephant. Greenpeace Canada reports that 3.25 million tonnes of that is plastic waste.

We can make a vital ecological contribution by reducing waste, recycling as much as possible, and supporting sustainable brands.

Here are five simple steps for reducing waste at home that will help you shrink your carbon footprint.

1. Level up Your Recycling

We’re all pretty used to recycling old standards like paper and bottles, but did you know there are so many other items you can recycle — everything from electronics to printer cartridges, headphones, cellphones, water filters, styrofoam, and the list goes on!

Our Bring Back the Pack recycling program makes it easy to recycle many types of product packaging, too. In fact, when you shop at London Drugs, you can leave all of your product packaging with us and we’ll ensure as much of it as possible gets recycled. Check out our website greendeal.ca for the complete list of what’s accepted.

Pro tip: A beautiful recycling area in your home will make recycling that much more enjoyable!

2. Reduce Your Energy Usage

Doing an energy audit of your home might sound intimidating, but it can help you to identify areas where easy improvements can be made. 

Look for things like air leaks around windows and door frames, old appliances that aren’t energy efficient or that can be unplugged when not in use, and light bulbs that can be switched with more energy-efficient LED bulbs.

You can also replace old thermostats with programmable thermostats and set timers to warm up the main rooms for a few hours in the morning and bedrooms for a few hours in the evening. This will soften your impact on the grid and also on your wallet!

3. Compost, Compost, Compost

Composting is now widely supported through many municipalities, which makes it easy to participate. But it’s also beneficial to set up a raw compost for your own garden. Put any cooked food, bones, or leftovers in the city bins, as they tend to attract unwanted visitors.

Small countertop bins are great for vegetable peelings, egg shells, and coffee grounds that your veggie garden will love! 

4. Reduce Your Single-use Plastics Consumption

Single-use plastics are one of the biggest contributors to ocean pollution today — think plastic bags, straws, coffee cup lids, zip-style bags, etc. Take a day to observe your daily habits and notice where you might be able to swap out a reusable container for single-use packaging.

For example, head off to school/work with drinks and snacks in a stylish reusable travel mug and handy washable fabric snack bags.

Reusables can also contribute to better health. For example, the SodaStream soda maker with recyclable carbonation cartridges not only saves plastic bottles but also gives you an endless supply of refreshing sugar-free drinks. Pair your healthy drinks with these washable silicone straws.

5. Support Sustainable Brands

There is no shortage of inspiring companies creating great products while taking care of the environment. The circular economy model supports designs that are optimized to be disassembled and reused, essentially designing out waste. From toilet tissue made from recycled paper, to printer paper made from sugar cane byproducts, these companies are doing their utmost to reduce their impact on the biosphere.

Many of these products are also lovely to use: natural makeup, whole grain cereals, healing teas, and healthy granola bars are easy ways to do good not only for the planet but also for your body.

Modern life inevitably produces waste, but with a bit of effort and some conscious choices, we can make steps toward reducing our waste at home. Shifting our habits a little bit every day adds up to greater peace of mind and a cleaner, brighter future.

Want a Greener Christmas? Try these Tips for Reducing and Recycling Holiday Waste

The holidays are a magical time, but they can also be a time of great waste; piles of wrapping paper, product packaging, old products, and electronics all end up in landfills around this time of year. We talked to two of our London Drugs experts on holiday waste reduction and recycling to share some strategies on how to keep the season green

What can people keep in mind while they’re shopping to avoid unnecessary holiday waste?

Chris Odgaard, London Drugs Store Manager at Sunnycrest Mall, Gibsons, BC: “Consider the whole life-cycle of the product you’re buying. How long will it last? What will happen to it once it’s no longer needed, wanted, or useful? Can it be reused, repurposed, repaired, or recycled? Also think about gifting services or experiences instead of things.”

Lorne Craig, What’s the Green Deal Manager: “Organize your shopping so that you don’t have to make as many trips, and shop at stores where you can pick up everything you need, all in the one place. Shopping locally is also a green solution. Buying online might seem super-convenient, but depending on your location (and whether you are home to receive the delivery) it can create more emissions and packaging waste than shopping in store. Plus, if you walk, bike, carpool, or take transit to the store, you can help make an even bigger reduction. Oh, and remember to bring your reusable shopping bags, of course!”

How can shopping at London Drugs for the holidays help keep waste out of landfills?

Chris Odgaard: “London Drugs is always working to be a green leader in sustainable business practices. We offer a ‘buy online, pick up in store service’, which means that many hundreds of items are shipped to a store on a single truck, reducing transportation waste. And if you’re shopping for service gifts, London Drugs offers a variety of services such as computer servicing and repair, audio-video home services and setup, and digital photo scanning, which can all be purchased with a London Drugs gift card.

“Many of the products you purchase at London Drugs can be recycled there, including electronics, small appliances, and batteries. With our ‘Bring Back the Pack‘ program, you can return all the unwanted packaging to the store to be responsibly recycled. If you’ve received new electronics or small appliances to replace the old ones, you can bring them back along with the new packaging and get rid of everything at once in a responsible way!”

Do you have any other green tips for holiday shoppers?

Lorne Craig: “If you’re really stuck for a gift idea, think about giving a gift card that will allow the person to choose something that they actually want or need. Also, remember to buy from companies that are doing business better. London Drugs’ ‘What’s the Green Deal?’ blog has product information that highlights companies that are reducing waste, reducing emissions, using organic ingredients, and practicing fair trade.”

 

Thanks to our experts for the great advice! If you’re looking for more tips on how to reduce your waste around the holidays, or any other time of year, explore our Green Deal page. Happy gifting!