As omnipresent as it is today, it may be difficult to remember that bottled water was a novelty just 10-20 years ago. It was once a trendy accessory or punch line for pampered celebrities – “she demanded 10 bottles of Perrier to wash her hair with.” Now, thanks to a turn towards healthy lifestyles and aggressive marketing, bottled water has become as common and widely available as, well, tap water.

Credit: Suat Eman

With the threat of privatisation and landfills overflowing with empty plastic bottles, The Canadian Federation of Students, Polaris Institute and The Sierra Youth Coalition have teamed up to spearhead Canada’s first Bottled Water Free Day on March 11th. You are invited to take the pledge to “not drink bottled water where public water is available” and to “ditch the bottle and turn on the tap!” If you are still not convinced, here are some of the scarier facts you may not know about the bottled water industry:

o In terms of environmental impact, consider the following: for every bottle you drink, TWO bottles are used to produce it.

o According to the Pacific Institute, 17 million barrels of oil were used to produce the 31.2 billion litres of bottled water consumed in the United States.

o Between the shipping of raw materials to plants and the finished product to shelves, the industry is a HUGE contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Imagine what it takes to ship Fiji Water from Fiji or San Pellegrino from Italy…

o The energy cost of producing a plastic bottle is equal to filling ¼ of that bottle with crude oil.

o Bottled water and plastic resource companies have spent MILLIONS to fight against deposit return programs. These programs would require them to assume some of the recycling costs and of course, lessen the demand for their products.

o 10-15% of the price of a bottle of water goes to advertising costs.

o What the advertisers fail to mention in these ads is that in terms of quality, NOTHING about bottled water is different from tap water – except its cost.

o In fact, marketing campaigns have been so effective that they have contributed to a diminished confidence in public water systems and have set the ball rolling for privatisation of water services; consumers would be willing to pay more for “safer” water.

Regulation of the bottled water industry vs. regulation of tap water:

o In Canada, bottled water is considered a food product under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Government oversight that exists for these regulations has not been updated since 1973.

o It is estimated that Canadian bottling plants receive, on average, one inspection every 3 to 5 years.

o There have been 29 recalls of 49 bottled water products since 2000, only five of which were made public; products were recalled due to bacterial or chemical contaminations.

o In Canada, the quality and safety of tap water is the responsibility of municipalities and provinces, though federal guidelines also apply when it comes to quantities of microbiological, chemical and radiological substances allowable in the water.

o The City of Ottawa conducts over 125,000 quality tests per year and the City of Toronto checks its water for bacteria every 4 to 6 hours.

Big business and bottled water:

o Coca Cola (Dasani) and PepsiCo (Aquafina) are two of the four “Big 4” water-bottlers (with Nestle and Danone).

o These companies actively pursue beverage exclusivity contracts in public institutions like universities and public buildings.

o School contacts are often long-term (10 years) and contain stiff conditions like quotas and enormous fees for termination.

o Free water fountains are often removed from schools while cost to operate vending machines can rise up to $175,000 per year (paid by the university).

o In Canada, 25% of bottled water sold is reprocessed tap water; most of it is sold by Coca Cola or PepsiCo.

o The bottled water industry has spent BILLIONS on marketing.

o For Coca Cola and PepsiCo, revenue for bottled water (per unit) is greater than soft drinks.

You’re convinced, now what can you do?

o Visit the site, get informed
o Take the pledge
o Keep the pledge – This isn’t just for one day, it’s a real commitment
o Inform others – Talk about it, tell even just one person or print the free advertising materials available on the website
o Get your school/business/municipality to sign up – So far, 3 universities have made the commitment to ban bottled water, as have cities from 8 provinces and 2 territories
o Also, visit Brita’s “Filter for Good” campaign and pledge to replace bottled water with reusable containers.

The bottled water industry is less regulated than municipal water systems, consumes more energy and releases more harmful toxins into the environment than tap water. If that were not enough, privatisation increases the risk of regulation of a resource that is vital to life. And if that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.

