Some New Years resolutions fall by the wayside before noon on January first. But these nine #RecyclingResolutions are as easy to keep as dropping by your local London Drugs. So read on, and get ready to successfully reduce your waste line in 2018!
December 30th, 2017
December 21st, 2017
10 Last-Minute Green Stocking Stuffers for Under $10
OK, just because you like to shop green, that doesn’t mean you are always on time! Nobody’s perfect. So here are 10 quick and sustainable gift ideas for your last minute Christmas shopping trip. (Just remember to ride your bike carefully through the snow…)
1. Wake them up with organic, Fair Trade coffee!
This week you can get 284g ground coffee from KickingHorse or 340g beans from Ethical Bean on sale for just $9.99 each. Both are certified organic, and for extra holiday fun you can scan the Ethical Bean bag and trace the origin of that exact batch.
2. Hippie Veggie Clusters
A great alternative to all the sweets under the tree, these snacks are Canadian made by Hippie Foods from real, simple, whole food ingredients. Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, B-Corp Certified and full of goodness! On sale for $5.99
3. London Drugs Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Stop using disposable water bottles! Double-wall construction keeps liquids hot for 12 hours and cold for 24, while resisting sweat and condensation. It’s BPA and lead-free, and on sale right now for just $9.99
4. Burt’s Bees Skin Essentials Set
Two 100% Natural lip balms and a pack of 99.7% natural facial cleaning towelettes bundled up in a recyclable decorative seasonal gift pack. All from a company buzzing with a triple-bottom-line philosophy of People, Planet and Profit. Just $7.99
5. Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate
This is an annual Green Deal Christmas favourite (to give OR receive!) Choose from a whole range of flavours, certified Fair Trade, and at just $4.59 each you can get two. (What the heck, it’s OK to keep one)
6. Love Crunch Granola
This is what happens when 100% Organic, Non-GMO granola meets Fair Trade dark chocolate. Is it a snack or a breakfast? Who cares?? Share the love… just $5.99
7. Green Magazines
Give the gift of time to read over the holidays! Choose form a huge range of titles that will bring hours of relaxed enjoyment before being easily recycled. Or made into paper airplanes… or saved for wrapping next years presents… $9.99 – $11.99
8. London Naturals Organic Maple Syrup
Nature’s sweetener! Harvested towards the end of the season, this darker syrup offers a more robust maple flavour that improves everything from coffee to pancakes. And it’s Canadian, Eh! $9.99
9. Bora Bora Recycled Post-It Notes
These super-sticky notes are made with 30% post-consumer-recycled paper, with a plant-based adhesive that lets you stick them almost anywhere. Like on your teenager’s phone to remind them to take out the recycling…. Pack of three is just $8.99
10. CLIF Kid Organic Z-Bars
These certified Organic snacks are perfect for keeping kids fueled. Non-GMO, no artificial flavours and no high-fructose corn syrup either. Made by CLIF Bar, London Drugs’ Sustainable Vendor of the Year for 2017! Package of 5, just $4.99
BONUS – Wrap it all up in a 100% Natural Seagrass Basket.
Nature’s packaging! Looks great and is 100% biodegradable. On sale for just $9.99
However you choose to enjoy the holidays, remember to recycle your wrap, Bring Back the Pack and don’t waste a single moment! Merry Christmas from What’s the Green Deal!
November 15th, 2017
Top 10 Green Reasons CLIF Bar is the London Drugs Sustainable Vendor of the Year for 2017
When we go to choose our Sustainable Vendor of the Year, we have a lot of great contenders. So what made CLIF Bar stand out this year? Here’s our top 10:
10. CLIF is committed to organic. Featuring 17 USDA Certified organic products and 77% organic or certified sustainable ingredients, they stand up for organic farming and increasing organic acreage.
9. CLIF is committed to reducing waste. When a company aligns with one of our London Drugs sustainability pillars, we take note. Across their organization 83% of waste was diverted from landfill or incineration in 2016.
8. CLIF sources 100% Green Power electricity for their facilities. They also support community- and school-owned wind turbines.
