Green Deal

November 2nd, 2011

The GreenDeal Team: Meet Cedric Tetzel – Merchandise Manager on a Mission

Do you like your electronics made with less toxins like lead, mercury and cadmium? So does Cedric. As the man in charge of London Drugs’ computer buying, he brings his own practical green sensibility to work every day. That’s why Cedric demands that all London Drugs Certified Data products and Tree Frog brand accessories meet the European RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) standard, even though it’s not required by law in North America.

“Electronics manufacturing in Asia is split,” he explains. “You have products made to the European RoHS standard, and the products made to North American, or US standards. When we first started asking for the European standard, we were repeatedly told we didn’t have to, that we could go for the lower standard. But we kept insisting, and now our suppliers know that’s what we expect.”

Cedric has been with London Drugs for more than 16 years, so he knows his business. And even though sustainable thinking is now becoming mainstream, he sees ‘green’ more as an expression of product value.
“You can always buy cheaper, but when you pay a few pennies more up front, you get better materials and better quality. Whether that’s wires that use longer-life copper instead of aluminum, or a better-engineered laptop that will last you 5 years instead of three.”

And Cedric believes green shouldn’t have to cost more. “It’s only more expensive when people aren’t buying enough of it,” he says. “Make a big enough production run and green can be just as affordable.”

Cedric is also working with the rest of the London Drugs merchandise team on some new standards for other aspects of sustainable purchasing. “We are in the process of developing a sustainability survey for our vendors, asking them about things like labour and environmental practices,” he says. “When you make it known that’s what you are looking for, vendors respond. They are businesspeople after all. Our company recognizes and places a priority on sustainability and we want to reward suppliers who contribute to healthy, fair and safe workplaces and practice environmental stewardship.”

Even though Cedric Tetzel deals in the world economy, he also brings his green behavior right down to the grassroots level.

“It’s basically what my Grandma used to do. Chasing kids around, telling them to switch lights off. I even take all the junk faxes I get and clip them together for notepads. Am I cheap? Maybe. But why waste what you don’t use?”

We couldn’t agree more, Cedric. That’s why you are the Real Green Deal!

October 24th, 2011

LED. The evolution of the light bulb.

There has been a lot of noise recently about the demise of the incandescent bulb and the rise of Compact Fluorescents. In the meantime, LED bulb technology has been getting steadily better and more affordable.
Well, affordability is always relative. An LED will still likely be the most expensive bulb you have ever bought. But when you factor in their 20-year durability and the miserly bit of energy they sip over this impressive lifetime, the math makes good sense for long-term savings.

The light quality has improved as well. I tested the new Philips Ambient LED 12.5 Watt bulb and found the warm light very appealing compared to an old-school ‘cool’ CFL light I had in my vintage lamp. The Ambient LED also comes on instantly, works with dimmer switches and does not hum or buzz. An additional benefit is that it is made without mercury, so does not have the recycling or breakage issues associated with CFL’s.

But back to the long-term math. According to the mini-scientist type on the back of the Philips box, the Ambient LED will use $34.40 worth of electricity over its 25,000-hour life. A 60-watt incandescent bulb would use $165.00 worth under the same conditions.

So perhaps we are seeing an evolution of the light bulb from cheap disposable replacement item to long-term engineered part of your lighting fixtures. In other words, a light bulb you’ll unscrew and take with you when you move.

London Drugs has a selection of LED bulbs for a variety of lighting fixture types. Come in and give them a look. It might be the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship.

October 20th, 2011

Want Greener Home Insurance Options? Sign Here.

Let’s say you love the green life. You appreciate the value of things like low-VOC paints, eco-friendly construction materials and natural floor coverings. If trouble strikes, will your home insurance share these values? Maybe it’s time to talk to the Insurance Services Department at London Drugs. Purchase a home insurance policy here and you now have 2 green options you can add on to it.

