The outpouring of help for Haiti from all corners of the world just came a bit closer to home. From now until February 28th, Burnaby-Based New World Natural Foods will contribute 50 cents from every bag of granola sold to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief fund.
New World Granola is Certified Organic (by Quality Assurance International) and locally made, which means less greenhouse emissions from shipping compared to brands made further away. It’s also very tasty. I know because I had some this morning.
It should also be noted that it is not easy for a smaller manufacturer to make such a donation. Their pockets aren’t as deep as those of the multinationals, and every penny of profit given up matters a great deal. So next time you’re in London Drugs, stock up on some New World Granola (hey, it’s not a bad idea to have some in your own earthquake kit) and help send a few more dollars to those that need them so badly.
January 25th, 2010
New World Granola offers Haiti Aid with every package.
January 19th, 2010
London Drugs’ reopening at Granville & Georgia is a good Green Deal for all of Vancouver.
I just returned from the 7am Grand Reopening of London Drugs store #2 at Granville and Georgia in beautiful downtown Vancouver. As I cycled down the quiet morning streets, watching the sunrise paint the city’s towers purple and gold, I was reminded why so many people choose to live on this spectacular urban peninsula. Which made it clear that having full service retail stores like London Drugs within walking distance of 80,000 residents is more than just smart business. It also helps improve the overall environmental impact of our cities. (The Green Deal here is, the less people have to drive to get all their shopping done, the better.)
London Drugs VP Clint Mahlman made specific mention of this in his opening speech. “London Drugs is proud to serve customers for all their needs. With services like Canada Post, Creative Kitchens and Insurance all in one location, this store can benefit all residents of downtown Vancouver and help make densification work.”
Deputy Vancouver Mayor Kerry Jang was also on hand for the opening and went even further, recognizing London Drugs’ other commitments to a vibrant city core. “The store on Hastings & Abbott has gone a long way to revitalizing the Downtown Eastside. Having stores that fill these needs helps make the whole downtown more viable.”
So whether you come down to this newest location at Granville & Georgia (it’s a beautiful two-level store, with a great downtown mix of product) or visit your local London Drugs in the ‘burbs, it’s good to know you’re shopping a local BC-owned retailer who helps move us all a bit closer to sustainability.
January 11th, 2010
London Drugs keeps on truckin’, with biodiesel.
Part of the reality of running a multi-location retail operation is getting the goods from the warehouse to the stores. To help reduce the environmental impact of this process, the team at the London Drugs Distribution Centre started using biodiesel fuel in their truck fleet about 18 months ago.
Biodiesel is manufactured from renewable, non-petroleum resources like animal fats and vegetable oils – so the carbon released when you burn this fuel was previously captured from the atmosphere by plants, and is thus part of a natural cycle. (As opposed to petroleum fuels which release additional carbon into our atmosphere that has been stored in the earth for millions of years)
I spoke with London Drugs Shipping/Transportation Manager Bob Howe to find out more. He told me the trucks run a blend of Biodiesel and regular diesel fuel, which is adjusted according to weather conditions. (Pure biodiesel can ‘gel’ when the weather gets colder, clogging up fuel lines) In the winter, they use ‘B5’ blend, which contains 5% biodiesel. In summer months, that percentage can be as high as 20%.
So far, Bob says the program has been working really well. Horsepower and mileage is comparable with regular fuels, and although there is no cost advantage to using biodiesel, moving toward more sustainable solutions ultimately helps the whole London Drugs community.
If you want to find out more about biodiesel, you can visit the website of HIWAY Fuel Services, the supplier of fuel products for the London Drugs fleet.
December 3rd, 2009
Have yourself a greener little Christmas….
Christmas is not likely to be named ‘Greenest Holiday of the Year’ any time soon. But there are some simple and fun things you can do to make it more eco-friendly.
The internet is full of Green Christmas ideas, and I may be recycling a couple of those here. But I’m also going to make some specific suggestions just for London Drugs Green Deal shoppers. So grab yourself an organic egg nog and read on.
1. Really think about the person you’re giving to.
There’s nothing worse than giving someone a gift they won’t use. Think about their hobbies, their tastes, what kind of decor they have in their home. If you can’t find something tailored to their lifestyle, see idea 2.
2. Get creative with a gift card
A London Drugs gift card is something everyone can use. It’s also light, easy to ship and uses 2500% less wrapping than, say, a 150-gallon aquarium. A little generic, you say? Make your own funky package with some recycled paper, a few pine boughs trimmed from your tree, some of last year’s Christmas cards or your 4-year-old’s latest artistic masterpiece. See idea 5.
3. Give the gift of recycling.
London Drugs offers free recycling for packaging as well as old appliances and electronics you replace with a purchase from our stores. Give that service along with your gift simply by including the original receipt from the purchase. This can then be used to bring back the packaging or an older model of the electronics or appliance for free recycling* at any London Drugs location.
