Pollution-Sensitive Dress

Don't be caught outside unaware of pollution levels in the air. The pollution-sensitive ‘EPA Dress' by Stephanie Sandstrom detects pollution in the air and wrinkles accordingly. That's right, this dress – which is actually quite pretty – looks like you pulled it from the bottom of the dirty laundry heap when the air is dirty. It might protect your health by advising you to stay indoors for the day, but it won't do you any favors if you're meeting with clients

Eco-friendly Edible Shoe Cream

Probably the weirdest on the list, this product was designed by Greenfibes, eco goods and garments. It's organic edible (yes, edible!) shoe cream. Apparently, it can be used for other purposes such as spreading on toast or as a lip balm. I don't know about you, but eating something that is advertised to be spread on a shoe does not interest me in the least. 

Eco-friendly Umbrella

Conventional umbrellas come with a fixed surface. Although it is changeable, you cannot replace it easily. This eco-friendly design is more flexible. It is actually only a collapsible umbrella skeleton without any surface, so you can put anything such as newspapers, plastic bags or whatever you want to serve as the protecting surface.

Eco-friendly Moss Carpet

They say walking on fresh grass increases your blood circulation; I can't vouch for that! Anyways, it is a reason to get going to the nearest park, remove your expensive Jimmy Choo's and prance around. The Moss Carpet, created by Nguyen La Chanh, looks at getting the grass to your feet, and that too in your loo! Made from imputrescible foam called plastazote, the mat includes ball moss, island moss and forest moss. The humidity of the bathroom ensures that the mosses thrive. And that's why you need to place it there and not anywhere else. Little gnomes not included.

Eco-friendly Pet Furs

If you think making clothes out of human hair is weird how would you feel if I told you humans are making clothes from their pet's fur? It isn't much different from using sheep's wool or natural animal fibers from alpaca, angora, llama or camel, right? Danelle German doesn't think so. She is a professional cat groomer from South Carolina. She started a business called Catty Shack Creations as a means of reusing beautiful cat fur instead of throwing it away. Her inspiration came when a friend of Danelle's asked her to clip her pet's hair so that it could be spun into yarn.

First the pet is thoroughly washed to make sure the fur is clean and tangle free. Then the pet is shaved. Many pet owners have their pets shaved to help their pets survive the hot summer and to help make it easier for the owner to keep their pets well groomed. The fur is then collected and cured for a few days. The hair fibers are then carded, spun into yarn and finally knitted into handbags

Eco-friendly Remote Control

Sony challenged Industrial Design students from China to design and eco-friendly device. One of the participants from Dong Hwa University came up with this unique creation called the Sony Conductor TV Remote. It's a wand shape kind of remote that needed to be swayed side to side to power it on and the green LED light fire up to indicate its power level. To start navigating, one can wave the conductor left and right to change your TV set's volume, up and down to change channels and in a circular motion to switch your TV set on or off. Sounds really tiring to me

Eco-friendly Burial

A Colorado company sells caskets made from banana sheaves, bamboo or pandanus that decomposes together with the body as a way of promoting ecologically-friendly burials. The so-called Ecoffin, short for eco-friendly coffins, of Ecoffins USA takes six months to two years to biodegrade. The company's marketing director, Joanna Passarelli, said the Ecoffins is better for the environment than cremating bodies. The Lowest price for this eco friendly product is $800.

A great case for protecting your notebook while helping build a village in Guatemala.

We posted a Green Deal video a while back about the great fair-trade organic coffee from Ethical Bean. Now, just in time for Christmas, they have branched out with beautiful hand-made cases from Guatemala - perfect for iPads, notebooks or just toting around.
It all started when Ethical Bean founder & President Lloyd Bernhardt was shopping in a local market on one of his frequent trips to Guatemala, and noticed a hand-crafted case that was a perfect fit for his iPad. He realized it would be a great product with which to raise money for Project Somos, a village Ethical Bean is helping to build for abandoned and orphaned children. Bernhardt and his team are hoping to raise $1.2 Million, which will eventually fund a self-sufficient village with a school, organic gardens, and coffee testing and roasting facilities to help provide income.
The bags themselves are delightfully colourful and sturdy. The handmade texture is a great contrast to the high tech feel of the iPad, and each is made at a women’s co-op near Tectan Guatemala, with no sweat-shop labour.
Of course, these are available at London Drugs. So for the tech-savvy person with a heart-of-gold on your list, why not pick up one of these handy totes and spread a little more warmth to the season.

