I’ll be totally honest. I used to really love Christmas when I was younger; the decorations, the food, certain toys that only came out of storage during the holidays…these things sealed the deal for me. And the hot pink sled I got one year - that was badass. Thanks Mom and Dad! Then came that one year in high-school when I somehow decided taking two retail jobs at the mall over the holidays was a good idea. It really wasn’t. Any remaining Christmas spirit got zapped out of me and by Boxing Day I was ready to denounce the whole Christmas thing forever. That’s why I was kind of shocked when out of nowhere this year I felt a little shimmer of that old excitement that used to come in anticipation of the approaching season. I just might rekindle some of that festive spirit this year, as miraculous as that sounds. As you’ve probably figured out by now I’m not one to join in the consumerist frenzy and start the shopping-til-I-drop in mid-August, or at all for that matter, but there is something special about picking out a few thoughtful gifts for the people who put up with your bologna year-round.

Melody and I have kept our eyes open for the cool present possibilities that align with Ethical Consumer’s beliefs and won’t trash the planet. By supporting conscious companies through your purchasing choices you’re contributing to a fundamental shift away from big companies selling generic stuff that will most likely end up in a landfill within a few years. Think quality over quantity! If you’re really into the whole artisan thing you can visit Buy Handmade and pledge you will only buy handmade this holiday season. Now that is something to make you merry! Keep an eye out for my next blog where I’ll be covering some fantastic Canadian designers who just might have what you need to fulfill your wishlist requirements.

We asked some of Ethical Consumer’s own business listings what they thought made the grade this holiday season so we want to share some of their suggestions.

ReTeez Inc., based out of Beaconsfield, Quebec, gives new hope to pre-loved T’s that are headed to meet a much less glamorous fortune. According to owner Hope Milner, by up-cycling the T’s people get rid of they are saved from getting shipped overseas or sent to landfills where bleaches and dyes can leech into the ground. As a gift, Milner suggests the ReTeez Tote Bag ($28), an affordable and eco-friendly choice for those who have places to go and people to see.

If you’re a bodycare junkie like me you’ll find Ria Holmgren from Seaflora’s pick to be quite appealing. And here you thought seaweed was only good for sushi! Seaflora’s signature Companion Wrap for Body contains six of the company’s most popular wild seaweed body products for all skin types packaged in a handcrafted Canadian maple wood tube. Seaflora has its own ocean garden off the coast of Vancouver Island and Diane Bernard, “The Seaweed Lady”, hand harvests her wild seaweeds to formulate products that contain 97% Canadian ingredients. Now that’s green! Pun intended.

Claudia of Calgary-based Claudia’s Choices, an online retailer of “envirosponsible” items, suggests The Original Magnetball as a versatile gift that at $19.99 won’t break the budget. The Magnetball is a magnetic water softening device that can be used in your washing machine or dishwasher and will cut the amount of detergent needed by half. According to Claudia, many people have hard water and compensate by using more detergent or even install an expensive water softening system, only adding more salts and/or chemicals to our freshwater systems. Hint: Notice how easily it would fit in a stocking! 

One of the best things about the holidays is being able to take afternoon naps, wouldn’t you agree? Let your loved ones cozy up this season with one of Greenbean Studio’s Eco Pillows. This Toronto-based company is nearing Mother Teresa-like levels of awesomeness with their exemplary business practices and contagious green gusto. Plastic from residential and commercial sectors are collected by Greenbean Studio and is then processed and blended to become fill for the Eco Pillows, making them hypo-allergenic for us sensitive types. Rock on! Ok, now it’s time to catch some zzz’s…. 

Karen of Thunder Bay’s Bare Organics Inc. has a great gift idea for heating up those long winter nights: The Bare Love Basket. This bundle of fun contains organic bath and body oil, an organic massage bar, an organic cleanser and a beeswax votive. Oooh la la! For the winter sport lovers in your life, The Green Beaver Company carries Après-Ski winter skin care products that will soothe your ski-bunny’s wind-battered skin.

The best gifts are those that come from the heart – oh my gosh, am I getting too cheesy!? More than a price tag or the latest trend, putting some thought and originality into a gift idea can be just as valuable as the gift itself. And remember: hugs and smiles are recession-proof. 

In August, we reviewed some back to school items, including a sandwich wrap from Lavish & Lime. It was so popular that Lavish & Lime has partnered with Ethical Consumer to give two lucky readers a sandwich wrap each this holiday season.