7. CLIF is growing, while staying green. A 10-year compounded annual growth rate of 18% could tempt some companies to stray from their roots. CLIF is growing even greener.
6. Diversity Rules. Sustainability is also about people. In 2016, women held 49% of leadership positions at CLIF, and 43% of all CLIF people were made up of ethnic minorities.
5. CLIF makes climate action a priority. CLIF measures their GHG emissions and has a strategy to reduce them. They also work with supply chain partners to transition to at least 50% green power for electricity used for Clif Bar products and services by 2020.
4. CLIF practices Responsible Purchasing. Another London Drugs priority, supply chain and upstream purchasing is crucial to sustainability. CLIF uses both internal and third party audits of their facilities and has taken control of baking operations with two new factory purchases in 2016.
3. CLIF sets the bar high for operational efficiency. Food Processing Magazine named CLIF’s Idaho bakery “Green Plant of the Year”, for using 37% less water and emitting 40% fewer emissions per unit of production.
2. CLIF’s sustainable aspirations start a the top. The company’s owners and CEO have built a business model not on one bottom line but on Five Aspirations: Sustaining their Business, Brands, People, Community, and Planet.
And last, but not least:
1. CLIF Bars are a big success with YOU the London Drugs customer. Creating a successful product and promoting it well is not easy. CLIF has done it with their whole line, letting London Drugs offer snacks that help people make healthy, happy and sustainable choices. That’s the REAL Green Deal!
Congratulations, CLIF BAR, London Drugs’ Sustainable Vendor of the Year.
October 26th, 2017
Local London Drugs stores and What’s the Green Deal bring home a Surrey, BC Green City Award.
Store manager Elly Kurucz receives the Surrey Green City Award from Mayor Linda Hepner with (left to right) Lorne Craig, Sue Malloy and Susan Kellock. Photo courtesy The City of Surrey – Photographer: Brian Dennehy
Recycling is hard work, so when representatives from our Surrey stores got to step on stage and accept the Green City Award from Surrey Mayor and Council, they were both excited and a bit humbled.
“I have been with London Drugs for 28 years and I’m so proud tonight to be recognized for all we do at our stores and corporately,” said Guildford Town Centre Store Manager Elly Kurucz, “We care deeply for our communities and are wholeheartedly committed to the continued journey toward sustainability, reducing waste and providing greener shopping options.”
Surrey, BC London Drugs stores average a 94.65% diversion rate and in the last two years have diverted over 1.3 MILLION lbs of waste from landfill.
The waste diversion achievements of our 5 Surrey locations – #9 Guildford, #8 London Station, #42 White Rock, #81 Morgan Crossing and #75 Cloverdale, are a testament to the hard work of staff at each location.
The four pillars of London Drugs’ unique What’s the Green Deal program were also recognized, showing just how important corporate sustainability can be at the local level.
It was a gala night, honoring community leaders across the spectrum. Photo: Lorne Craig
“The caliber of award recipients we got to share this stage with was amazing.”
That was the general response among the London Drugs group as we watched other award winners like the New Hope Community Services Society, the Canucks Autism Network, and individuals like Alex Martel and Douglas Nickerson get recognized for helping refugees, supporting aboriginal youth and saving lives.
On behalf of our five Surrey locations, the whole London Drugs team would like to thank the City Of Surrey for this honour, and pledge that we will continue to work to make all of our communities as green as we possibly can.
October 18th, 2017
One small fee for a bag. One giant leap to reduce waste.
Adobe Stock
Canadians use up to 15 BILLION plastic bags every year* – enough to go around the world 55 times. That’s a lot of plastic, with the potential to negatively affect our environment, waterways and wildlife. Since 2006, London Drugs has reduced bag use by about 60%, through education and bag alternatives. But now it’s time to take the next step. Starting Jan1, 2018, we are introducing a 5¢ plastic bag reduction fee.
Why a fee? Because fees work to reduce bag use.
Although many may be unhappy to see a per-bag charge at their favourite stores, the results can be huge. When the UK started charging for bags, Wales and Ireland saw a 75% – 90% DECREASE in single-use plastic bags.** We think Canadians are ready to do just as well, or better. Research shows 53 per cent of Canadians feel stores should charge a fee for plastic bags.***
Do we charge for every bag?
