How to buy only the best for your family, yourself, and the earth.
Going green doesn't mean you have to change your lifestyle. You can still enjoy all things that bring you pleasure, like tasty food, the latest hairstyle, throwing parties and more. So whether you're headed out for a little retail therapy, or are stocking up on the necessities, just take a second to think before you buy. Changing just a few choices could make a world of difference!
Some Simple Dos and Don'ts (brochure, pocket brochure)
- Buy local
- Buy for life
- Buy product not packaging
- Buy less (brochure)
- Buy recycled
- Don't buy hazards
- Don't buy air pollutants
- Don't buy products with false claims
Ready to write up a better shopping list? Here are some ways
to get started:
Let's Eat!
House Cleaning
Now It's Personal
Bringing Up Baby
Take This Job and Green It
Special Occasions
Let's Eat!
Here's one way you can make a big difference to the health of your family, the earth, and our economy: start bringing home more local products from your local grocery store.
Foods from Nova Scotia don't travel thousands of miles in fuel-burning vehicles to get to you. And when you go local, you put money in the hands of farmers, fishers, and producers who live right here in our communities, and use it, in turn, to support other businesses. Best of all, you may discover you're getting a higher quality meal for your money, too!
Get the full list from apples to zucchini of what's grown and produced in our province here.
Wondering what brand names to look for in the store? For everything from whiskey to smoked salmon, find it here.
Really want to know where your food is coming from, how it was grown and raised? Say hello to the folks who farmed it at a Farmer's Market. Find the one closest to you at: http://www.nsfarmersmarkets.ca/
Organic Mac and Cheese?
These days, it seems the shelves are filled with everything from cat food to catsup all claiming to be organic. But what does the word mean? Get the Canadian guidelines here.
Then find out whose meat (and potatoes and other stuff) meets them here: Nova Scotia Organic farmers
The Dish on Fish
There's an old song that goes: "You're not a Nova Scotian if you don't like fish."
But there's a lot of contradictory information swimming around out there about how much fish is safe to eat, which species are sustainably harvested, and what effect aquaculture has on the environment and the fish itself. Reel in the information you need here.
And To Wash That Down?
Do you really need to be loading up your cart with bottle after bottle of water? Yes, those single-serving sizes make it easy to stay hydrated everywhere, and those plastic or glass bottles are recyclable and refillable, but the water that comes out of most taps in Nova Scotia is perfectly fit to drink. Reduce the packaging you bring into your home by keeping a jug of tap water in the fridge. Get a refillable sports bottle and carry that with you. You'll save money, too.
Want to know more about well-water maintenance and Nova Scotia's Drinking Water Strategy? Click here.
Get a Brand New Bag
By now you must have at least one reusable store bag at home. Some grocery stores have eliminated plastic bags altogether; others are charging extra for them. Why all this fuss? Find out why plastic bags are called the urban tumbleweed here.
Let's Eat Out!
Our compliments to the chefs! Across Nova Scotia there is a real culinary trend to get creative with the bounty that is grown, produced, and raised right here. Next time you're heading out to a restaurant, try one that's a member of Taste of Nova Scotia. There's a buffet of local choices at www.tasteofnovascotia.com
The Hundred Mile Diet
In 2005, Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon of Vancouver BC began a one-year experiment to eat local. Today, they admit it was a tough go,
but worth it. They discovered food that was better tasting, better for the environment, and better for the local economy. You don't have to pledge to go totally local for a year - but maybe once a week or once a month you can try your own 100-mile menu. Get some ideas here.
To find Nova Scotia producers, go here.
In Synch With the Seasons
For many of us, our grandparents were way ahead of their times. They just naturally ate with the seasons, enjoying whatever product was at its peak, and getting the greatest health benefits from its freshness. Now there's a movement afoot among foodies to bring back seasonal eating. If you'd like to try it, this book is filled with recipes featuring local seasonal ingredients.
House Cleaning
There's nothing wrong with being clean - but do we really need one chemical-soaked disposable wipe for the kitchen counter, and another flushable bleach-filled paper sponge for the toilet? Do the curtains, couch and carpet really need to be sprayed down with an aerosal scent-laden spritz?
Many of these products do more than shine our floors to a glistening sheen. They create a level of indoor chemical air pollution that is higher than that of some cities. When we use them in our showers, toilets and sinks they go out into our water systems. And they add bulk to our garbage bin when we throw out the non-recyclable packaging or the use-once-then-toss products.