Today is International Women’s Day. Why is International Women’s Day so important? Why should we be supporting women around the world. How can we support them from so far away?

Why is International Women’s Day so important?
Women around the world are still considered property or second class citizen’s in many countries. They are not allowed to control their own destinies or contribute to the well being of their own communities. They may not make decisions that affect themselves; they do not have the freedom to earn income or even socialize or seek medical attention without consent of another human being. Women all over the world deserve the right to control their own destinies. They deserve dignity.

Why should we be supporting women around the world?
Women deserve dignity. They deserve to have all the rights and responsibilities of every other human being on the planet. Apart from that, it is a well known fact that in many countries, women are responsible for the health, well-being and education of their children. When women are doing well, their children are doing well. Women who control their own destinies have fewer children and the children that they do have, are healthy, better educated and go on to improve the lives of generations to come.

How can we support them from so far away?
First and foremost, as consumers we can buy products that are made by people who choose to work rather than being forced to work, and who earn enough money to supply the basic necessities to their family. Looking good isn’t worth the suffering of another human being.

We are supporting women this month by asking Canadians to lend $25.00 U.S. to a women entrepreneur through Team Ethical Consumer at Kiva. To learn more about our efforts, check out

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

In the making of vegan products, words such as ‘natural’, ‘animal free’, and ‘free of chemicals’ come up quite frequently. That, in a nut shell, is what vegan cosmetics are. Getting the right material and blending them in just the right manner, however, is not as easy as it sounds. There are many simple recipes you can follow at home, but since some ingredients are hard to come by, it is easier to just visit your friendly Canadian vegan cosmetic web site such as www.oresta.ca

Tea tree oil and thyme essential oil are natural preservatives. Therefore, you will find these in most cosmetics vegan or otherwise. Grapefruit seed extract and rosemary extract when combined with certain vitamins, such as E or C, can also be used as preservatives. Always check the expiration date, as shelf life can vary.

When making vegan cosmetics, companies only produce small batches. This ensures that the product will be used or sold well before any danger of bacteria can grow. Many companies offer an ‘on demand’ option. This means the product will not be made until it is ordered, ensuring the utmost in freshness! Sure, you can rub strawberries on your checks as blush, but the result will be more scary than attractive. It’s better to follow the instructions of the professionals, or buy the cosmetics readymade.

True beauty is natural

Making vegan cosmetics is all about helping women lead a healthier lifestyle. Everything you put on your skin will soak into your bloodstream or be washed into the water supply. Once in the water supply toxins affects every aspect of our planet: plants and animals. Then, the toxins come back to us a second time and further affect our health and welfare.

There was a time when being an ethical dog owner meant not leaving your dog’s business on your neighbour’s lawn. Today, social consciousness and ethical consumerism have taken the act of walking your pup to a completely new level.

It is winter in Canada, it is cold, and you are all bundled up, why shouldn’t your pooch be? Step 1: Throw on his Chilly Sweater ™ from Chilly Dogs. A small company from Ottawa, Chilly Dogs is dedicated to using only North American fleece and materials, sewn by local workers, who are paid Canadian wages.

Puppy is rocking the sweater but you’re not ready to go yet. All those chemicals found on the street and sidewalks are harsh for your buddy’s paws. Step 2: Slather on some Dog Paw Protection balm by DuSenza. An alternative to pesky booties, this all-natural balm hardens to protect paws from calcium, salt, cold and ice. Initially specializing in natural facial and body products, DuSenza, located in suburban Montreal, has extended its product line to include high quality, eco-friendly pet products.

Finally ready to step out the door? Step 3: Grab your Hemp Corduroy Dog Collar and attach it to your Hemp Corduroy Dog Lead. Made of 100% hemp fibre with non-toxic dyes, the material « breathes » and will not cause irritation. From British Columbia’s Silly Kitty, a company that supports the idea of responsible consumption and whose philosophy is « to provide eco-conscious consumers with an alternative to foreign made pet products ».