Regular plastic bags are the majority of bags we hand out. So our fee is focused on reducing their use. Specialty bags in the cosmetic and pharmacy departments are not affected.
Where does the money go?
Our plastic bag reduction fee goes to cover bag costs, and to help support our What’s the Green Deal recycling programs. Since 2008, we have been steadily growing our in-store recycling services to take back more items than any other retailer in our category. (Around 11 Million pounds a year!) Proceeds from bag fees will help us grow our Green Deal programs even further and keep recycling free for our customers.
Small steps taken together make a big difference.
So bring your reusable bag, or bring a nickel. Then bring all your soft plastics back to London Drugs for recycling. With millions of Canadians shopping every day, if we each used even ONE less bag, that would save a LOT of plastic waste.
*Source: Greener Footprints Society http://www.greenerfootprints.com/plastic-bag-facts/
**Source: Article – The Telegraph, October 2015 – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11912052/Plastic-bag-charge-the-unintended-consequences-of-the-5p-deterrent.html
***Source: Angus Reid Poll, Canada, 2012 http://angusreidglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2012.06.13_Bags_CAN.pdf
September 27th, 2017
With product rebates up to $15, It’s time to save money on power, Alberta!
Energy Efficiency Alberta is offering a rebate program with incredible deals on high-efficiency lighting and ENERGY STAR® Certified products from September 28th to October 29th.
You can get rebates up to $2 per bulb on select LED light bulbs and $15 on select Smart Power Bars that will ALSO save you money on power bills in the long run. There may never be a better time to go through your home and upgrade your lighting to long-lasting LED quality.
For a look at the bright deals available, see the chart below and check our rebate lighting and power bar selection online here. But remember, to get your rebate you must shop in-store. So head to your local London Drugs from September 28th to October 29th, and stock up on ENERGY STAR® Certified lighting for the dark winter nights ahead!
Product Rebate Amount
LED Lighting (A-line) – $1 per unit (Energy Star® Certified, max. 8 units)
LED Lighting (non A-line) – $2 per unit (Energy Star® Certified, max. 8 units)
Smart Power Bars – $15 REBATE on Advanced (Smart) power bars with “master” and “slave” sockets
September 20th, 2017
Community Cleanup Recycles Loud and Proud at Royal Oak London Drugs in Calgary!
It was a beautiful September morning when the first cars started rolling into the parking lot, loaded with recycling for the annual Community Cleanup.
The London Drugs Community Trailer was on hand playing vinyl records and doing sound demos to keep the energy up. People brought everything from metal to electronics to Styrofoam to kids car seats, and the results were spectacular. Here are just some of the stats:
- 3 skids of Styrofoam
- 32lbs of Light Bulbs
- 33lbs of Toner
- 66 lbs of soft plastic
- 49lbs of hard plastic
- 185lbs of batteries.
- E-cycle solutions filled one whole truck, dropped off and came back for more recycled electronics
- Salvation Army filled two trucks full of clothing donations and usable household items
- The Syrian refugee support group took in almost 50 bikes that were in good repair and can be re-used
- Kidseats Car Seat recycling took in 14 car seats to recycle.
“This has grown into a very big event at our location,” says Store Manager Pat Tonner, “We received many positive comments from customers, they were quite surprised that they could recycle their Styrofoam during this event, and bring back packaging whenever they shop at London Drugs. We definitely want to keep getting the word out about our recycling.”
Congratulations to the whole team at Royal Oak. You are the real Green Deal!
For information on what you can recycle at your local London Drugs, go to greendeal.ca/recycling to find out more.
July 25th, 2017
5 Things You Need to Know About Greener Sunscreen.
Sunscreen is one of those things we are supposed to apply liberally to our arms, legs, face, kids… so what’s actually IN it? How does it work? Are some sunscreens ‘greener’ than others? Here’s some information for your consideration from the London Drugs’ What’s the Green Deal Team:
1. How sunscreen works: There are 2 types:
MINERAL sunscreen creates a layer of particles (zinc or titanium oxide) that deflect the sun’s rays.
