Green Deal

April 14th, 2010

Intuit works to reduce their eco footprint, as well as your tax payments.

It just goes to show, you don’t have to be a green business (or product) to make a diffference. Intuit Canada, makers of popular Quicktax personal tax software, have been using FSC certified paper on approximately 90% of their packaging, direct mail, POP, marketing and internal correspondence. And now they are going beyond the retail packaging. All the posters, display and promotional material London Drugs gets form Intuit are also now printed on FSC certified stock using vegetable-based inks. (FSC is a certification that ensures paper comes from recycled material and/or well-managed forests)
And because taxes change yearly, Intuit is left with unusable leftover CD’s after each tax season. These are now being recycled through a company called Duplium. The CD’s are shredded and smelted to separate the aluminum and printing inks from the plastic resin. This resin is then used in the manufacture of automobile parts, office equipment, and other plastics.
These are small changes in the big supply chain picture, but at What’s the Green Deal, we appreciate hearing about the sustainability stories that go on behind the scenes. When companies make efforts to do things better it’s worth recognizing.

April 6th, 2010

Are you a Styrofoam Hater? Bring Back the Pack!

Here’s episode 2 of the What’s the Green Deal webisode series, where I get to rant about one of my least favourite substances. Fortunately, if you buy your styrofoam-encased products at London Drugs, there is a responsible recycling solution – Bring Back the Pack! Please pass this link around to any other styrofoam haters you know so we can keep our landfills as foam-free as possible! Oh, and if you want to know more about what happens to the styrofoam in the recycling process, you can find out right here.

March 8th, 2010

GreenDeal blog goes live…

Greetings, Green Deal readers. As you can see, I’m now going live by video to find out ‘What’s the Green Deal’ with London Drugs. This series, like the intro movie you see here, will be posted on YouTube and spread throughout the social media universe. It should be a more fun, interactive way to look at some of the products, issues and opportunities for shopping a little greener at London Drugs.
got an issue you want me to cover? A product you want me to investigate? A bone to pick? Send me an email and let me know. Your story could be the next Green Deal feature film…. Academy Awards, here we come!

March 3rd, 2010

London Drugs PhotoLab envelopes focus on FSC certification.

When it comes to sustainability, even the small decisions count. London Drugs uses a fair number of paper envelopes to deliver photo prints to customers. A closer look at the back of these envelopes reveals there’s more inside than precious memories.
First, the paper is made in Canada. That means less carbon footprint from shipping, and support for Canadian suppliers.
Second, the paper stock is FSC Certified. The FSC ‘check-tree’ logo can only be used on paper and wood products that come from responsibly managed forests, and verified recycled sources. Under FSC certification, forests are certified against a set of strict environmental and social standards, and fibre from certified forests is tracked all the way to the consumer through the chain of custody certification system. The on-the-ground impact of FSC certification is that:

Waterways are protected
Wildlife habitat and species are protected
High conservation value forests are preserved
Forest management practices are monitored annually
Genetically modified trees are not used
Pesticide use is reduced
Local people are involved in forest management
The rights of Indigenous Peoples are respected

Look for the FSC logo on brochures, paper and wood products you buy. It’s one more thing you can do to help protect forest ecosystems and reward the suppliers who are doing it right.

February 2nd, 2010

Pick up a Sled Head toque and you support Canada in more ways than one.

If you see a bit of proud Canadian red peeking out from beneath my bike helmet, that would be my Sled Head Toque. These are the cheerful fund-raising headwarmers London Drugs is selling to support Pierre Lueders, the five-time Olympian who is leading our bobsled team at a certain worldwide sporting event to be held ‘round these parts in the next week or two.
It’s a good idea to buy one of these, as $3 from each goes directly to Pierre to support his run for the brightest, shiniest medallion.
But another thing that really impressed me was that the toques themselves are made right here in BC at Kootenay Knitting. So we give the local BC economy a bit of a boost, and save the carbon on shipping from overseas. Which gives me almost as warm and fuzzy a feeling as I get from wearing the hat itself.
Get yours at any London Drugs – GO PIERRE GO, EH!!

January 25th, 2010

New World Granola offers Haiti Aid with every package.

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 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 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.

Intuit works to reduce their eco footprint, as well as your tax payments.

Are you a Styrofoam Hater? Bring Back the Pack!

GreenDeal blog goes live…

London Drugs PhotoLab envelopes focus on FSC certification.

Pick up a Sled Head toque and you support Canada in more ways than one.

New World Granola offers Haiti Aid with every package.

London Drugs’ reopening at Granville & Georgia is a good Green Deal for all of Vancouver.

London Drugs keeps on truckin’, with biodiesel.

Have yourself a greener little Christmas….

Maple Ridge London Drugs fundraising for Kanaka Creek Watershed Project.

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