The Optimum GREEN-HOME extension is a bundled package that promotes the use of environmentally friendly materials as an alternative choice in repair or replacement materials. Should damage occur to your home, your package includes up to $10,000 of coverage for the cost difference to replace the home’s original damaged item(s) with an environmentally sound product of similar kind of quality in areas like:

Paint and sealants
Flooring
Home appliances
Light fixtures and bulbs
Faucets, fixtures and toilets
Residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
Insulation to the highest “R” value
Doors and windows

The Optimum GREEN-HOME extension also provides a Carbon Offset program. This is an easy way to offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with your residence, by purchasing carbon offsets, (based on a rate per square foot and type of energy used) The program is offered in partnership with Offsetters, a leading Canadian carbon management solutions provider.
For more info on this program, contact the Insurance Services Department at your local London Drugs.

October 14th, 2011

Carry your laptop in a pop bottle. Targus Spruce EcoSmart cases recycle with style.

I love seeing smart uses of recycled material, and the Targus line of stylish EcoSmart computer cases is a great example. Recycled polyester (made from drink bottles) is one of the success stories of recycling, taking a waste item and upcycling it into a very useable, durable and marketable fabric. Targus has taken this material and engineered a line of cases specifically designed to fit 15.6 – 17-inch laptops, available at your local London Drugs.

Targus Spruce cases also feature metal hardware that is nickel-free (good news for those sensitive to this metal) and plastic components that are recyclable. The cases are also PVC-free, which spares you from that ‘new-vinyl’ smell, and more importantly, helps reduce toxins linked with the manufacture of this polymer.
Targus has brought their considerable case-engineering experience to work on functionality as well, with all the zippered compartments, key clips and accessory space you would expect. Spiffy green interior fabric also makes it easier to dig out your black pen in a dim boardroom.

Beyond these cases though, the Targus EcoSmart Program outlines green changes throughout their company, from a commitment to using renewable office supplies, to developing degradable materials for their other lines of products. From my perspective, this is a respectable start, but lacking a little on measurement and supply-chain detail. Also, their ‘EcoSmart’ button looks a little like it’s trying to imitate a true certification label. (See Making Sense of Green Certifications) Let’s hope Targus continues down the path of sustainability with more great products, initiatives and transparency.

Overall, if you need a case, the Targus Spruce line is a good greener choice. You could be protecting more than just your computer.

October 4th, 2011

Unplugged Small Appliance Recycling Program launches in BC

Over the past few years, shoppers in BC have been participating in stewardship programs for the recycling of landfill-clogging items such as old tires, car batteries and consumer electronics. Now the same strategy is being put to work to deal with the 2 million old appliances that end up in BC landfills every year.

As of October 1, 2011, the Unplugged Small Appliance Recycling Program has mandated that retailers in B.C. collect Eco Fees when selling small appliances – things like hair dryers, blenders, microwaves and clock radios. These fees are charged on new purchases, which funds the collection and recycling of the old stuff. (Items NOT covered include commercial appliances and anything not powered by electricity) The upside is, your old small appliances can now be dropped off for free at over 100 locations across the province.

At London Drugs we have been accepting and recycling our customers’ old small appliances for some time, and we are pleased to continue this service at no charge.

For our customers outside BC, we will continue to accept appliances for free recycling when a replacement is purchased in our stores. And whenever you recycle with London Drugs you know all your old appliances and electronics are disassembled responsibly, right here in BC.

Here is a sample of the small appliance fees we are now required by law to collect in British Columbia (Eco Fees are added automatically when the product is scanned and will show on a separate line on your receipt)

Product Category | Description | Recycling Fee

1 | Kitchen Countertop Motorized (e.g. blender) | $2.25
2 | Kitchen Countertop Heating (e.g. toaster) | $2.25
3 | Kitchen Countertop Coffee/Tea (e.g. Coffee Maker) | $2.00
4 | Large Microwave (1 cubic foot and over) | $10.00
5 | Small Microwave (Less than I cubic foot) | $7.50
6 | Time Measurement (e.g. Clock) | $0.75
7 | Weight Measurement (e.g. Bathroom scale) | $2.75
8 | Garment Care (e.g. Iron) | $1.00
9 | Air treatment (e.g. Air purifier) | $2.25
10 | Desk and Tabletop Fans | $1.25
11 | Personal Care (e.g. Hair Dryer) | $1.00
12 | Large Floor Cleaning (e.g. Carpet Cleaner) | $5.25
13 | Small Floor Cleaning (e.g. Handheld Vacuum) | $1.00
14 | Designated very small Items (e.g. Air Freshener) | $0.25

These Eco Fees are designed to deliver significant environmental benefits, covering the cost of collecting and recycling the product. Consumers of these products now share the cost of recycling rather than all taxpayers paying for landfilling or incineration.