Spreading the Green Word at Vancouver's Olympic Village Open House

It was a beautiful day to be hanging out at Vancouver's newest and (some say) most sustainable neighbourhood. This was the Grand Opening for the Athlete's Village, and London drugs was there with a booth focused on What's the Green Deal, and yours truly joining the LD crew behind the table. Come September there will be a new London Drugs right there, giving people shopping options without having to use their cars. In Fact, the whole zone is an extension of Vancouver's Smart Growth philosophy, letting people live an 'Urban Village' lifestyle, with walking, transit and cycling being the main modes of transport.
Interest in the booth was high, with a good number of folks stopping to find out more about Styrofoam recycling, Bring Back the Pack and browsing our display of What's the Green Deal products. Though many more were interested in entering our contest to win the basket of Green products and the DVD Player/ Flat-screen TV we had running our Green Deal videos.
A few challenged us on our green-ness. One lady felt we were 'green-washing' by promoting the GreenWorks line of cleaners from Clorox. Others loved that we recycled Styrofoam, but were disappointed it was only for packaging on purchases from our stores. But still more were impressed to learn how diligent London Drugs is at recycling electronics properly.

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 ofHIWAY Fuel Services, the supplier of fuel products for the London Drugs fleet.

BC powering up to recycle batteries.

Rechargeable batteries used in toys, small appliances and electronics can contain heavy metals like cadmium, lead, chromium and even mercury. These metals can make their way into the water system and into our bodies if they are disposed of with your regular trash.
"It's absolutely integral in maintaining our eco-systems and health of humanity not to do that," says Sarah Cox of the Sierra Club of B.C.
It's so important, in fact, that B.C.'s Ministry of Environment is looking to bring in legislation within two years that will make battery recycling mandatory. This will add rechargeable batteries to the growing list of recyclables that includes electronic waste, motor oil and beverage containers.
Ministry Spokesman Chris Ord says the program will be industry-driven. "(Battery producers) need to talk to the public and stakeholders, then submit a plan to the ministry, which we review, and statutory decision-makers make a decision on that plan," Ord said, adding that July 2010 is the target date.
In the meantime, recycling your rechargeable batteries is as easy as dropping by your local London Drugs, who has been collecting them for over 2 years. By the end of 2008, London Drugs will have collected some 12,000 lbs. of batteries, which are shipped to a toxic waste recycler in Trail where they are broken apart and the metals separated and sold.

10 Million pounds and still recycling!

When the London Drugs management team began calculating the amount of waste that has been recycled throughout the organization, we knew it would be significant. But I think we were all a little surprised at the tally to date. Let’s put this number in some perspective. 10 Million Pounds is approximately equivalent to a dozen full-loaded 747 Jumbo Jets. Or 42 Blue Whales. Or 6,215 Smart Cars.
This number represents total waste diverted from landfill and recycled with our partners over the last two years, from London Drugs stores, warehouses and customers returning packaging, electronics and appliances.
A majority of the recycled material is cardboard and wrap from our distribution centre, but this total also includes 49 tons of electronics and 3 tons of rechargeable batteries and cell phones.
So congratulations to all London Drugs customers, management, staff and recycling partners. Keep up the good work.

What do you get at the last minute for the person who has everything green?

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate
These bars are so stylish you don’t even need to wrap them. Try the mint-filled bar for a classic festive flavour, or the 85% cocoa version for the true dark chocolate connoisseur. If you can’t decide, go for the Mini Bar Collection. One bar a month for the whole year. Or 12 hours of outright green gluttony.

Fair Trade, Organic Coffee
London Drugs has a great selection of certified brands - Saltspring, Ethical Bean, Farmers First, Kicking Horse – from decaf to high-test. Not sure what the difference is with Fair Trade? Check out our video on Ethical Bean.

Batteries Included
Whoever is on your list, chances are they have something that runs on batteries. Rechargeables are definitely the way to go. Do the math and you’ll see that they really are much cheaper than disposables (as long as you don’t accidentally dispose of them, of course) and newer technology means they last a long time and power even high-energy devices like digital cameras. Remember you can bring old rechargeables and regular alkaline cells back to us for responsible recycling.

The Tea Room Organic Green Earl Grey Tea Infused Dark Chocolate
Organic tea is nice. Organic tea-infused chocolate is luxurious. The flavour is delicate and different. Perfect for the tea-lover on your list who is probably tired of getting nothing but teas.