Doggy has left the aforementioned business on your neighbour’s lawn. Step 4: Take a Scoopie out of your pocket. Better yet, you’ve noticed that the mitt-shaped bag conveniently fits over your own mitt or glove, sparing your already frozen fingers. 100% oxo-biodegradable, 30 in a box, Montreal-based Scoopies are sold in ethical pet stores in Canada and all over the world.

You’re finally back home. It’s been a long day. Your best friend deserves a treat. Crumps’ Naturals will have your buddy saying « mmmmm, liver! » Their Garlic Liver Fillets are baked without grains, colours, additives or preservatives. This family-owned, Caledon, Ontario company prides itself on selling only 100% all-natural, top quality dog treats.

Your little tail-wagger is finally out for the night and you will be too. Phew, it is exhausting being such a loving and responsible dog owner, but honestly, would you want to do it any other way?

All products are available at www.biopaw.com, another great and ethical Canadian pet supplies store.

Next Monday is International Women’s Day. Ethical Consumer would like to celebrate International Women’s Day all month long by offering loans to women all over the world through Kiva.

Kiva is an organization that connects people - like you and me - who are willing to lend money to people who need small loans in order to start or grow a small business. So for example, Edith has a shoe business and wants to expand but can’t because she doesn’t have the capital. She has more orders than she can fill. She asks for a loan through an agency in her hometown. The agency uses Kiva to raise the money for her. People like me - and you - loan her money. I gave $25 (US) to Edith through Kiva. She asked for a total of $700.00 (US) and received all of it from a total of 25 lenders. She will now pay that money back over eight months. Could she default? Yes, but Kiva has a repayment rate of 98.37%, which is far better than any Canadian bank!

So once she repays the money, her lenders can
- loan the money out to someone else
- withdraw it and walk away, or
- donate it to Kiva for more good works

I have always believed that the best way to alleviate poverty is to allow people to control their own destiny. We are all intelligent and creative beings. This in essence is what International Women’s Day is all about; allowing women to control their own destiny.

Join Team Ethical Consumer at Kiva and loan $25.00 (US) to a women entrepreneur that has a story that speaks to you. Or if you have a business and would like to advertise through the Ethical Consumer directory, purchase a listing for one year for $100.00 (CDN) and we will loan $25.00 (US) to an women entrepreneur for you. Please select ‘Team EC @ Kiva’ when purchasing the listing.

I chose to lend money to a women in Peru because I lived there for four years and Peru will always hold a place in my heart. Why Edith? The day before I left to come back to Canada, I went through all my old shoes figuring I’d buy new ones when I arrived home. I put together a box of shoes I was not going to take with me and walked down to the curb and dropped the box there. I walked back up the two flights to my apartment, looked out the window and the shoes were gone. You have no idea how important shoes are until you go without.

We have a lot of people search our site for information about eco-audits, so EC decided to find out more about eco-audits and what you can expect during an eco-audit. Alexandra Henriques (AH), founder of ECO-Audit was kind enough to answer our questions.

EC: So I guess the first question is, what is an ECO-audit?

AH: An ECO-audit helps families and small businesses green their footprint, save money, but above all protect the health of their members. Why? Because almost everything in the average home is slowly poisoning us. Asthma, allergies, and cancer are rising worldwide at alarming rates. Children are the most vulnerable to this assault, but we can protect them. Through the home or business premises audits we do, we facilitate the adoption of sustainable, healthy, and cost-effective materials, products and practices.

EC: What is your background and how did you get into the business of ECO-audits?

AH: I have been a life-long environmentalist, with over 25 years of experience pursuing sustainable practices and applying them. My professional background is in education, which has come in very handy. I find there is a lot of education to do around mainstream products and practices which are no good for the environment — or us. ECO-audit also does sustainability education by providing workshops, and my experience developing learning materials for adults, and facilitating learning has been invaluable. I got into this business because I wanted to share all the environmental knowledge I had, and help others.

EC: What can I expect, when I get an ECO-audit?