Do you know how many sandwich bags make it to the landfill in the United States on a daily basis?  You can find the answer at

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Reusable-Sandwich-Wrap-p-184.html

And while you are there, you can check out what Lavish & Lime is giving away.

So how do you get one?

1. Go to Lavish & Lime and have a browse.
2. Pick the gift you would most like to receive this Christmas.
3. Come back and tell us which gift you would like to receive by commenting on this blog post. Don’t forget to leave your email so that we can contact you if you win.
4. Tell all your friends to check out your comment so they know what to buy you this Christmas.

Your comment must be received before December 7th at 11:59PM PST.

Here is the small print. Commenting indicates that you have read and agreed to the small print.

1. Enter online at www.ethicalconsumer.ca/blog/ by commenting on your favourite gift item at www.lavishandlime.com. No purchase necessary
2. Contest only open to residents of Canada with a Canadian shipping address. Not open to residents of Quebec.
3. All entries must be received by midnight PST on December 7, 2008. Maximum one entry per person. Estimated retail value of the prize $7.50. Prizes are non-negotiable and may not be exchanged or redeemed for cash.
4. Prior to receiving the prize, the winner will be required to answer a mathematical, skill-testing question.
5. One entry per person. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries submitted to the contest.
6. By commenting on the blog post, entrants agree to the rules and regulations of this contest and agree to the use of their name and city of residence for the purpose of announcing the prize winner.
7. Winner will be notified by email after the contest closing date of December 7, 2008.
8. Entrants must be the age of majority in their respective province to enter this contest.

Good luck!

Sustainability - a household word these days, but what exactly does it mean? These days many organizations have sustainability initiatives, a very good sign in this world of human-induced climate change and a rate of extinction unsurpassed since the demise of the dinosaurs 100’s of millions of years ago. The devil is in the details however – every individual has a different definition of the word “sustainable” - often called “green”. Have you ever received an advertising brochure in the mail claiming that the use of 30% recycled paper saved 245 trees? What about the 500 that were lost to make the same brochure?

Try the following exercise – take a look into the eyes of your kids or grandchildren if you are lucky enough to have them. Then ask yourself what you would like the world to look like 40 or so years from now. Would there be wars over land, oil or water? Would the society be made up of rich and poor, or mostly “middle-class”? How many human beings would exist? Would species still be going extinct at 10’s of thousands of times the natural rate? How much of the land would be in pristine condition? Would the recently lost 90% of large fish in the sea have returned? When you have this picture in your mind, work backwards – what steps does this mean we need to be taking, and what role do you need to play?

Today I went to a food court in a public place I often enjoy with my 3-year old child, one that prides itself on environmental education for youth. As usual, when I ordered my food I passed them a dish that I brought from home and asked that they serve my food on this versus disposable plates. The cashier said “that’s nice to see that you are trying to save the environment” and promptly gave me a discount on my food. 5 minutes later they called my number there was my food - on a disposable plate! It seems the people in the kitchen were not used to people with “strange” requests like mine. You see - sometimes I lose and sometimes I win, but it does not help to cry about it – much better to learn to play the game. I’ll never give up – because I know what kind of world I want. Do you?

I’d like to invite you to come and learn more about the way the world works, and diverse global issues such as population, wealth, consumption, pollution, climate change, natural resources, species extinction, and even war are interrelated. More importantly, you will learn what we must do as individuals and as a society to build a truly sustainable future, which includes the way we vote!

To register: Go to https://pbregister.vancouver.ca/safari_activitybrowse.htm

·         On the right-hand side, enter  44777.101KT for the activity number and select “go”

·         Or register by phone at (604) 257-6976

All proceeds will be donated to WWF-Canada

Russel Horwitz

Russel Horwitz is principal at Kwela Leadership and Talent Management.

I have spent too much time looking at toys this season and still can’t narrow it down to the best of the best. There are as many toy options out there as there are kids. The toys you select will reflect the interests, talents and developmental stage of your individual child.

That said, look for toys that engage your child’s imagination and stimulate their emotional, physical and intellectual development rather than leaving them to passively look at colours, sparkly objects, noise and movement, unless of course your child is one month old, then that might be right up her alley.

