June 17th, 2015
It’s Spring Cleaning time at the cabin, so we put some of our Green Deal featured spray cleaners to the test with some duct tape and an old windsurfer.
Attitude, Method, Seventh Generation and GreenWorks all brought their triggers to the corral, and we compared them for ingredients, packaging, corporate responsibility, cleaning power and of course, price! Check out the results below. (Click here for PDF view)
June 10th, 2015
Raising 5 kids is no small task, yet Jennifer has decided to do it as sustainably as she can. That’s why she was chosen as a winner in the Nominate a Green Hero Contest recently featured in the Juicy Green Mom blog.
In answer to the question: “Name 3 things that make this individual a Green Hero”, her nomination said:
Blogger Judith interviewed Jennifer and learned even more impressive details about her her dedication to living green.
1. Why is being a Green Hero important to you?
Because of all the kids in my life who I’m a role model for. I’m a parent, foster parent, volunteer at my kids’ school, and Cub Scout leader.
2. How do you share with others about living green?
I actively teach my kids, including those I volunteer with, about the three R’s {Reduce, Reuse, Recycle} and how to implement them into everyday life. One of the things I do at my kids’ school is help with the school’s organic garden, teaching kids how things grow and where their food comes from. They’re also learning about composting and healthy diet through this program. Our Cub Scouts also frequently do community cleanups and recycling drives.
3. What are your top 5 tips for green living?
Jennifer wins a $100 London Drugs Gift Card for her great green efforts. Congratulations!
But choosing the winner was difficult – Jenifer was just one of many amazing Green Heroes out there. Here are some of the other things our nominees are doing:
Purchasing used toys and clothing to avoid unnecessary future waste (Angie from Saskatchewan)
Volunteering with the David Suzuki Foundation (Stephanie from BC)
Implementing recycling programs and energy reduction programs at work (Eva from BC)
Running a local fruit rescue organization (Amy from Alberta)
Being a Master Composter (Redworm_Mama from Alberta)
Reusing to the max (Joveena from Alberta)
Making YouTube videos about waste reduction (Suzan from Alberta)
Way to go – you keep us all inspired!
May 12th, 2015
London Drugs is pleased to be partnered with the City of Airdrie to provide residents with an opportunity to recycle numerous household items at the largest community clean-up event ever held in the city.
“It is extremely important to divert as much material from the landfill as we can,” says Mara Pratt, Education Coordinator with the City of Airdrie’s Waste & Recycling Services. “We are very excited to partner with London Drugs to be able to provide residents with this opportunity to recycle many household items.”
The City of Airdrie has held an annual paper shredding event for the past several years to properly recycle paper waste. This year they are being joined by London Drugs and other community organizations so that residents can bring tires, metal, clothing, small appliances, electronics, non-food related Styrofoam, disposable cameras, Inkjet & Laser cartridges, batteries, plastic bags, CFL light blubs, Fluorescent tubes (up to 4 ft), smoke alarms, bicycles and car seats for proper recycling.
Residents are asked to start going through any items they may want to get rid of and bring them to the London Drugs parking lot on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. After dropping off their items, residents are invited to enjoy a fundraising BBQ hosted by local animal rescue, Bail Us Out.
“Together with enthusiastic support of Airdrie residents, we can divert thousands of pounds of materials from the landfill through this event,” says Colleen Lancaster, Store Manager at the Airdrie London Drugs location which diverted over 82,444 pounds from the city’s landfill last year through their own in-store reducing, recycling, and composting strategies.
Following is a list of organizations that will be supporting this event:
GEEP – Global Electric Electronic Processing
Community Links:
Cutting Edge Tire Recycling
May 1st, 2015
A lot of ‘green’ talk often focuses on urban lifestyles, but as this video shows, Canadians living in more rural areas can be just as heroic when it comes to recycling and community sustainability spirit. We recently visited Prince George BC, where Green Deal’s Lorne Craig delivered a presentation on sustainability issues at College Heights Secondary. This school hosts the Northern Leadership Conference – a day of learning and inspiration for 200 kids from across BC’s North.
We also documented the 10th anniversary of their annual highway cleanup, celebrating 1000km of roadside trash-busting. College Heights teacher Cindy Smith has been tirelessly organizing the event for the last decade, and her inspiration to the students definitely rubbed off on us!