AH: When you get an ECO-audit you can expect an appointment on a day and time that’s convenient for you, an interview to determine your concerns and objectives, and a thorough audit of the home or business premises. This will take from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Within a week, you will receive by email the audit report, this will include all positive actions being taken presently, problem areas with concrete suggestions, a glossary of terms used, and a list of resources relevant to your issues and area. The second scheduled appointment will then take place to discuss the report, answer any questions, and help you on your way to healthier sustainability.
Ongoing support is included in an audit, anytime you hit a roadblock; help is just a phone call or email away.

EC: What types of eco-audits do you conduct?

AH: Besides the whole home or business premises audits, we have Focus Audits, featuring the BABY-audit - “peace of mind for expecting parents”, a very similar Pet-audit, a Diet-audit, which helps you become a locavore, green your diet, and avoid contaminants, especially important for children; we also have for D.I.Y.ers the Reno-audit, the Yard-audit, and the Move-audit; finally we have a Transportation-audit that helps those who want to drive less, but are not sure how to go about it.

EC: What are some of the things you might suggest new parents look for?

AH:To new parents I would suggest less is more, and go back to basics. What we see all around in our society is excess, but not necessarily quality, often just quantity. Go for the quality and protect your baby. For example, you say organic cotton is expensive, I say the baby doesn’t need 10 teething toys, a couple will do, get something healthy you don’t have to worry about. Go back to the basic toys all children enjoy, ones made by craftspeople out of solid wood for example, with healthy finishes, not plastic whose ingredients you can’t check and mass produced by exploited workers.

EC: When I took at look at your website, I was really interested in the Yard-audit. I have always thought we should rethink our yards to focus on native plants especially the plants that attract the birds, bees, butterflies and other animals. Our yards should really be part of the natural circle of life. Is that the focus of a Yard-audit?

AH: Yes, that is definitely part of a Yard-audit, we have strayed too far away from nature, by starting with only native plants and then the value-added of drought-resistance we get on the right path again. Choosing to attract birds, butterflies or bees gives even more value. We can go even further by incorporating in the yard bird feeders, baths, or bird houses, a rain barrel, a composting bin, a dog W.C., a laundry line, or games.

EC: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

AH: Check our website for our Spring workshops, and you can also sign up for our blog.

EC: In closing, I noticed that there are gift certificates on your site. What a great idea for a house warming gift or for a shower gift for new parents. Alexandra, thank you for your time.

A few years ago, I moved to a different neighbourhood and had to find a new source for healthy cat food and bio pet supplies within walking distance. The pickings were slim and I was relegated to checking the options at the grocery store. That’s where I found Iams. Okay, I thought; affordable food, close to home, and by a well-known, reliable pet food company that really loves my kitties. I knew this last part, of course, because that is what the Iams people have been telling me for years in their commercials. As it turns out, they might love my kitties but other cats and dogs… not so much.

By some bizarre coincidence – happenstance, perhaps, serendipity or divine intervention – I found myself researching something on PETA’s website mere days after my Iams discovery at the grocery store. There, on the home page, ready and waiting to capture my attention, a story about Iams’ “policy” of caging dogs and cats and turning them into guinea pigs (see www.iamscruelty.com). As it turns out, they are not the only ones. Pet food companies routinely use confined animals to test their products or lend them out to laboratories for experimentation. This discovery led me on a search for cat food that was not only healthy, but also cruelty-free.

Luckily, there is a growing market for ethical pet products, including a great find: Holistic Blend. A family-owned, Canadian company from Mississauga that set out to change the pet food industry 15 years ago, its motto is “If we can’t eat it, why should our pets?” They offer grain-free, wheat-free, low carb, high protein options for cats and dogs, as well as treats, supplements and alternative aids for a variety of pet-problems, such as hairballs, anxiety, diabetes and bad breath.

It is a sad fact that there has to be a distinction for cruelty-free animal products. Fortunately, Holistic Blend is just one of the many homegrown businesses that are striving to make our beloved pets as healthy as can be. Let us hope this will take a bite out of all the “Iamses” of the world.