Effective immediately
Does not degrade from UV exposure
Does not penetrate the skin
Also effective against UVA rays
Can leave white residue
CHEMICAL sunscreen uses compounds that absorb the sun’s rays and turn them into non-damaging wavelengths.
Easy to apply, non-whitening
Requires wait time to be effective
Chemicals can penetrate skin
Chemicals degrade when exposed to UV
2. Chemical Sunscreen Ingredients
Chemical sunscreens typically contain a combination of two to six of the following active ingredients:
oxybenzone
octinoxate
octisalate
octocrylene
homosalate
avobenzone
2
Recently, concerns have been raised about long-term safety of some of these ingredients, particularly oxybenzone (benzophenone-3 ) which, in addition to sun protection, acts as a penetration enhancer. This chemical has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cellular damage.
(Oxybenzone is present in over 500 other North American cosmetic items.) 1
Watch the Spray!
Spray sunscreens have increased in popularity, but some experts don’t recommend them, because of the hazard of inhaling chemicals and particles. 2
3.Look for Broad Spectrum Protection
The suns rays come in different lengths, and it’s a good idea to protect against them all.
UVA radiation
Goes deeper into the skin (dermis).
Causes premature aging and wrinkles.
Causes tanning.
UVB radiation
Affects the skin’s surface (epidermis).
Contributes most to burning of skin.
Damages your eyes. 5
4. Is Higher SPF Better?
People assume that they get twice as much protection from SPF 100 sunscreen as from SPF 50. In reality, the extra protection may be negligible. Used correctly, sunscreen with SPF values in the range of 30 to 50 will offer adequate protection, even for people most sensitive to sunburn.6
UV protection does not follow a linear relationship, meaning that if you apply half of the recommended amount you get LESS than half of the labeled SPF protection.
5. Protect ecosystems and coral too – Biodegradable and Reef Safe options
Researchers have identified four common sunscreen chemicals as toxic to coral health. (oxybenzone butylparaben, octinoxate and a chemical called 4MBC)
Unfortunately, 25 to 60 million bottles worth of sunscreen chemicals wash off into coral reef areas each year. Sunscreens with titanium oxide or zinc oxide, (natural mineral ingredients), have not been found harmful to corals. 4 If you are swimming in nature, choose one of these options.
Great Green Sunscreen Options
London Drugs is pleased to offer a range of sunscreen options. Here are some choices that protect as sustainably as possible:
Aveeno Mineral & Aveeno Baby
Mineral based protection
UVA, UVB protection
Badger Sunscreens
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide Mineral Protection
Biodegradable
87% organic ingredients
UVA, UVB protection
What’s the Green Deal Featured
Boo Bamboo Natural Sunscreen
Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide, Titanium Oxide
UVA, UVB protection
Made in Canada
Goddess Garden
Certified organic
Non-Nano, Reef Safe, Non-GMO, Biodegradable
Vegan, Cruelty Free, Paraben and Phthalate Free
UVA, UVB protection
What’s the Green Deal Featured
Green Beaver
Non-nano zinc oxide and titanium oxide mineral protection
100% natural, biodegradable and reef friendly
Made in Canada
UVA, UVB protection
What’s the Green Deal Featured
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc
Active ingredient: Zinc Oxide
UVA, UVB protection
Trying a new sunscreen?
Test a little on a small area of skin. If you have a reaction, please bring the product back.
LEARN MORE at greendeal.ca Blogs, videos, articles & products to help you live a little greener.
Sources:
Source: London Drugs Health Blog 2014 – http://healthblog.londondrugs.com/suncare-update-2014
Source: Environmental Working Group Sunscreen Report 2017 – http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/executive-summary/#.WW_md4qQxE5
ENvironmental Working Group – Do the Chemicals in your sunscreen damage fragile coral reefs? – http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2016/07/do-chemicals-your-sunscreen-damage-fragile-coral-reefs#.WW_vvIqQxE4
US National Park Service Bulletin – Protect Yourself, Protect the Reef! – https://cdhc.noaa.gov/_docs/Site%20Bulletin_Sunscreen_final.pdf
Canadian Skin Cancer Foundtion -http://www.canadianskincancerfoundation.com/sun-screen.html
Environmental Working Group – What’s wrong with high SPF? – http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/whats-wrong-with-high-spf/#.WW_054qQxE4
July 7th, 2017
London Drugs announces expanded partnership with Recycle BC for recycling of plastic bags, plastic overwrap and foam packaging in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission.