Instead of recommending specific toys, we would like to suggest places to shop although we have pointed out our favourite find on each site. The sites we have listed below focus on eco-friendly toys that are safe, attractive and stimulating. I hope that you enjoy browsing these sites as much as we did

Zabazoo

Why we like it…All of their toys are made in Canada using materials and manufacturing practices that reduce environmental impact.

Favourite Find: Rukshuk

Inquisitive Kid

Why we like it…No plastic, battery operated toys here. Just simple pure toys that stimulate a child’s imagination.

Favourite Find: Trout Kit

Natural Pod

Why we like it…These are toys that your kids can hand down to their kids. That is truly environmentally friendly and something we rarely see these days.

Favourite Find: Bonkers – Love the Land.

ApetoZebra

Why we like it…Toys are listed by country of origin so if you know where they are coming from, which just might be on your mind this Christmas.

Favourite Find: Constructor motorio-vehicle

Some suggestions from one of our favourite gift shops.

1) Funky Rain Hat: for Kids

● A must for the westcoast’s reliably rainy weather, this practical wide brimmed hat keeps the rain off kids’ little faces and their heads warm. Four funky designs for girls and boys 12mths-6yrs. $30

● Great ethical choice: Made in Vancouver under excellent working conditions. Lined with chemical-free, sustainable organic bamboo cotton.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Kids-Rain-Hat-p-205.html

2) Animal Helmet Cover: for Kids

● This animal-shaped cover fits over all models of bike, hockey, tobaggan and snowboard helmets. They increase visibility of the wearer on roads, rinks and slopes plus they’re made of high quality fleece so they provide extra warmth in the cold. Eight designs. Up to age 11. $40

● Great ethical choice: Made in Canada under excellent working conditions. Manufacturer works hard to minimize carbon footprint through minimal and recycled packaging. A safety conscious gift to help encourage kids to wear their helmets and be safe - if you were a kid, would you rather wear a shark fin on your head or just a helmet?

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Shark-Helmet-Cover-p-207.html

3) Nuts & Bolts Toy: for Kids

● Childrens’ fingers will develop dexterity and strength while making different shapes and figures up to 5.1″ high with this colourful game. Age 2 years + $20

● Great ethical choice: Made from replenishable rubberwood which is preservative free and processed naturally. No harmful additives or coloring are used and all paints are tested for safety. Made by PlanToys® which practices the “Three R’s” of green living: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Their manufacturing processes are designed to reduce waste and save energy. They reuse materials, and have introduced innovative methods to recycle paper and other products. They are always looking for new ways to improve and preserve the environment. Great for child’s development.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Nuts-Bolts-Toy-p-269.html

4) Pirate Ship: for Kids

● This wonderful pirate ship includes a one-eyed blackbeard and a dastardly crew of four, with lifeboat and hungry croc. Age 3 years + $55

● Great ethical choice: Made from replenishable rubberwood which is preservative free and processed naturally. No harmful additives or coloring are used and all paints are tested for safety. Made by PlanToys® which practices the “Three R’s” of green living: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Their manufacturing processes are designed to reduce waste and save energy. They reuse materials, and have introduced innovative methods to recycle paper and other products. They are always looking for new ways to improve and preserve the environment. Great for developing child’s imaginative play.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Pirate-Ship-p-264.html

5) Bug Balance Game: for Kids

● Roll the dice and catch the bugs and then place them on the tree to see how long they can stay on for. The tree is 10.6″ x4.7″. Age 3 years + $25

● Great ethical choice: Made from replenishable rubberwood which is preservative free and processed naturally. No harmful additives or coloring are used and all paints are tested for safety. Made by PlanToys® which practices the “Three R’s” of green living: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Their manufacturing processes are designed to reduce waste and save energy. They reuse materials, and have introduced innovative methods to recycle paper and other products. They are always looking for new ways to improve and preserve the environment. Great for child’s motor development.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Bug-Balance-Game-p-262.html

6) Recycled Rectangle Necklace: for Her

● This rectangular pendant can easily be worn two ways - horizontally for a wide angle look or turned to the vertical for a longer, narrower neckline. The almost 2 1/4″ x 1″ rectangle hangs from a delicate, double chain that loops around the sides of the pendant. $52 (recycled silver seastar on beaded chain also available)

● Great ethical choice: Handcrafted from recycled, re-melted, and recombined sterling silver components. Made in Canada under excellent working conditions.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Recycled-Rectangle-p-195.html