About the writer: Sophie a freelance writer, proud mother of four exceptional cats and a strong believer in ethical consumerism, cannot claim any expertise (in ethical pet care or anything else) other than the knowledge she has acquired over the years, researching products and shopping for myself. She believes in buying fair trade products, supporting companies that do not test on animals, opting for the recycled-material options, encouraging independent retailers, and on, and on… In a nutshell, She’s just a girl trying to make the world a better place, one bag of cat food at a time.

Yesterday I highlighted three social entrepreneurs with links outside of Canada. Today I will focus on five social enterprises that are fully Canadian. There are so many social enterprises to choose from and it was incredibly difficult to narrow it down to five, but I think these five really show different types of businesses with a variety of goals all within the realm of social enterprise.

EthniCity Catering

Pure genius. It started out with a few requests for ethnic foods. Today EthnicCity Catering offers high quality, multi-ethnic food to Calgarians. It employs immigrant women in transition and breaks the cycle of “no Canadian work experience, no Canadian work.” I was amazed to learn that women are usually employed by EthniCity Catering for only three months before they find other work or pursue further education. Wow!

Away Courier

When I came across this business, I was amazed to find that they have been around for 22 years and have over 1,700 customers in the Toronto. They are pioneers in social enterprise.  Using public transit, Away Couriers delivers same day packages at a reasonable cost to a variety of businesses including lawyers,  medical services and government departments. Away Couriers was founded and is run by people with direct experience with the mental health system, which is an incredibly empowering and meaningful way to eliminate stereotypes.

The Cleaning Solution

The Cleaning Solution offers cleaning services to businesses, organizations such as schools and churches and government in the Greater Vancouver. They focus on quality, health and environmental safety. They also have a mandate to support individuals recovering from mental illness that are ready to enter the workforce and to combat widespread stereotypes regarding mental illness.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited: YOU

Based in Mississauga, YOU has several services, but the one I was most interested in was their three social enterprises that offer youth meaningful, hands-on job experience. In the kitchen, youth work one-on-one to create preserves that are then sold online. In the woodshop, an experienced carpenter trains youth in woodworking skills to produce exceptional furniture. Finally, at the recycling facility youth are trained in skills that will be valuable in the growing green economy.

Options Canada

Options Canada is a businesses service company that offers printing, photocopying, graphic design along with many other services. In offering these services, they also provide employment training to individuals who have an intellectual disability. The program is designed to help individuals integrate into the workforce and includes business etiquette and transferable skills. Part of the program includes a high school co-op where students can experience what it is like to work in a retail environment. As they say, “this helps them decided what path to choose after finishing school.”

Choice is important for all of us. These are great businesses to choose to work with.

Today is World Day of Social Justice so we thought we’d brag about some fabulous Canadian social entrepreneurs who are changing our world. A social entrepreneur identifies a social problem and uses business principles to solve that problem. Success is measured in terms of social impact. These entrepreneurs sell products or services that we can buy; and when we put our money into these products, we know that we are part of a sustainable and equitable economy rather than one driven solely by profit. Take a few minutes today and check out how we as consumers can support real change in our world.  Please note that each link will open in a new window.

Bazura Bags

Bazura Bags works closely with a women’s cooperative in the Philippines. Every day, children collect discarded juice boxes popular in the Philippines and sells them to the co-op. The women in the co-op then make beautiful bags. As much as they would like to see fewer juice boxes sold, for now they are pleased that they can divert them and create functional and fun bags. They are also starting to work with other discarded items such as billboards. In September 2009, the co-op was devastated by Typhoon Onday: homes were flooded, lives were lost and the headquarters damaged. After receiving many donations and hard work, they have rebuilt their lives and would like to see an increase in orders for their bags in order to have all members back at work.