Fees collected go to The Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association (CESA), a not-for-profit agency comprised of manufacturers, distributors and retailers. CESA chose the Product Care Association (managers of the CFL recycling program), to be the program manager for the BC Small Appliances Recycling Program.

BC Environment Minister Terry Lake said in a press release, “These programs have helped put B.C. on the map as an environmental leader, and we are happy to continue this tradition.”

And London Drugs will continue to lead the way by making recycling as easy as possible for our customers. That’s the real Green Deal.

September 21st, 2011

Method develops new recycled bottle from plastic ocean litter.

At London Drugs, we think Method is the real Green Deal, and here’s one more reason why. They have now created a new recycled bottle made in part from waste plastic from the sea.

The “Ocean Bottle” was introduced September 15th in San Francisco by Method founders Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan. It is made from 100 percent high-density polyethylene plastic, 25 percent of which has been recovered from the ocean. This ‘ocean plastic’ is a significant problem, especially in an area called the North Pacific Gyre, a slow swirling current zone where marine plastic goes to die. According to some estimates, the amount of plastic collected in the Gyre is twice the size of Texas.

The Method company is well known for their work in green chemistry, water management and resource-conscious packaging. Nearly all Method bottles are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. But not even Method could clean up the whole North Pacific Gyre and its mega-tons of plastic trash. In fact, according to Lowry, most of the sea-waste for the method bottles will come from more local sources.
“There are a number of beach cleanup organizations that work here in California and Hawaii that are regularly cleaning up this plastic [as it washes ashore from the North Pacific Gyre and its Great Pacific Garbage Patch]. Our model is to intercept that plastic and divert the portion that we can use to our recycler in Southern California.”

The main goal, says Lowry, is to raise awareness of plastic pollution. Judging from the fact that San Fransisco’s Mayor declared September 15th 2011 ‘Official Method Day’, it seems to be working. Find out more from the official GreenBiz.com article here.

We’re not sure which Method product(s) the Ocean Bottle will ultimately be used for, but Green Deal will keep you posted, so stay tuned.

Photo by Leslie Guevarra, GreenBiz.com
Lisa P. Jackson of the EPA, Adam Lowry of Method and Karen Mills of the SBA. The ocean bottle is on the left.

September 1st, 2011

How to control fruit flies without poisoning your pad.

At this time of year, kitchens are filled with the bounty of summer’s harvest; ripe berries, healthy fruit and of course, fruit flies. Thankfully, Drosophilidae are not as bloodthirsty as mosquitoes, but they breed like small winged rabbits and are surprisingly difficult to squish.

If you want to control the annual pilgrimage of these pests without coating your organic bananas in a fog of toxic insecticide, take a look at the Tanglefoot Fruit Fly Trap. It’s basically a small jar that holds a natural attractant and a piece of sticky card. A special entrance tunnel means the flies can check in anytime they like, but find it hard to leave. It’s odourless and non-toxic. The lure and sticky cards are refillable, so you can use the trap year after year, and it really works. (Our family has successfully used the Tanglefoot trap for the last two fruit fly seasons)
Tanglefoot also makes traps for house flies, pantry moths and wasps.

Now if only they could develop a snare for annoying summer house guests…

August 29th, 2011

London Drugs stores now recycling up to 88% of their waste.

One of London Drugs’ main green objectives is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. This is no small task. (If you have taken on the challenge of recycling in your own home, imagine doing it for an entire retail store!) Fortunately, our employees are up to the challenge, and all of our stores are now diverting a significant amount of waste from landfills. Two of our BC stores, Coquitlam and Delta, have set the bar quite high indeed, each diverting an impressive 88% of their waste to recycling programs.