Que Pasa Organic Corn Tortilla Chips
Okay, this is actually more of a holiday snack idea. These Que Pasa Tortilla Chips are really good, certified organic and are cooked in non-GMO pressed canola oil. They even come in a festive red corn version that will look great on the table next to the green holly centerpiece. And what the heck - youcould give them as a gift... a big crunchy gift.

Planet Earth DVD
This is an amazing 4-disc series, shot in HD, available in DVD or Blu-ray 550 minutes of some of the most amazing scenery and animals our planet has to offer, narrated by David Attenborough. It’s the green equivalent of watching football all Christmas day.

Panasonic VIERA 58-Inch 1080P Plasma TV
Perhaps not as green as a pair of organic cotton fair-trade boxer briefs, but even the most ardent environmentalist would be secretly happy to see this behemoth flat box under the tree. The Panasonic VIERA 58-Inch mercury and lead-free screen panel lasts up to 100,000 hours. (That’s 10,917 straight viewings of the entire Planet Earth DVD set) And of course, since you bought it from London Drugs, your green giftee can bring back all the packaging, including styrofoam, and even their old fat-screen for free responsible recycling. Just make sure you give them the receipt to show at customer service. You can always black out the price if you want to keep this 58" gift discreet.

Solar Products

Objective : Save Energy, Save Environment.

Solar Energy
Solar energy flow is not a cycle, but a flow from the sun to the biosphere. It is one of the four basic ecosystem processes or windows through which we can begin to perceive the ecosystem as a whole. Solar products are innovative mechanisms that help conserve energy, thus, help maintain the ecosystem. Solar products are environmentally friendly and are usually cost effective as well.

Today, there are several solar power products in the market for our home and office use. Solar Products include items such as solar hot water heaters, solar heating systems, solar panels, solar flashlights, small radios, solar calculators, solar battery chargers, solar lanterns, solar lighting, solar car batteries and much more.

Eco Fan

Object : Save Energy, Save the Environment.

The Eco-Fan
Eco - Fan is a soundless, powerful ( up to150 cfm ) fan that stands on top of your woodstove to help distribute warm air throughout your house but doesn't use electricity! This environment friendly freestanding heat-powered Eco-Fan is designed to improve the efficiency of a wood stove by circulating the warm air produced by the stove. When placed on top of a heated surface, the Eco-Fan generates its own electricity. Temperatures of operation range from 150 degrees to 700 degrees Farenheit. The Eco-Fan does not use any batteries or external electrical connections.

The fan has a thermoelectric module which acts as a small generator to power the fan's motor. When this generator module experiences a heat differential between its top and bottom surfaces, it creates electricity. The bottom surface of the module is heated by the wood stove, while the top of the module is kept cool by the fan's top cooling fins. The speed of the fan varies with the stovetop temperature; on average.

Eco Furniture

Objective : Save Trees, Save the Environment, Save the Planet .
Wood & Ecosystem
Wood is the most precious part of man's life. Wood has always attracted man since ages. Ever since his existence man is influenced by the elegance of wood. In the primal days wood was the source of fire & energy. The enormous use of wood has led to deforestation, resulting in Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming. Fortunately, the concern for healthy environment has prompted man to think again and again on the use of wood.

But, its sophistication & ornateness still inspires man to make varied products of decoration and home furnishing.

Today, the Global Warming and Greenhouse Effects have started threatening man to stop the overuse of wood. But, what do we do to make furnitures then? What are the alternatives? Furnitures are the essential part of our home. The thirst for beauty and elegance has always encouraged man to find charming alternatives to wood.

Today, there are many alternatives to wooden furnitures, which are eco-friendly furnitures. Eco-friendly furnitures are aimed towards less use of wood and more use of waste products and other products, the use of which are not a threat to our environ.

Eco-Furnitures
Eco-furnitures made with endurable materials can be easily separated and re-recycled, representing an easier, softer way to go green in your home. And the possibilities are endless and enthusing.

Today, there are desk with a removable top and legs that can be disassembled and put into a recycling bin in less than fifteen seconds to change its design. There are chairs made from straw particleboard and recycled steel.

Currently, the industry and the market is packed with Eco-furnitures made of wheat panels, sunflower board, aluminum, polywoods, wrought irons, metals, stones, post consumer materials, all of which are available in attractive designs and colours.

Eco Wheels

Objective : Save The Planet Earth.