7) Reclaimed Discs of Life Wood Necklace: for Her

● This chic silver string of five eco-friendly wooden shapes is certain to make a lasting impression. 32″ length $92 (range of reclaimed wood pendant necklaces and disc earrings also available, including a tree pendant for him)

● Great ethical choice: Handcrafted from recycled African ebony hardwood. Made in Vancouver under excellent working conditions.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Discs-of-Life-Chain-p-201.html

Market Tote 3-Pack: for Her

● Fashion meets function this stylish grocery tote that can be used for so much more. Made of 100% cotton with a comfortable webbed handle, it holds up to 3X more than the average plastic shopping bag and includes an interior elastic band for storing a bottle upright. Three colour options available. $40

● Great ethical choice: Helps cut down on plastic bag use and helps reduce the landfill. Made in Canada under excellent working conditions.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Market-Tote-3-Pack-p-204.html

9) Mini Crank Lantern: for Him

● The best self sufficient rechargeable lantern on the market today. When you wind for power, the self-charge mechanism converts over 74% of your kinetic energy into stored electricity. The task light is ideal for reading at night, and an effective flashlight for walking around the campground. $32

● Great ethical choice: Eco-friendly as it offers a real alternative to grid electricity or fossil fuels, so you can feel cleaner about your nature experience. A great lighting solution to teach your kids about the value of green energy – and show them how their own energy can provide them with all of their lighting needs. Made by Freeplay Energy, who through its non-profit Freeplay Foundation has distributed more than 160,000 Lifeline radios since 2003 in Africa and beyond, conservatively reaching six million listeners and making Freeplay the world leader in transferring wind-up technology to those least able to access the information and education that could help lift them out of poverty.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Crank-Mini-Lantern-p-258.html

10) Collapsible Eco Basket: for Her

● This award-winning design of nylon and a sturdy aluminum frame is both lightweight and waterproof. It collapses down for easy storage in a knapsack, handbag or the trunk of a car. Great for shopping, gardening and picnicking too. Seven designs available. $28

● Great ethical choice: Offers a handy alternative to plastic shopping bags to help reduce the landfill.

http://www.lavishandlime.com/Eco-Basket-p-50.html

A co-worker recently sent me a link to CBC and Cisco’s new pilot project website One Million Acts of Green (OMAoG); the very next day Melody sent me the same link. Maybe there is something to this idea of good ideas spreading quickly. The concept of OMAoG is premised on the notion that small actions can add up to big difference, a theory that has been gaining traction for some time, especially amongst the eco-conscious set. This notion is not unlike the butterfly effect in chaos theory. While I’m happy to see these types of projects taking off, and while it’s great people are learning more about what we can all do to lessen our impact on the Earth, I’m convinced it’s going to take some very significant changes to how many businesses operate to really add up to something meaningful. Alright, The Financial reported a week ago that the over 145,000 acts committed was equal to taking over 1,900 cars off the road for a year - but I’m curious to know exactly where the stats are coming from. Again, I see repeated this assumption that the onus is on the individual to “make a difference” rather than the corporations producing the bulk sum of emissions, products, pollutants, toxins, etc. I realize that at this point every small contribution to our environmental well-being counts but when I walk through the food court on my lunch break in the business district of downtown Vancouver, my confidence wanes. People are still using Styrofoam? I watch people chucking their plastic phở bowls into the garbage with reckless abandon. Is there a Green Act to stop this? It’s a nightmare and it’s happening at food courts across the continent, but I digress. Most businesses are going to do what’s cheapest for their operation, not necessarily what’s greenest. This is why Ethical Consumer is fighting the good fight and urging people to put their money where their mouth is; our choices count!  While doing laundry in cold water, replacing the furnace filter every season, air drying clothes and not idling certainly have their place in the fight to rescue our world from global capitalism run wild, I am still waiting for the deeper issues of our consumption patterns and contemporary ideology to be addressed at the mainstream level. Perhaps we’re not quite ready yet! OMAoG is a start at least.