(*Recycling fees are waived as long as the fee for the item purchased is equal to or greater than the fee for the item being recycled)
4. Switch all your Christmas lights to LED’s
Light Emitting Diode lights come in brilliant colours and use a fraction of the energy of older bulbs. Look for the Green Deal signs on Danson Decor lights at London Drugs, available for indoor or outdoor use. Then be sure to recycle your old incandescent lights. In the Lower Mainland, bring old lights to Bright Nights in Stanley Park. On the Island, Deck the Halls at Saanich Municipal Hall will collect old light strings November 28 through January 3. There’s also a chance to recycle old light strings during the West Coast Christmas Show in Abbotsford, Nov. 27-29.
To find about more incandescent light string recycling options in BC, contact the Recycling Council of British Columbia’s Recycling Hotline at 1800 677 4321. Or call your local municipal waste office.
5. Make your own Christmas Wrap
OK, we’ve all heard this one. And it might not work for everyone on your list. But it can be fun to spread out some old newspapers, carve a potato stencil, get out the poster paint and stamp up some custom recycled wrap as White Christmas plays in the background. This is also a great way to reuse your kids’ kindergarten painting projects. Last years’ Christmas cards can be cut up and hole-punched for gift tags.
6. Rechargeable Batteries Included
Giving an electronic game or toy? Wrap up a set of Energizer Rechargeables and a charger. It’s a great way to add value to any powered gift, and will help kids get in the habit of charging their own batteries while thinking about power consumption. It also keeps those gifts going long past Boxing Day.
7. Green your crackling fire
You can now have a glowing hearth with 80% less pollutants and 70% less greenhouse gas emissions. Duraflame CrackleFlame firelogs (available at London Drugs) are made with 100% recycled and renewable resources. They have switched to a biowax formula, made from renewable plant and vegetable materials – not petroleum waxes. No trees are cut down, as Duraflame firelogs use sawdust and agricultural biomass. So toss another one on. Or, just tune in your new EnergyStar rated flat-screen to the fire channel.
8. Fair-Trade and Organic Goodies for coffee and cocoa lovers
Certified products say you’ve put just a little more thought into it. Organic chocolate by Green & Black’s and coffee from Ethical Bean or Kicking Horse are just a few options available at your local London Drugs.
9. Recycle your Christmas Tree
If you like your tree real, don’t send it to the landfill! Look for tree chipping events or municipal pick-up days for tree composting. Make sure you remove all plastic, ornaments and tinsel first.
10. Add your own Carbon-Neutral Services
Give a nice little present, then include a coupon for that extra personal touch. Like a tube of Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme, with a coupon good for 5 free foot massages. Note, this kind of gift works best for the one you love. As an office gift – not so much.
Do you have a suggestion? Add a comment below and send us your Green Deal Christmas ideas.
November 30th, 2009
London Drugs and Emily Carr student elves create a tree with 100% recycled decorations.
The hallways were sparkling as the BC Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees came to life Nov. 25th at Vancouver’s Four Seasons Hotel. You’d never know that one of these gorgeous trees was decorated entirely with waste.
Thanks to the efforts of students Emily Gossman, Katie Kozak, Bobbielynn Kyle, Alex Achtem, and Emily Carr instructor Shiela Hall, the London Drugs ‘Green Deal’ tree shows just how beautiful recycling can be. The team traveled to Genesis Recycling to get materials from some of the Million plus pounds of recycled computers, electronics, appliances and styrofoam London Drugs has sent there.
But the most valuable commodity they discovered was inspiration. “It was a paradise of materials”, they said. “It was so much fun to create with pieces from all these Dr. Seuss-like machines.” Not only did the students make ornaments from circuit boards, batteries, CD’s, light bulbs and copper wire, they even cast molded christmas houses using recycled styrofoam goo as it emerged, still hot, from the condenser.
The BC Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees at the Four Seasons is a great place to bring the family. Come on down, see the trees and make a donation to one of BC’s most worthy causes. Maybe you’ll be inspired to make some recycled Christmas creations of your own.
November 18th, 2009
Maple Ridge London Drugs fundraising for Kanaka Creek Watershed Project.
Our watersheds are critical to the health of our communities and ecosystems. So we’re especially pleased to be assisting the Pacific Parklands Foundation and the Kanaka Environmental Education Partners Society (KEEPS) in raising funds for the new Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Centre Academy, to be located in Kanaka Creek Regional Park.
This new centre replaces the aging Bell-Irving Hatchery facility and will be a model for watershed stewardship, environmental sustainability, education and outreach programs as well as being a productive fish hatchery.
Denise Coutts, executive director of PPF, said that Metro Vancouver has already committed $500,000 to the project, but the rest will come from individual donors, businesses, and other sources of government funding.