"In addition to appearance, price and performance, consumers in the 21st century should also regard low emissions, low noise and low fuel consumption as references when purchasing a car, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday." according to - www.taipeitimes.com, By Chiu Yu-Tzu, dated - Wednesday, Dec 01, 2004, Page 2.

The Need of the Vehicle
The need for supportable transportation has become clear, as we face the world wide results of our dependancy on fosil fuels that has resulted in global warming. There is no greater threat to global security and sustainability than global warming. It is now time to take personal responability to make changes in our lifestyle, that can reduce green house gas emissions. By just selecting the right personal transporation is one area that each one of us can make to avoid the green house gas emissions.

It is now high time that, we should start accepting ecologically resposnable vehicles. Today, there a variety of zero emission vehicles that can address a great number of our transportation needs.

Eco vehicles are designed according to the customer's, the environment's and the society's benefit.

Automobile is one of the most popular technologies ever developed. However, automobiles are presently responsible for about 20% of global energy consumption and the effluents from internal combustion engines (ICEs) in cars pollute our air (environment). The dominant role of the automobile in the economic development of the world's richest nations and the addictive convenience of cars provided to consumers have created powerful socioeconomic momentum which will resist either shifts away from automotive transport or rapid changes in the mature technology used in modern cars. Nevertheless, substantial changes are unavoidable if cars are to become sustainable.

Eco- Vehicles - Electric Vehicles 
Electric vehicles (EVs) offer considerable promise to reduce the negative impacts of automobiles on the environment. In principle, EVs are far more efficient than ICE vehicles in converting energy into motion. Most EVs currently on the market have been converted from ICE vehicles. But, to make EVs acceptable, the steps that are required are - improve performance, reduce costs, win consumer acceptance and make EV technology sustainable over the long term.

The Warning Signal
Modern internal combustion engine (ICE) automobiles convert fossil deposits of ancient forests into CO2, water, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and other exhaust gases which foul the air we breath and warm the climate. People use cars for about 20% of global energy consumption. The hulks of discarded autos blemish the landscape and leach toxic materials into the environment. Fuel additives containing lead, which are still used in many countries, poison the air and soil and may be especially dangerous to the intellectual development of young children.

Despite the serious negative effects of cars on the environment, it seems unlikely that people will voluntarily forego the unparalleled convenience they provide. To make automobile manufacture and use sustainable over the long term, automobiles must consume much less energy per distance travelled, be readily recyclable, and not emit toxic or climate altering substances in significant quantities. Though, today EVs depend on the electricity which is generated from combustion of fossil fuels, but, eventually, EVs can be completely powered by batteries charged by solar energy. But, the requirements for EVs is to be accepted in the marketplace and, eventually, to drastically reduce the negative impacts of automotive industrialisation on the environment.

EVs - Satisfying Consumers
Convincing consumers to purchase commercial EVs will require performance similar to that available from concurrent ICE vehicles. Although environment-friendly products are popular, few buyers are willing to spend substantially greater amounts of money for inconvenient products with inferior performance. Most drivers today have the impression that EVs are expensive, slow, in both acceleration and top speed, and have very limited range. However, today's best EV technologies rival the performance of ICE vehicles in most respects. Electric vehicles can be also be expected to make rapid gains in those categories in which they lag.

The Benefits of Eco Vehicles
Eco-Vehicles improves road safety as well as the quality of the local and global environment and saves fuel and costs. Additionally Eco-Vehicle provides direct benefits to the drivers and the passengers - more comfort and a relaxed atmosphere. Eco-Vehicles reduces noise pollution as well as air, land and water pollution.

Paper Bags and Notebooks

Objective : Save Trees and the Environment.

Everyday we face debates on the ban of plastic bags. The much cry in the air for the ban of plastic bags has raised numerous question for us. Why to ban plastic bags, as they are strong and convenient? What is the logic behind it? And, what is the alternative?

The Plastic & Environment
Plastic bags are popular with consumers and retailers as they are a functional, lightweight, strong, cheap, and hygienic way to transport food and other products. The over consumption of plastic bags find their way on to our streets, parks, and into our waterways.

In past few decades the use of plastic has increased all over the world. Plastic is a big threat to our Planet Earth. The reason is plastics are not biodegradable. Plastic is not capable of being decomposed by biological agents. Hence, when thrown after use, it is not decomposed, which tends to threat the earth.

