Green Deal

June 30th, 2012

Bring Back the Pack brings back a National Excellence in Retail Award.

We literally couldn’t have done it without you. Our customers (and hard-working employees) have helped make this unique recycling program a success, and the Retail Council of Canada has recognized us with the The Best Corporate & Social Responsibility award, announced at Canada’s national retail conference, STORE 2012 in Toronto.

The annual conference recognizes the Canadian retail industry’s top achievers and London Drugs’ ‘Bring Back the Pack’ packaging recycling program earned London Drugs the award in the large size retailer category.
“We are proud of the enthusiastic support of our employees and the dedication of our “What’s the Green Deal?” team who work hard to help London Drugs succeed with our innovative recycling and waste diversion programs,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs senior vice president and chief operating officer. “Being socially responsible is what we do because it is the right thing to do – this honour from the Retail Council of Canada is to be shared amongst all of our employees.”

London Drugs – in partnership with Genesis Recycling in Aldergrove, B.C. – has recycled more than 133,000 pounds of Styrofoam. Recent waste audits report London Drugs has an average 81% waste diversion rate across the 74 Western Canada locations with several London Drugs stores achieving more than 90% waste diversion from landfill in 2011.

“Moving forward, our goal is to achieve a chain-wide London Drugs waste diversion rate of 95% by December 2015,” said Mahlman.

So keep shopping where you can bring back your packaging, and thanks for being the REAL Green Deal at London Drugs.

June 14th, 2012

The Eco Positive Period – Lunapads brings fashion, fun and good feelings to menstruation.

As a man, I admit I did not feel equipped to write this blog. But when I visited the head offices and manufacturing facility of Lunapads in East Vancouver, founders Madeleine Shaw and Suzanne Siemens welcomed me with open arms. Lunapads makes washable cotton menstrual pads, and as an average woman could use some 12,000 disposable pads or tampons in her lifetime, this is a big Green Deal indeed. Lunapads also promotes an open, healthy dialogue around a subject that most people (even women) tend to avoid. Yet menstruation is a natural process, and as Madeleine Shaw points out, “It’s where we all come from.”

Lunapads started when Shaw developed an allergic reaction to tampons. As a fashion designer, she saw an opportunity to create a new more personal product line, bringing bright colours, patterns and choice to the monthly period process. Suzanne Siemens brought her business acumen to the partnership and the two have been changing monthly attitudes across the world ever since.

With their Pads4Girls initiative, they donate Lunapads to developing countries, where girls may miss school every month because of a lack of menstrual products.

So, ladies, if you want a reusable cotton alternative to traditional menstrual products, Lunapads are available at London Drugs.

May 30th, 2012

A greener disposable razor…?

This is one of those categories where sustainability types scratch our heads. How could a disposable razor possibly be green?Disposable razors are big business. According to one report, the global shaving market will reach US $33.1 Billion by 2015, and more consumers are opting for low-cost disposables than high-cost permanent razors.
Personally, I use a safety razor from the 60’s, metal blades and all. But even for me, there are times, (traveling for instance), where a plastic razor works way better.

So assuming disposable razors aren’t going away, shouldn’t we encourage manufacturers to make them as green as possible?

That’s what Schick is doing with the new XTreme 3 Eco, a recycled plastic version their regular XTreme 3 model that also features more sustainable packaging.
Sourced from 100% post-consumer recycled paper, the packaging is a definite improvement from a resources perspective. The paper wrap is coated on the inside with plastic, however, which makes it un-recyclable. Would it be a problem to lose that laminate? Are the razors going to spoil?

Scanning the QR code on the package leads to a very interesting video showing the recycled plastic handle production process at the factory level. (blade units are identical to the existing XTreme 3)
The finished razor itself is also very similar, though design details and the texture of the plastic are a little different – it appears you do have to sacrifice the soft-touch handle for the recycled content. And the price? Same as the regular model.

So why doesn’t Schick make ALL of its razor handles from recycled plastic?

Likely, they are waiting for a sign from the market. Do we care about recycled plastic and improved packaging? If so, it is up to us, the green shoppers of the world, to spread the news and help reward sustainable thinking, even as it happens in less sustainable market niches. And that’s the clear-cut Green Deal.

May 9th, 2012

It’s official – people still want to buy from environmentally-friendly retailers, and London Drugs is one Of BC’s Top 10

Customers these days have a lot on their minds, with economic news and lives that seem to get busier every day. So it’s encouraging to see that according to a recent study by Ipsos Reid, a large majority (71%) continue to say that retailers’ actions to preserve and protect the environment are either very or somewhat important in deciding where to shop.

But do they know who fits the bill? It turns out many of them do. Survey respondents were asked to name one retailer they thought best exemplifies an environmentally-friendly business (without a pre-determined list to choose from) and 70% were able to name a retailer that they feel is doing some good.

London Drugs came in at #7, the top-placed ‘general’ retailer in the list, ahead of some very well known and very green competition.