Next, we visited the Prince George London Drugs’ Recycling Roundup where Manager Christian Schenk lifted TV’s, boxed up batteries and took in tires with Tire Stewardship BC. It’s his personal mission to let everyone know what they can recycle at his store!
On the musical side, we attended the premiere concert of the Up Your Watershed Tour, where kids from Highglen Montessori delivered a powerful set of enviro-themed songs under the expert musical direction of Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright of the Artist Response Team.
Also known as ‘The Wilds’, Holly and Kevin are touring the Fraser River watershed, teaching and performing with groups of kids at concert stops along the way. (London Drugs is proud to be a sponsor of this awe-inspiring tour as well)
Thanks to the hundreds of Everyday Green Heroes we met on our first Northern Tour. YOU are the REAL Green Deal!
April 28th, 2015
Calgarians are making a big difference, significantly decreasing water consumption
On April 18th, London Drugs hosted Green Calgary for the first Rain Barrel & Composter Sale of the season. We are thrilled to announce that it was a sellout event with a record 161 rain barrels and 32 composters sold.
It’s inspiring to see so many Calgarians changing their behaviour towards water consumption and together we are making a big difference! Despite seeing the largest population increase on record in 2014 – 38,508 new people – total water consumption decreased 2.1 billion litres from 2013.
Every rain barrel helps conserve even more. It’s not too late to get yours!
Upcoming London Drugs Rain Barrel Event Dates:
Sat, May 30, 9AM-12PM
London Drugs – 3545-32 Ave NE
Sat, June 13, 9AM-12PM
London Drugs Royal Oak – 500-8888 Country Hills Blvd NW
Sat, June 20, 9AM-12PM
London Drugs Brentwood – 3630 Brentwood Rd NW
Other Locations and Rain Barrel Event Dates:
Sat, April 25, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Oakridge – 70-2580 Southland Drive SW
Sat, May 2, 9AM-12PM
Truckload, Crowfoot RONA – 90 Crowfoot Way NW
Sat, May 9, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Transcanada – 510-16 Ave NE
Sat, May 23, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Signal Hill – 5735 Signal Hill Ctr SW
Sat, June 6, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Shawnessy – 110-70 Shawville Blvd SE
All proceeds from the sales go to support Green Calgary’s programs that are dedicated to empowering people to create healthy homes, workplaces, and communities.
April 10th, 2015
‘Guest Posts’ are blog articles written by people outside London Drugs. These may be independent authors or companies who are featured in our GreenDeal Product Program. We review the content before posting and provide this space as a forum to offer information and discuss sustainability issues. So please let us know what you think!
If you could make one little shift in your diet that would put you on the path to health, would you? For millions of people, going gluten free has changed their lives and improved their health dramatically. While a gluten free lifestyle might not be for everyone, everyone can enjoy gluten free food – when it’s delicious and nutritious, of course.
So, how can you get the best of gluten free? Quality is key when it comes to gluten free. At Nature’s Path, we’ve been creating tasty gluten free options for 30 years using organic ingredients that offer a balanced profile of fibre, carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats so your body gets all the nutrients you need to thrive.
These tips will help you get the best of gluten free:
April 2nd, 2015
We think people who go take the extra time to recycle things right deserve some recognition. So for Earth Month 2015, we set up our hidden cameras to catch people in the act of recycling at one of our stores. Once they got over the initial surprise, their responses and reasons for recycling made us all proud. And when we gave them their special surprise, well let’s just say that recycling is the gift that keeps giving. Happy Earth Day!
And don’t forget to enter the London Drugs Recycling Selfie Contest, April 2 – 30th, 2015. Shoot a selfie of YOU recycling, share it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #LDGreen and you’re entered to WIN a $500 gift card! More details at londondrugs.com/ldgreen.
April 1st, 2015
Photo: Dorin_S istock
April showers are an opportunity for you to help save rain water for the hotter summer months ahead. Rain barrels collect and store rain water from rooftops, which can later be used for watering plants and gardens. There are many reasons that make these rain barrels a great green choice for your home:
Healthy Plants and Soil – Rain water is better for your garden and lawn because there are no added chemicals. Inorganic ions and fluoride compounds accumulate in the soil over time, and can potentially harm root plants and microorganisms in that soil. Your rain water will clean the soil of salt buildup, and promote healthy growing.
Money Saver – The average Canadian can collect up to 200 barrels of rain water from their roof during the growing season. When more people commit to using rain barrels for water usage, less water flows through our treatment facilities, which effectively saves you and your community money.