Starting July 5, 2017, recycling plastic bags, plastic overwrap and foam packaging in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission will be as simple as a trip to London Drugs. Recycle BC (formerly Multi-Material BC) is partnering with London Drugs to offer this convenient option for residents to bring these materials to their local store for recycling. Building off a partnership established with London Drugs stores in the City of Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, this expansion involves four stores in the participating communities.
The following plastic bags, overwrap and foam packaging are now accepted at London Drugs stores in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission:
- Plastic bags and overwrap, including grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, outer bags for diapers
- White and coloured plastic foam packaging, including foam meat trays, foam egg cartons and foam cushion packaging for electronics
LONDON DRUGS LOCATIONS IN ABBOTSFORD, CHILLIWACK AND MISSION:
- Abbotsford – #26 – 32700 South Fraser Way
- Abbotsford – Unit L 110 – 3122 Mt. Lehman Road
- Chilliwack – #21 – 45585 Luckakuck Way
- Mission – #200 – 32555 London Avenue
“As new communities within our Recycle BC program, we’re excited to expand our partnership with London Drugs to offer residents of Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission more options for recycling plastic bags, overwrap and foam packaging,” said Allen Langdon, Managing Director of Recycle BC. “We’re pleased to offer residents more options for recycling material that is not accepted in curbside recycling.”
“With the expansion to Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission, London Drugs is proud to again be partnering with Recycle BC to offer a very convenient way for more consumers to recycle their plastic bags, overwrap and foam packaging,” said Kevin Sorby, General Manager, Retail Operations, London Drugs. “Now our customers and the greater community in these areas will be able to bring in these materials no matter where the original product packaging has originated from. Simply bring it in to your local London Drugs and we’ll ensure it is recycled properly.”
Plastic bags and overwrap are recycled into new grocery bags, plastic pallets, containers, crates, pipes, decking and park benches. Plastic foam packaging is recycled into picture frames, construction trim, moulding, park benches and fence posts.
In addition to London Drugs locations, residents can continue to return plastic bags, overwrap and foam packaging at seven other depots in these communities. A tool to find the nearest depot can be found at Recycle BC.
Recycle BC is a non-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and printed paper recycling throughout BC, ensuring household material is collected, sorted and recycled. Plastic bags, overwrap and foam packaging are not collected at curbside because when these materials mix with other recyclables they do not separate well enough to meet the standards of North American recycling markets.
Additional items consumers can recycle at London Drugs include fluorescent lights, rechargeable and alkaline batteries, cell phones, cardboard, electronics and cartridges for printers and computers. More information on the many items London Drugs will take back for recycling can be found at www.greendeal.ca.
May 26th, 2017
Save on LED bulbs now. Save on electricity for decades. Upgrade today with instant rebates from Energy Efficiency Alberta at London Drugs!
There’s no question that LED bulbs use less energy, last longer and save you more on electricity. Now, thanks to Energy Efficiency Alberta’s Instant Savings campaign— April 28 until June 11—Albertans can save instantly on these energy-efficient bulbs at London Drugs.
Choose from a wide range of LED bulb sizes and formats and save between $3 and $8 on each. Residential customers receive these rebates on up to 25 LED bulbs of each type, so you can upgrade your whole house.
Energy STAR* LEDs and fixtures have an extended lifetime of 25,000 hours or more. They’re also instant-on, don’t contain any mercury, and many are compatible with dimmer switch technology. Click here to see the wide range of bulb sizes and savings available.
And don’t forget, you can bring back old light bulbs right to your local London Drugs for responsible recycling – incandescent, CFL and even fluorescent tubes up to 4 feet long.
Visit our Efficiency Alberta web page, browse through greendeal.ca, or just stop by your local London Drugs to find out more.