But really, the winners in this contest are the people of British Columbia, and beyond. The more retailers and other companies who make sustainability an important part of their business, the more our shared ecosystems stand to benefit.

So keep watching the sustainability performance of the stores where you shop, and keep voting with your wallet. Because that’s one Green Deal that makes a real difference.

May 1st, 2012

GreenDeal Product Profile – Andalou Naturals: A good exercise in ingredient transparency.

With all the different options out there, how do you know what is best? For some it comes down to what’s inside, yet there are differing opinions on almost every ingredient out there. So it’s up to YOU to do your homework, especially if you have sensitivity to any specific chemicals or natural extracts.That’s why the issue of ingredient transparency is so important. Thankfully, it’s a lot easier with products like Andalou Naturals, because they list all of their ingredients right on their website.
Take their Lavender Shea Body Butter for example. With a bit of clicking around on the Andalou site, you are able to access a complete list of ingredients for this product, including indications of which are organic and fair trade.

Also note that none of the ingredients are listed simply as ‘fragrance’ or ‘color’ – catch-all terms some manufacturers use to avoid disclosing proprietary formulas. (Helpful for their patent protection perhaps, but not useful if you are on the lookout for any particular ingredients that concern you)
So if you want to know more about what’s in the things that go on you, you may want to support companies like Andalou, and/or encourage your favourite brands to follow their example.

Not everyone wants to go on an ingredient treasure hunt, but we all benefit when manufacturers put transparency first.

And that’s the clear Green Deal.

April 24th, 2012

A letter for London Drugs from BC’s Environment Minister

Just before Earth Day 2012 we got a very nice note in our mailbox from Hon. Terry Lake, BC Minister of Environment. He made special note of London Drugs’ achievements in recycling and our Green Deal programs, including Styrofoam recycling with Bring Back the Pack. In part, he said:“I want to congratulate London Drugs and its employees on these achievements. The steps you have taken divert huge amounts of waste from landfills and promote environmentally friendly business practices… it is inspiring to see companies like yours taking positive steps to become leaders in sustainability.”Thank you Minister Lake, we remember you taking the time to go for a ride in the London Drugs StyroCycle in 2011. A little recognition and appreciation certainly goes a long way. We’re going to print your letter and hang it in a tasteful Winfield plantation wood frame with recycled wood backing.

But we think you left out an important piece of the puzzle. We would also like to recognize the efforts of our London Drugs customers in our journey towards greater sustainability. It takes a community to make a real difference.

So we share this letter with you, Green Deal readers.
Happy Earth day, and keep up the good green work!

Hon Terry Lake with London Drugs COO Clint Mahlman and the StyroCycle, Victoria, April 19, 2011.
Photo: Lorne Craig

March 26th, 2012

Soda lovers can now lower their carbonation footprint with SodaStream

Imagine getting to enjoy fresh soda anytime without the cans and bottles stacking up in your blue box. (Or worse yet, the landfill)

That’s the idea behind SodaStream, a line of home soda machines that let you reuse the same bottles over and over while making your own tasty beverages.

The system consists of a drinks maker, a refillable CO2 cylinder, your choice of sodamix flavours and reusable plastic bottles or glass carafes to store your creations.

One of the clear eco advantages of this system is that local tap water is used to create drinks, rather than shipping tonnes of water from bottling plants to stores in the form of pre-manufactured soda. Whether those carbon savings outweigh the footprint of manufacturing and shipping machines, flavours and CO2 cylinders would be a calculation for supply chain scientists with more knowledge and time than I have. But the SodaStream system is definitely a good option for people who like to enjoy sparkling water and even create their own natural beverage recipes.

SodaStream offers a wide variety of flavour mixes, concentrated to make a whole lot of soda. One 500ml mix bottle makes 50 servings.

There are also some SodaStream sodamix choices with natural flavours, such as Superfruits Cranberry (Ingredients: Sugar, Water, Fruit Juice Concentrate (Cranberry), Food Acids (Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid), Sweeteners (Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose), Natural Colors (Black Carrot Juice, Dried Apples Extract), Sodium Citrate, Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate.)

SodaStream claims even their regular sodamix flavors contain 2/3 less sugar and calories than national soft drink brands, and don’t contain high-fructose corn syrup.

So if you crave the fizz without the footprint, you can find out more about SodaStream at your local London Drugs.

March 26th, 2012

London Drugs recognized as one of Canada’s greenest retailers at Globe 2012

The Globe Foundation helps companies worldwide make the business case for green. Every two years they hold an internationally acclaimed conference in Vancouver, where they also hand out awards for Environmental Excellence. This year, London Drugs was pleased to be named a finalist in the Greenest Retailing Practices category, alongside retail giants Sears and Canadian Tire.

Canadian Tire was the eventual winner, and although London Drugs did not take home the first-place hardware, we were proud that the hard work of our employees, suppliers and customers was recognized.

