We can’t ignore the news reports any longer: the House of Commons recently declared a climate emergency in Canada as of June 17th. If it sounds serious, that’s because it is. According to members of parliament, science shows that Canada is warming at twice the global average. Should we be worried – perhaps? But there are also some preventative measures that can be put into place to do your part to help save the environment like going zero or low waste.
According to the Green Business Bureau, a staggering 2.2 billion tonnes of waste is produced per year with much of the waste produced from packaging used for food and beverages.
Instagram/@the.less.life
You may have noticed more and more companies across the board have made it their mission to generate less packaging and dispose of less waste.
One great example of this is coffee shops across the Greater Toronto Area and in North America implementing the Bring Your Own Mug or BYOM program. How it works is if you bring in a mug, you get a discount on your cup of joe. Seems simple enough, since so many of us have travel coffee mugs at home, but is it? Ashley Tomlinson of the blog, The Little Black Coffee Cup wrote about her 30-day commitment to change her behavior and found it required some planning and thought, and it brings up some excellent points on how to stay committed because it’s a huge lifestyle change.
Instagram/@thelittleblackcoffeecup
For many, we all want to do our part for the environment and for good reason. But the biggest thing we have to understand and realize is the zero-waste movement is about cutting down on packaging and of course, implementing changes in behavior – consumer or otherwise.
It’s a lifestyle change, and for many – it can be a privilege to make those lifestyle changes. Another great example is the Unboxed Market, a waste-free grocery store in Toronto’s west-end. The shop is dedicated to minimizing plastic waste and asks customers to bring in their own reusable food containers, mason jars, and bags when they shop there.
But some people may not have access or the resources to buying bulk Tupperware or mason jars to purchase their groceries or furthermore the pricing might be different here vs a discount grocery store that does use harmful plastics.
StyleDemocracy
In a recent piece for Vox, the author Alden Wicker writes, “Zero waste helps us reexamine our relationship with stuff in a way that can seem progressive and anti-consumerist.”
In theory, anyone can participate in the zero waste movement. But we need to think about the additional costs and the time one must invest to actually participate in this movement.
One place we’ve seen that is anti-consumerist while also contributing to the zero waste movement is Chef Jagger Gordon’s Feed It Forward pay-what-you-can grocery store. Located in The Junction, Chef Gordon is saving food that is about to be thrown out by grocery stores and food terminals and serving it back out to the community and those who need it most. In an interview with Toronto Life, Chef Gordan explains “We have $31 billion in food waste in this country. You don’t know who’s food insecure or even who is homeless. That’s kind of the idea behind this place. Everyone is treated the same.”
Feed It Forward
There is a wide variation on how zero waste is defined and focusing on zero waste may mean for some prioritizing waste.
But overall, we need to think of the bigger picture: making bigger overall lifestyle changes and implementing them into our lives, into the way that feels right for us. There is no right or wrong way to be zero-waste and one person’s journey may look different from another’s.
Know this: each small step you take is going to help save the planet and don’t feel judged because you haven’t taken more drastic measures. We’re all in this together!
Featured Image: Instagram/@abbeyrose.design
Articles You May Be Interested In:
Inside Unboxed Market: Toronto’s First Waste-Free Grocery Store
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This Woman Literally Creates Zero Waste — Here’s How She Does it
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Reformation Is Opening Its 1st Canadian Store In Toronto This Summer
Climate change is demanding our attention more than ever, in Canada especially. It was recently reported that our country is accelerating at a rate double the global average. Most of us totally get it — it’s up to our generation to make the changes necessary to turn it around, and us Canadians have the chance to set an example. It’s no small responsibility, but it can start with our daily choices.
We can be part of the solution by choosing to be more conscious in the way we shop, travel, eat, and who we support. Vote with your dollar at one of these 7 eco-friendly stores in the city.
EcoExistence
Instagram/@ecoexistence
766 St. Clair West
Here you’ll find pink Himalayan salt lamps, sage sticks, and jade rollers — but also Greenpan cookware, organic mattresses, and bamboo cutlery. So whether you’ve been committed to green living for most of your life, or if you’re just curious to see what products are out there, EcoExistence will have something you need. This store has served the community for 11+ years and always keeps stock interesting, and never sacrifices their values.
Logan and Finley
Instagram/@loganandfinley
670 Queen St. West
This green ‘general store’ on Queen West aims to be a one-stop-shop for a sustainable lifestyle. Shop items from 50+ ethical, sustainable brands ranging from clothing and accessories, skin care, cleaning products, kitchenware, and curio. For made-to-last items for low-impact lifestyles, Logan and Finely is one retailer to trust.
Ecotique
Facebook/Ecotique Toronto
191 Roncesvalles Ave.
This beautifully inviting lifestyle store on Roncesvalles makes an accessible introduction to green living, with recycled glassware, jewelry, decor, and accessories. If you want to make your home a little greener this summer but don’t know where to start, come to Ecotique for all the inspiration.
Unboxed Market
Instagram/@unboxedmarket
1263 Dundas St. West
If the amount of plastic you inevitably purchase at conventional grocery stores makes you cringe, then Unboxed Market is your solution. Zero waste shopping is possible, as former restauranteurs Luis and Michelle are proving with their progressive new food market. Bring your own containers, fill them up with bulk ingredients (choose from pantry staples and cleaning supplies), and pay. Nothing goes to waste. There’s also a butcher counter, fridge, huge produce section, and a cafe — so, all your family’s grocery need are met in one space!
Ava’s Appletree
Instagram/@avas_appletree
870 Kingston Rd.
For parents who want to raise kids in the most health-conscious and sustainable way, Ava’s Appletree has just about everything on your list. Choose from a selection of cloth diapers, baby carriers, clothes, toys, bath supplies, and items for moms. Everything is all natural, all organic because having a family doesn’t have to come at the cost of your carbon footprint.
The Big Carrot Community Market
Instagram/@thebigcarrot
348 Danforth Ave.
If you’re interested in reducing your footprint by eating more mindfully, The Big Carrot is where to shop in the east end. Here, you can get local, organic, non-GMO, and sustainable food items from top green brands. There’s also a holistic dispensary with sustainable bath and body products, supplements, and books. You can easily make an afternoon out of a trip to The Big Carrot Co-op!
Peaches and Green
Instagram/@peachesandgreentoronto
1561 Bayview Ave.
This midtown health boutique has served the city for over 27 years with a wide range of nutritional supplements, botanical and homeopathic remedies, as well as therapeutic skin and body care. Peaches and Green is the place to go to get everything you need to green up your bathroom cabinet.
Featured Image: Sancho’s
Articles You May Be Interested In:
Inside Unboxed Market: Toronto’s First Waste-Free Grocery Store
The City’s First Zero-Waste Market Is Coming To Downtown Toronto
This Popular Eco-Friendly Brand Is Entering Canada
Etsy Becomes First Global Retailer to Offset Carbon Emissions
8 Eco-Friendly Gifts You Can Give This Year