The green goods
December 28, 2007
Gift cards may make convenient presents for Christmas, but they’re a lump of coal for the environment. According to the Consumers’ Association of Canada, Canadians will spend $3 billion on gift cards this year, which means a lot of rectangular pieces of plastic will end up in the garbage.
Merrycycling (what to do with your Xmas tree)
December 28, 2007
Although many people choose to do without a tree or prefer a reusable option (artificial or rooted), many people cut real trees to maintain a family tradition or simply for personal taste.
Please consider the environment before printing this story
December 28, 2007
The advent of e-mail, though a seemingly paperless mode of communication, is responsible for the consumption of more than a few trees. In response, you may have noticed a new trend in your inbox: the tagline “Please consider the environment before printing this email” (or some variety thereof).
Lululemon follows MEC’s lead
December 21, 2007
Vancouver based Lululemon Athletica is the second Canadian retailer to pull water bottles containing bisphenol A from their shelves. Beginning in January, the popular athletic and yoga wear stores will no longer sell hard plastic bottles containing the chemical, following Mountain Equipment Co-op’s lead earlier this month.
Green buildings in Vancouver: what is LEED?
December 20, 2007
Don’t be confused. We’re not talking about Christmas lights…those are LEDs….we’re talking about North America’s most respected green building rating system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
That’s a wrap
December 19, 2007
Just because you are super cool and wrap gifts in reusable organic cloth bags or ‘gently used’ wrap from last year, doesn’t mean you can’t try other ideas to help save hundreds of thousands of trees this season.
Zero waste in ‘08
December 18, 2007
The new year will bring some new garbage and recycling policies for Vancouverites. Metro Vancouver has is implementing a ‘zero waste’ policy for landfills, which comes into effect January 1st. This is a positive step towards a good foundation for reconsidering consumer decisions in terms of a product’s lifespan, use and how you will eventually dispose of it – all to help us go green!
Green events post dec. 17-25
December 18, 2007
Green event listings for Dec. 17-25
Annual Christmas at Canada Place: Deck The Halls This event includes a holiday promenade with the historic Woodward’s windows, Christmas trees, visits with Santa Claus, and the World’s Largest Mailbox presented by Canada Post.
More information at www.christmas.canadaplace.ca/christmas Admission by donation (proceeds to local charities). Canada Place (999 Canada Place), December 17 - January 1.
Locavore: word of the year
December 18, 2007
The New Oxford American Dictionary has prepared for the holidays by making its annual announcement: the 2007 word of the year is locavore. The nomination is due to the resurgence of the use of locally grown ingredients and subsequent purchase of seasonally available food.
Green zebra guide
December 16, 2007
This is a totally great idea, like a kind of Gold book for environmentalists. Touted as ‘local savings for sustainable living,’ the Green Zebra Guide, available at Vancouver’s Frogfile Office Essentials, is a coupon book, a directory and an educational resource.