Picture this: you’ve found the perfect recipe for a healthy Friday night meal after a long and busy week; you’ve picked up your mostly organic ingredients, braved crowded rush-hour traffic, and you’re finally all set to start slicing and dicing but….WAIT! You know your veggies are chemical-free but what’s in your cookware? Just when you thought you had nothing left to worry about it turns out that the answer to this question is more important than you might think. After reading Adria Vasil’s Ecoholic, it became evident that virtually anything with some sort of synthetic coating was probably not a safe bet – and that means everything from Teflon to “wrinkle-free” khakis doused in Stainmaster®. While non-stick cookware and bakeware seem to be an awesome modern-day invention, it turns out stainless steel or cast iron options used with a little extra butter or cooking oil are not so bad after all. Vasil notes PFOA, Perfluorooctanoic Acid for long, is more persistent in our environment than the infamous pesticide DDT and 95% of us have traces of PFOA in our bloodstreams. These babies are bioaccumulative, meaning they build up in our systems over time with exposure and are with us for life. According to an excellent report from the Environmental Working Group you can find here, companies like DuPont are phasing out toxic PFOA in Teflon and other grease-resistant coatings used in food packaging but the new “green” substitute is apparently not much better. Health Canada has banned the new substitute but ironically the old stuff is still ok. To add politics to the mix, since Reagan/Thatcher-era neoliberalism, which saw a startling decrease in government controls and a surge in corporate power, we have seen the dangerous repercussions of multinationals putting profits before the safety of people and governments lagging far behind in legislating much-needed change to our regulatory system. These types of issues really come down to policy – the government should be enforcing safety regulations for consumer goods rather than taking the “let’s-wait-and-see” approach, essentially making us guinea pigs and having to go the damage control route when people get sick or the truth comes out. EWG advises opting out of stain treatments for new carpets and furniture, avoiding stain-resistant clothing and non-stick pans and utensils, cutting back on packaged fast-foods, skipping the microwave popcorn and not using personal care products with “PTFE” or “perfluoro” on the ingredient list. I would also add not to trust anything DuPont or 3M! Oh, and junk the non-stick kitchen gear; not sure if there is any safe way to dispose of that stuff.

Apart from the books listed below, why not give a gift of a local book, whether it’s a local cook book, hiking book, day trips, or any topic of interest. Giving a family a book that lists family activities in your area will be a welcome gift on that day when the kids whine, “We’re bored.” When this happens at my place, I hand them a broom and mop so I know my kids would be relieved to have an alternative.

Canadian books to give and enjoy this season

The Better World Shopping Guide: 2nd Edition
By Ellis Jones
Published by New Society Publishers

This is a new edition of this pocket-sized book that grades products. If you would like something you can toss in your back pocket, jacket pocket or purse and pull out for reference when you get to the store, then this is your answer. You will find that some of the products reviewed are not available in Canada. Although published in Canada, this guide was researched and written by an American.

Hope in Shadows: Stories and Photographs or Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
By Brad Cran and Gillian Jerome
Published by Arsenal Pump Press

For five years now, residents of the Downtown East Side (also known as Canada’s poorest postal code) have been provided with cameras to document their lives, thus giving them a voice and us an opportunity to leave our stereotypes and stories behind. This book allows the residents to tell the real story of life in their neighbourhood.

“A sense of kinship and peer support, above all else, comes through in the 32 intimate, engaging stories in Hope in Shadows…. The stories crackle with energy, individuality, and often a determination to be heard.”

―Georgia Straight

How It All Vegan: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet
By Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer
Published by Arsenal Pump Press

Whether you are vegan, vegan curious, or just want to eat fewer animal products, this is a fun book to check out. It has a range of recipes from soups and salads to entrees and desserts. Did you think you couldn’t make delicious cookies and muffins without eggs? Not only is it possible, they can be downright dangerously delicious. Bon appetite!

Almost Green
By James Glave
Published by Greystone Books

I admit that I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my list this season. (hint, hint).  I have really enjoyed reading the author’s website, so I am looking forward to reading the book.  I really think the subtitle says it all: How I Built an Eco-Shed, Ditched My SUV, Alienated the In-Laws, and Changed My Life Forever.

The 100 Mile Diet
By Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon
Published by Random House Canada

I really enjoyed this one. Their journey is inspiring, thought-provoking and downright funny at times. They are honest in their telling, yet still in love with each other at the end of the story. If you haven’t read this one yet, do so soon. I owe my love of local/seasonal cook books to them, once you are inspired you will be amazed at the gems that await you.

If you would like to be a truly green bookworm, check out www.ecobrain.com. That way you read the books you love and save trees. At the time of writing 10,704 tress had been saved so click on over and check out a couple of titles so we can save entire forests. I don’t know where they are located but I’m guessing they are not in Canada. Since shipping from great distances isn’t an issue, I thought I would sneak this one in.