Reduction of Emissions – Using a rain barrel decreases your greenhouse gas emissions, which are associated with water treatment. Energy is used more efficiently because less energy is used to heat water and pump drinking water and wastewater
Reduction of Runoff – Rain barrels help reduce the flow of storm runoff. When it rains, runoff takes with it soils, fertilizer, oil, pesticides and other contaminants along the way. This untreated water runs directly into streams, lakes, and other bodies of water, affecting the habitats of fish and wildlife in the area. By using a rain barrel, the amount of storm runoff is substantially reduced, helping to protect the environment around you.
Setting up a rain barrel collection system is easy.
You can set up one rain barrel, or multiple rain barrels, and attach each to a downspout or connect in series. Set your downspout at least 1.5 metres away from your house. Simply ensure it is on a stable and wide surface to prevent it from being pulled or knocked over, and ensure your barrel’s cover is secure!
Watch this video from Green Calgary on installing a rain barrel.
London Drugs is pleased to be partnered with Green Calgary to support their Annual Rain Barrel & Composter Sales. All proceeds go to support Green Calgary’s programs that are dedicated to empowering people to create healthy homes, workplaces, and communities.
London Drugs Rain Barrel Event Dates:
Sat, April 18, 9AM-12PM
London Drugs – 4701-130 Ave SE
Sat, May 30, 9AM-12PM
London Drugs – 3545-32 Ave NE
Sat, June 13, 9AM-12PM
London Drugs Royal Oak – 500-8888 Country Hills Blvd NW
Sat, June 20, 9AM-12PM
London Drugs Brentwood – 3630 Brentwood Rd NW
Other Locations and Rain Barrel Event Dates:
Sat, April 25, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Oakridge – 70-2580 Southland Drive SW
Sat, May 2, 9AM-12PM
Truckload, Crowfoot RONA – 90 Crowfoot Way NW
Sat, May 9, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Transcanada – 510-16 Ave NE
Sat, May 23, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Signal Hill – 5735 Signal Hill Ctr SW
Sat, June 6, 9AM-12PM
First Calgary Shawnessy – 110-70 Shawville Blvd SE
Links:
Green Calgary Rain Barrel & Composter Sales
Installing a rain barrel video
City of Vancouver Rain Barrels
City of Nanaimo Rainwater Harvesting
Edmonton Rain Barrel Project
Winnipeg Composting & Rain Barrels
Saskatoon Rain Barrel Rebates
March 26th, 2015
Keeping your family healthy is serious business, but here is one event where FUN is definitely going to share the spotlight. London Drugs is proud to sponsor this great event along with some of our awesome Green Deal product vendors, like Cheeky Monkey, Ethical Bean, Seventh Generation and Kruger, the makers of Purex Envirocare tissues.
Of course that means FREE STUFF! So get down to the London Drugs booth and say hello! (Tickets are available at your local London Drugs)
The Healthy Family Expo will be filled with great activities, demonstrations, products and surprises. M.C Mike Granek from TopDaddies.com will keep the main stage humming with Yoga demos, Bobs & Lolo concerts, and a feature on the Power of Food.
The expo is also big on sustainability. It’s working to be a zero-waste event once again, with Green Chair Recycling helping manage the waste. At the 2014 show, they achieved a diversion rate of 98%!
And if all that isn’t enough to get you to go… how about the opportunity to be a Healthy Human Hamster?? This is one event in the Active Kid Zone that really caught our eye. Be a rodent. Get exercise. How great is that??
Whatever your shade of green, Healthy Families is one thing we can ALL agree on! See you there!
February 27th, 2015
You might not expect the #1 energy bar in North America to be big on organic. But it is. Meet Brian Krumm, a fourth generation farmer from Saskatchewan, and a proud supplier of organic oats to Clif Bar.
In this amazing video, Brian tells the story of his family farm and why he made the switch to organic way back in 1996. It’s a testament to the food-based approach that Clif Bar takes, and it’s no surprise that they are a family and employee-owned business as well.
They use as much organic as possible, (70% in their original energy bars and Mojo bars, and their upcoming Z-Bars for Kids will be fully Certified Canada Organic)
Clif Bar keeps the environment, community and people on top of their list of corporate goals, even as they grow.
So when you’re out and about, hiking, biking or just going for a stroll, take a few Clif Bars along.
It’s the Real Green Deal of pocket snacks!