OrangOrang Project

Sprouted in Canada and now based out of Indonesia, OrangOrang produces incredible and socially responsible fashion.  The fabrics are organic and fairly traded. The dyes are made from Indonesia’s rich vegetation and traditional knowledge. Ethical Consumer recently featured OrangOrang as part of Vancouver’s Fashion Week. The project provides transferrable skills, safe environments and fair wages to local women. They also work with YKPA to create opportunities for street children that have lasting economic and social benefits rather than short term handouts.

Jabu Bags

Jaju Bags is a small but growing social enterprise that offers more than just skills training to rural women in Swaziland. Jaju Bags not only produces beautiful and functional bags, it also empowers women through financial independence. Their current project is to build a new centre as the current one is cramped and dark. To do this they are working with the Raw Foundation to build a workshop/community centre that will provide a better working environment as well as school rooms for open use. The structure will be made from recycled and low carbon emissions material, and will be built by the community itself. My favourite bag is the Doron bag, which I have my eye on for my next laptop bag.

Word of mouth is the best advertising they always say. So, who do these social enterpreneurs recommend:

Ethical Ocean

Global Fair Trade

Recommend your favourite in our comments section.

No matter how easy a job may seem, if you want to do it right you will need to put some effort into it. The same goes for painting. The secret lies in good preparation. Make sure that you work with quality tools, starting with paint, brushes and sealants. (Bad quality material will make your job far more difficult and the end result may not be up to your standards). Also, don’t forget to take your time, work at your own leisure and most importantly have patience and have fun!

TIP: If you are a novice, chose a smaller project, like a simple chair, desk or a stool. The simpler the lines, the greater chance at success.

Before

For your painting job you will need the following supplies:
• Painter’s tape
• Sand paper
• Tack cloth
• Primer
• Paint
• Paint tray
• Rollers and brushes
• Sealant
• (Patience)

Make sure that the surface is well prepped. Remove all the hardware and if you won’t be putting it back then fill all the holes with the wood filler. Remove any dirt, tape off the areas that you wish to protect, sand the piece, then sand it some more and prime if necessary.

Sandpaper comes in different grit designations – the lower the designation the coarser the paper. For most jobs using 120 grit paper will do, but for surfaces that were covered with several coats of paint I would resort to 100 or 80 grit. For more info on grit sizing click here.

Priming is optional, but if the surface is stained or if you want to achieve even finish throughout, I certainly recommend it. Before priming or painting, make sure that all the dust has been removed and that the surface is clean and smooth. The best way to ensure that the surface is clean is to use a tack cloth that you can find at your local hardware store.

Your surface is ready to receive the first coat of paint now. I usually put two coats of indoor latex paint, but if you think you need one more, go for it. You can use a small foam roller or a variety of brushes for your job. While rollers do a great job on larger surfaces, the brushes are excellent for cutting in all the corners and crevices. When purchasing brushes, talk to the sales people, describe your project and they will be able to give you a good advice.

TIP: In my experience, foam brushes tend to leave less brush marks and cause less drips then their “hairy” alternatives.

Between coats I sand the surface lightly with a 120 grit paper to make sure that the next coat of paint adheres better. Wait for the paint to dry completely before applying the sealant. If you are going for the distressed vintage look, use the sand paper to distress the surface in places where it would get most wear. I would not use a mechanical sander at this point as it does not allow for much control. After you have achieved the desired look, you can proceed with protecting the surface.

There is a variety of options out there of which I use the following two:
1. Clear water-based polyurethane finish – it dries quickly and provides good durability
2. Paste finishing wax – protects and adds lustre to any stained or finished wood surface (using wax finish will give your furniture a much softer look)

Once the top coat is dry, clean the surface once more with a lint free rag, remove all the tape and add hardware.

TIP: Wash your brushes, paint trays and rollers thoroughly after use. It will save you some $$ and a trip to the hardware store.

Et Voilà!, this concludes our furniture painting tutorial.

After

If you still believe that this is more than you are willing to cope with, give me a call or send me an email. I will be happy to help you with your next painting job.

I can be reached at: Jelena [!at] poppyseedliving.com or by phone at 416-704-5367.