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Canadian Geographic’s annual environment issue, which hit newsstands last week, is the first glossy magazine in North America to be published on paper made from the pulp of wheat straw. The mag’s publishers hope to send a message to others in the industry that adding agricultural waste to pulp mix can provide a new source of revenue for wheat farmers while easing some of the demand of pulp from Canada’s boreal forests.

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What happens after a cigarette butt is casually flicked onto a street, trail or beach? Typically, wind and rain carry it into the water supply, where toxic chemicals leach out into land and aquatic ecosystems. Three BC men hope to make provincial sidewalks, playgrounds, roadsides and parks butt-free by launching a campaign to impose a 10-cent tax on each cigarette butt sold in the province and aim to bring their plan to provincial legislators.

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Cool green stuff we stumbled across this week:
Green My Ride! Facebook has another new green application that allows you to show all your friends how you’re saving the planet, this time by the specific eco-friendly products you use.

An ordinance unanimously adopted by Malibu’s city council this week will soon make plastic bags a thing of the past among its 13,000 residents and four supermarkets. The action follows a number of other efforts in California to ban plastic bags, including a vote in February by Santa Monica’s council to draft similar ordinance. If they can do it, why can’t we?

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Barbecue season has officially begun for most Vancouver residents. Like many things we do in our daily lives, there are ways to make your summer barbeque party lighter on the planet - from your choice of grill and fuel to what you cook and what you use to eat it. Granted, a single grill probably isn’t going to ruin the environment, but when millions of people opt to cook outside, the impact can really add up. Check out our tips for greening your backyard parties this year.

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A year after the provincial legislature’s Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture recommended a rapid transition to closed-system fish farms, the provincial government continues to support net-pen salmon farming on BC’s south coast. A new report released by the David Suzuki Foundation and Georgia Strait Alliance shows that a shift from open to closed-system fish farming is not only a viable alternative to open net cage farming, but is also a vibrant and rapidly developing global industry.

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Every British Columbian will receive a $100 Climate Action Dividend this June, before the carbon tax takes effect. People are encouraged to use this money on purchases that reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and, in the process, reduce the amount they pay in carbon tax. “We’re hoping the cheques start to go out by the end of June,” B.C. Finance Minister Carole Taylor said yesterday.

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Chi-chi restaurants are now banning bottled water. How did the ubiquitous accessory become the latest environmental sin? It’s not just daft, it’s decadent. In 2007, Canadians spent over $670 million on bottled water, consuming an amazing 2.3 billion litres of it. But, if early indications of the recent backlash are any indication, what was once a fashion accessory is becoming a fashion crime.

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Canada Post says it needs to crack down on junk mail in order to save the environment and - its bottom line. After issuing its first annual corporate responsibility report yesterday, the Crown corp launched a new campaign to encourage more sustainable mailing practices for businesses and consumers.

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We are proud to announce the launch of Living Green Victoria, the third of our Living Green sites in Canada. The Victoria site will chronicle all things green in BC’s capital city, from city planning to culture, business, arts, events and food. Got eco-conscious friends or family on the island? We’d love for you to share the news. Stay tuned for more Living Green launches in other cities across the country.