Ultimately, we all benefit from companies who do their part to make a difference, so we applaud all winners in the 7 GLOBE Awards categories:

The Award for Corporate Environmental Excellence – Unilever Canada
The Award for Excellence in Emerging Technology – Terragon Environmental Technologies Inc.
The Award for Technology Innovation & Application – Pulse Energy
The Award for Excellence in Urban Sustainability – Waterfront Toronto/Halsall Associates
The Award for Sustainability in Finance – Royal Bank of Canada
The Award for Best Green Retailing Practices- Canadian Tire Corp.
The Next Gen Entrepreneur Award – Eden Full, Roseicollis Technologies

March 26th, 2012

London Drugs Celebrates Earth Month, Taking Recycling Beyond the Blue Box

Introducing eco-cycology, a top consumer trend for 2012 Eco-cycology involves recycling old products and waste products innovatively, by doing something constructive with them; taking them beyond the blue box and making them useful components of new products. Continuing its sustainability efforts, London Drugs has made significant strides over the past year to pioneer this type of behavior.

Through a pilot project with Cascades Recovery and Cascades Specialty Products Group, manufacturers of the Cascades line of recycled paper products, bathroom tissue and paper towels sold at London Drugs, cardboard returned through London Drugs’ Bring Back the Pack package recycling program can be used to create new paper products sold in stores.

“When a customer brings back cardboard packaging to London Drugs for recycling, they could eventually be buying paper products from us that contain some of that same material,” said Maury McCausland, Administrator of Retail Operations for London Drugs. “That’s pretty exciting.”

London Drugs is Canada’s only major retailer to offer packaging return and recycling, including Styrofoam, which is not accepted as part of many city recycling programs. Styrofoam returned to London Drugs is sent to recycling partner Genesis Recycling where it is compressed into large bricks, which are sold as polystyrene and reused for the manufacture of new products. So far, London Drugs has recycled over 118,000lbs of Styrofoam that would have otherwise ended up in landfills.

More Ways to Take Recycling Beyond the Blue Box With London Drugs
London Drugs’ “What’s the Green Deal” in-store product signs point out over 200 products that offer environmentally-preferable benefits to customers, such as organic content, fair-trade certification, recycled content and local manufacturing.

Customers can also bring back virtually anything they buy at London Drugs for responsible recycling including;

Electrical and Electronic goods (TVs, VCRs, computers, monitors, printers etc)
Small Appliances (purchased at London Drugs)
Cell phones, rechargeable batteries and alkaline batteries
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL’s) and fluorescent light tubes up to 4ft
Disposable cameras
Ink jet and laser cartridges
Plastic bags
Pop bottles and cans (BC only)
Insurance plastic folders

March 6th, 2012

What’s better then recycling? UPcycling! Level Ground makes discarded coffee bags into something better.

The dreaded coffee bag. It must keep roasted beans fresh, while allowing gasses to escape. The world’s finest eco-coffee minds have yet to come up with a viable recyclable option for this critical part of the bean’s journey to your cup.

So how about making it into another product entirely? That’s the idea behind UPCYCLING.
Level Ground Trading, a Victoria, BC based coffee roaster, has created a program to collect used coffee bags from their customers and have them made into stylish bags by Work Of Your Hand, an organization that helps artisans from developing nations find dignity and self-worth through work that pays fair wages. In an over-the-top example of supply-chain transparency, each bag even comes with a short bio on the person who sewed it.

In 2011, Level Ground collected the equivalent of 24,000 packages weighing 926 lbs. Of course, shipping the bags back and forth to the Phillipines has its own set of environmental issues, but the effort, social benefits and beautiful results from this program are definitely worth supporting. The finished bags are property of Work Of Your Hand and they can be sold as they wish (they are obligated to conduct all of their business practices according to the 10 Fair Trade standards outlined by the WFTO)  If you would like one of these unique works of craft, they can be can be purchased directly from Level Ground by e-mailing orders@levelground.com

So buy some Level Ground coffee at London Drugs, and keep that bag out of your own waste stream. It has a better life ahead.

How reclamation works:

Buy your Level Ground Coffee at London Drugs
Save your Level Ground coffee package
Return it to a Reclamation Station – (find one here)
Level Ground will send it to www.workofyourhand.com
Work of Your Hand will convert the package into crafts and accessories.

Bring Back the Pack brings back a National Excellence in Retail Award.

The Eco Positive Period – Lunapads brings fashion, fun and good feelings to menstruation.

A greener disposable razor…?

It’s official – people still want to buy from environmentally-friendly retailers, and London Drugs is one Of BC’s Top 10

GreenDeal Product Profile – Andalou Naturals: A good exercise in ingredient transparency.

A letter for London Drugs from BC’s Environment Minister

Soda lovers can now lower their carbonation footprint with SodaStream

London Drugs recognized as one of Canada’s greenest retailers at Globe 2012

London Drugs Celebrates Earth Month, Taking Recycling Beyond the Blue Box

What’s better then recycling? UPcycling! Level Ground makes discarded coffee bags into something better.

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