Although plastic bags make up only a small percentage of the total litter zones, the impact of these bags is no doubt significant. Plastic bags create visual pollution problems and can have catastrophic effects on aquatic and terrestrial animals. Plastic bags are particularly striking components of the litter zone due to their size and can take a long time to fully break down (not biodegradable).

The Eco-friendly Alternative - Paper Bags
The alternative is the Paper Bag which is always environment friendly and easily biodegradable. Hence, to save our environment and our earth from the catastrophic plastics, we should start using paper made products.

These Paper Bags are either made of virgin wood pulp or recycled paper or handmade papers. Most paper bags are made from kraft paper. Kraft paper may be unbleached (brown) or bleached (white) and can be made in a wide variety of strengths or thickness (called "weight" by the industry).

Types of Paper Shopping Bags
The Paper Shopping Bags come in an exhaustive range. They are ideally made to suite the consumers requirement. They come in varied size and shape as per the packaging needs. Some of them are listed below

Paper Bag 
Paper grocery bags come in a variety of paper weights from light (30 lb.) to heavy-duty (70 lb.) and 14 stock sizes, capable of holding 2 to 25 pounds. The standard paper grocery bag measures about 12 inches wide, 7 inches deep, and 17 inches tall. A shorter bag, measuring just 14 inches tall, is becoming increasingly popular. Today's paper grocery bags may also have a paper handle - making them easy to carry and reuse.

Retail Bags
Basically paper bags are used for packages that consumers buy. The paper bags are often used to hold nuts, candy, and potato chips. The much stronger one are used in packaging all types of food products, textiles, hardware, candy, sugar, flour, rice, peas, beans, and spices.

Fast Food Bags
Paper bags are the ideal solution for fast food stores.
The paper bags
Have good insulation properties, keeping food items hot.
Allow the food to "breathe," letting moisture escape so french fries, burgers, chicken, and sandwiches don't get soggy.
Are fast and easy for workers to fill.
Offer superior promotional opportunities.
Are recyclable and made from recycled content.

Multiwall Bags
A multiwall bag is two to six bags, one sitting inside the other. These bags are exceptionally strong because each layer carries its own share of the weight of the product, so the bags often are used to ship large quantities of heavy materials.

Handmade paper notebook
Notebooks made of Handmade paper are quiet popular these days. As they are made of handmade papers, they are eco-friendly. These notebooks are now available in various designs and colours. The handmade paper notebooks are directly engaged in saving hundreds and thousands of trees. By buying and using the handmade paper notebooks you will be directly or indirectly involved in saving our Planet Earth from "Deforestation" and "Greenhouse Effects".

Handmade Paper

Objective : To reduce the amount of paper waste generated by offices; To reduce the demand for paper made from virgin wood fibre; To save our Planet Earth from Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect; To stop deforestation and to save our forest reserves.

The Facts
It is well known fact that, to produce 1 tonne of paper from virgin pulp require 17 large trees, which leads to more tree cut and more deforestation. When forests are cleared, natural habitats are destroyed or disrupted, species may become extinct and native communities dwelling in the forest areas are impacted. Besides, cutting down old forests leads to a loss of diversity. Trees also serve a function of soaking up carbon dioxide, which is one of the main greenhouse gases that accelerates global warming.

The Warning for the Environment
The average office worker throws away 35-50 kg of paper per year. In Singapore, 500,000 tonnes of paper is thrown away every year, and this is equivalent to the destruction of about 8.5 million trees.

The Care for the Environment 
There is a growing concern around the globe for preserving our forest reserves. The "Greenhouse Effect" has led people to become more alert about the environmental concerns. It has been seen that, in the recent few years various corporations, communities, government agencies and others are coming forward to promote products and technologies that lead to the preservation of the environment.

Global Benefits of Handmade Papers
The paper-making process uses energy, water and chemicals and produces wastes. Paper made from recycled fibres or Handmade Paper requires at least 50% less energy and up to 75% less water than making it from virgin fibre. It also produces up to 90% less wastewater and reduces air pollution by 70%.

Common Benefits of Handmade Paper
Today, there is a revival in homemade papermaking crafts. It's a good way to recycle waste into wonderful possibilities. Handmade paper is environment friendly as cotton rags and other waste products are converted into something meaningful by recycling. This leads to less deforestation.

The Benefits are :
Use of non-wood raw materials, thus saving trees.
Made with pollution free methods as solar energy is used extensively.
Acid free.
Higher tensile, bursting, tearing and double-fold strength as compared to mill made paper.
Fine and elegant quality.