“It is truly a team effort to ensure that we recycle and re-use.” Says one Coquitlam employee. “We have several “green champions” within the store, who assist in separation of waste and recycled materials before shipping to ensure that nothing “gets through”. In particular, our receivers are highly educated in this process and have taken personal ownership of our recycling system.”

But this recycling achievement is more than just a feel-good story. According to calculations from our waste hauling partner, each store has conserved the equivalent of over 600 mature trees, saved over 200,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by over 88 metric tonnes.

That’s a pretty good grade.

August 17th, 2011

Got old media tapes to recycle? Fast-Forward them to London Drugs.

London Drugs accepts VHS tapes and other recorded media for recycling. (Maximum 16 per visit, with purchase*)

Whether it’s blurry old digital video footage of that trip to Vegas or a VHS copy of Meatballs II, getting rid of unwanted media can be a challenge. London Drugs is pleased to announce we are now able to offer our customers drop-off recycling for virtually all recordable media or media storage devices that London Drugs sells. Simply bring your tapes and media (maximum 16 items) to your local London Drugs Customer Service counter along with your receipt for purchase of like or new items.*

CD’s and DVD’s are shredded for recovery of the aluminum. Tapes are recycled through a waste-to-energy program, where they will be used to generate electricity. So don’t trash your old tapes. Bring them in and help keep more material out of our landfills.

*As we cannot accept unlimited amounts of material, we must limit our take-back to 16 items with the purchase of like or new items at our stores. This limit will help us offer this recycling service to more customers, rather than just to a few who bring in excess material.

July 12th, 2011

GreenDeal 101 – ECO-Fees and Product Stewardship

Let’s say you come into London Drugs and pick up a Compact Fluorescent Bulb for your hall light. At the checkout, (in BC) you will notice there’s something called a ‘CFL Levy’ of 25 cents added to the bill. It’s an environmental fee, which funds the recycling programs that take care of disposal when the bulb has reached the end of its long and efficient life. So who collects these fees? Why do we need them, and where do they go?

Product Stewardship – Industry and consumers taking care of the mess.
CFL bulbs are just the latest in a long line of products to receive eco-levies. In the 1990’s, municipal and Provincial governments realized they were paying a lot to handle the increasing waste from the products we throw away. In response, they began to legislate product producers to be responsible for recycling products, beginning with the most difficult-to-dispose-of items, such as paint, tires and lead-acid batteries. In BC, these programs were implemented in the form of industry-led stewardship associations responsible for the collection and recycling of old products.

Those who produce and use the products pay.
To fund these organizations, levies are set and passed on to the consumer. This was seen as a fairer way to fund recycling than using tax revenue. Fees can either be visible or invisible. Visible fees are fees charged at the retail level and shown on the consumer’s receipt while invisible fees are included in the cost of product.

Where does the money go?
The association responsible for your CFL bulb fee is Lightrecycle, managed by ProductCare. I followed our 25 cents into the stewardship system by talking with ProductCare Controller and Project Manager, Vnit Nath.
“The fees are sent to Product Care, and we use them to set up systems, then fund collection depots, transport and processing of the recycled products.” Vnit explained. “We also fund education and outreach programs to engage the public. All recycling must be done by certified processors, and our association is subject to a financial audit, which is publicly available.”

BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia have all implemented stewardship plans, and other jurisdictions are following suit.
In Alberta and Ontario, stewardship associations are quasi-governmental organizations. You can find a good overview of provincial (and a few US) associations here. Plans are in place for electronics and small appliances and will eventually be set up for larger appliances, packaging and more. It means more eco-fees, but savings for our municipalities and less waste. That’s worth more than a few cents at the checkout.

Links to find out more:

Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA)

BC Ministry of Environment Product Stewardship

Saskatchewan Waste Electrical Equipment Program

Province-by-Province Stewardship Overview

BC Product Stewardship Model Video