Clint Mahlman, Senior VP, London Drugs stated, “This is an important project for our local community and London Drugs will work closely over the coming months with KEEPS and the Pacific Parklands Foundation to get the message out to the community to support this campaign and to help keep our watersheds and salmon rivers healthy.”
It will cost an estimated $3 million to complete the proposed centre, including the design, building and site construction and furnishing the new facility with equipment.
Donations can be made at London Drugs in Maple Ridge or online at the Pacific Parklands Foundation website.
November 4th, 2009
London Drugs employees display their GreenDeal pride.
Making green changes for the better is a group effort. When employees at 70 London Drugs stores were challenged to build an in-store display featuring recycled materials, recycling education and GreenDeal products, they really rose to the occasion.
One store covered a whole wall with LD reusable shopping bags. Another created their own green posters and handy take-home cards for customers, to remind them what is recyclable. A Halloween-themed recycling graveyard made a great tie-in with the season. Recycling creativity was fresh, with headlines like ‘Our blue is the new green’ and a Bart Simpson character wearing a ‘Recycle or Die’ t-shirt.
It was difficult to choose winners, but we ultimately narrowed the field.
Best overall display: Store 72, Nanaimo North Town Centre. This display included slideshows to run on screens in the electronics department and their own recycled staff buttons. (The buttons were recycled, not the staff)
Best use of recycled materials: Store 58,Mount Royal Village, Calgary. A completely recyclable display, with real examples of materials accepted for recycling.
Best Communication: Store 10, Kerrisdale. Using an entire window display, they showcased GreenDeal products and did an excellent job of explaining the recycling take-back program.
Thanks to all London Drugs staff and managers for taking the time to live the real Green Deal.
October 21st, 2009
10 Million pounds and still recycling!
When the London Drugs management team began calculating the amount of waste that has been recycled throughout the organization, we knew it would be significant. But I think we were all a little surprised at the tally to date. Let’s put this number in some perspective. 10 Million Pounds is approximately equivalent to a dozen full-loaded 747 Jumbo Jets. Or 42 Blue Whales. Or 6,215 Smart Cars.
This number represents total waste diverted from landfill and recycled with our partners over the last two years, from London Drugs stores, warehouses and customers returning packaging, electronics and appliances.
A majority of the recycled material is cardboard and wrap from our distribution centre, but this total also includes 49 tons of electronics and 3 tons of rechargeable batteries and cell phones.
So congratulations to all London Drugs customers, management, staff and recycling partners. Keep up the good work.
October 20th, 2009
Greening Feminine Hygiene with Natracare.
When I researched this product for London Drugs, I was able to quite favourably report on Natracare’s green composition vs. the ingredients of conventional products. But when it came to product performance, I knew I needed help. So I turned to one person guaranteed to tell it to me straight – my wife, Sharon.
To my surprise, she told me she has actually been using this product for some time! (Shows how often I help with her personal shopping…busted!) So here’s her review:
“I used regular pads for years but when I found the Natracare products I was more than happy to make a shift to improve the quality of materials I was sleeping with!
Besides being comfortable, with a large range of products (I typically use the pads and the liners as needed), the organic cotton cover padding and minimal paper for disposal appeals to my green side and I feel less angst when I dispose of the entire product. Also, the more I learn about the pesticides used in traditional cotton production, the more I appreciate the organic content in Natracare.
I definitely seek out retailers like London Drugs that carry this product over others I have used in the past.”
So there you have it. If you want a few more technical details, here are some content comparisons:
Conventional pads contain plastics in the backing, covers and the absorbent material, which are not biodegradable. Natracare Ultra pads and liners are made from over 78% renewable materials and are compostable. Natracare also uses organic cotton. When I contacted them to ask about the percentage, they gave me very prompt and accurate answers – 100% in the tampons, 20% in the Ultrapads and over 99% in the Baby Wipes and Intimate Wipes. So full marks for transparency as well.
Thanks to my guest blogger – guess I owe Sharon at least one trip to London Drugs!
October 15th, 2009
London Drugs makes Vancouver’s greenest coupon book.
The Green Zebra Guide is 320 pages of coupons filled with ‘Local Savings for Sustainable Living’. And while you will find aromatherapy and alternative energy, you’ll also see London Drugs, with a ‘What’s the Green Deal’ recycling feature and a coupon for Nature’s Path products.
Not just any retailer qualifies for inclusion in Green Zebra. In order to appear in the guide, a business “must actively demonstrate a commitment to social, economic, and/or environmental sustainability.” So kudos to all the staff and management at London Drugs who bring ‘What’s the Green Deal’ to life every day.
Sales of the Green Zebra Guide also help support TB Vets, and the guides can also be used as fundraisers for schools, sports teams or non-profit organizations.
You can get information about Green Zebra on their website, www.greenzebraguide.ca. Pick one up and look for our coupon on page 29.