There was a time when most cleaning products were good enough to eat. In fact, you could easily make your own today with the stuff you
brought home with the groceries! Click here to find some ready-made less-toxic alternatives.
Support Local!
Down East Cleaning products are biodegradable, phosphate free, and low in toxicity to a variety of aquatic life. And they're made here in Nova Scotia.
Now It's Personal
The chemicals we use to clean our hair, smooth our faces, and keep our underarms smelling nice are coming under a lot of scrutiny lately. You can get all the dirt on staying clean at www.lesstoxicguide.ca.
Want a ‘do that will look good on Mother Nature? In HRM, find a green spa here.
Take Toxins to the Cleaners
Eliminate static cling - and the release of formaldehyde - in your dryer by giving up disposable dryer sheets in favour of dryer balls. Find out why here.
Looking for an alternative to dry cleaning? Try spot cleaning your clothes, find a water-process cleaner, or check out the tips
here.
Want more information about the chemicals in our everyday environment? Click here for the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia: http://www.environmentalhealth.ca/
Bringing Up Baby
The average child goes through 5,000-7,000 disposable diapers before he or she is fully toilet trained. That's a lot of plastic, wood
pulp, and other materials piling up in the landfill, not to mention the child's contribution.
There's no doubt that disposables are convenient and the right choice for many parents. But alternatives, such as cloth, do exist and some areas even enjoy diaper services that pick up used ones for cleaning and drop off a fresh stock regularly.
Check your Yellowpages to see if there's a service near you. Or for more really earth-friendly solutions, look into either of these Nova Scotian companies:
Nurtured products for parenting
Valley Cloth Diapers
Take This Job and Green It
Blue box under the desk for recyclable paper? Check. Bin in the kitchen for soda cans? Check. Is there anything else your workplace could be doing for the environment? Let's check.
Start with your own work style. Are you using a real mug, not a disposable cup? Are you printing double-sided and re-using paper whenever possible? Are you brown-bagging your lunch in a reusable bag? These might sound like little actions, but just like emails in your inbox, they can really add up. Get some more ideas here from Environment Canada.
Use less energy at work. Seriously. Turning off lights, computers, printers, and radios saves power and that saves money. Hmmmm - what
could your employer do with all that extra money? Learn how to be an energy cost-cutter here:
Green your meetings. Let the minutes show that you've unanimously agreed to do away with that disposable plastic tray of sandwiches
and won't be distributing printouts of the presentation unless you really have to. Motion carried. For more ways to make meetings of all sizes earth friendly, download (but try not to print) this guide.
Go Team! Keep the environment top-of-mind in your workplace by setting up a Green Team to raise awareness and implement actions. A toolkit filled with resources, such as posters, fact sheets, and presentations, is just a click away.
Talk to Folks in Purchasing. Fill your supply cabinets with products that have been certified green by the EcoLogo program.
Founded in 1988, EcoLogo is North America's most respected and established environmental standard and certification mark
Special Occasions
Whether you're celebrating a white Christmas, red-hot Valentine's Day, or silver anniversary, there are plenty of ways make your special occasions a little more green.
Stamp out invites.
Unless the person you're inviting does not have email, there's no reason to give them another piece of paper to recycle. Request the pleasure of their company online by sending them an electronic invitation through free services such as: http://www.evite.com You'll save money on the invitations and the stamps, too. (Bonus - your tongue won't take a licking on all those envelopes!)
Fork over the fun.
Having a party? Use real plates and utensils - not those styrofoam and plastic things. Worried you don't have enough? Check with your local rental company - most of them rent out everything from tablecloths to wine glasses. For more eco-friendly entertaining ideas, go here.
Have a green
Christmas. Make your holidays brighter and your power bill lighter by switching from traditional strings of bulbs to energy-saving LEDs. They use 90 per cent less power and don't generate the heat like those other lights - so they're safer, too! Find out more at http://www.conservens.ca/LED. Then wrap them around a tree grown here in Nova Scotia.
Wrap up to recycle.
Some types of wrapping paper cannot be recycled - and while their colours are cheerful, they don't do much to brighten up the landfill. Choose re-usable gift bags instead, look for wrapping paper that is recyclable and is made from recycled paper itself, or unwrap your own presents carefully and re-use the paper! For more creative ideas, open this link.