Wait.
Let’s start simple.
In elementary school I’m sure you (along with everyone else)were taught the three R’s: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. It was a way to instill in us as children the importance of being aware of how much waste we created and how to dispose of it properly, for our environment’s sake.
Zero Waste is… a stronger, broader version of this teaching. It isa lifestyle focused on drastically minimizing how much waste you produce. This lifestyle opposes all waste including plastic waste, clothing, food, electronic waste, and more.
I’m sure you’ve heard of this lifestyle before. In fact, I’m sure the number of times you’ve seen this word has increased significantly. More and more people are understanding the important of cutting down the amount of waste they create, especially harmful waste like plastics or toxins. Why?
Every year the human species dumps about 2.12 billion tonnes of waste into our planet. On land, water and in our atmosphere. That number already is the highest it’s ever been in recorded history. But on-top of that, there is even more to think about.The advancement and integration of technology into our lives in recent decades has of course many benefits but it’s important to be aware of the harm it causes to our environment. Contents of the current waste that are being dumped are plastic, electronic waste, hazardous materials/substances, toxins, heavy metals. These contents are being dumped into landfills more than ever before.
In 2022, the rise of technology and especially social media/online shopping has made it incredibly easy to over consume. With consistent advertisements as well as the influencers we follow, it seems at times that you just think of a product and immediately an ad with a promotional code pops up on your phone pushing you to buy it.
Getting caught up in overconsumption is a huge factor in how we’ve gotten to this place of massive pollution. Our planet is becoming so overconsumed, there are waste patches of debris like The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (a system of debris and garbage double the size of Texas) that float through our oceans,as the waste has nowhere to go. On land, it doesn’t seem much better as waste in landfills directly contribute to climate change.Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) are constantly being emitted from the waste in landfills into our atmosphere and ecosystem as it decomposes.
Pretty bad, right? I mean, to put it lightly.
Living a Zero-waste lifestyle and generally being more conscious about your consumption is a great contribution to fighting climate change and aiding our planet’s help.
Here’s some things to help you get started.
First off, be aware of the media you are taking in. Again, you are constantly being influenced to shop and more times than not, shop for things you don’t need. Clean out your social media by making sure you are following brands that align with your eco values. Supporting small and local businesses are great, as well as following brands that are focused on creating sustainable products and having ethical ways of working. You can check outsome of the brands we follow (and us!) on our social medias at @peeledpantry.
When you do shop, before you purchase, really think about if this product will bring you the most use compared to another product. For example, if you are looking for a new shampoo, it’s easy to go into the haircare item, be overwhelmed with the options, and buy the first thing that looks alright. But focus on sustainability. Rather than yet another shampoo in a plastic bottle, find a shampoo in a glass bottle! Not only is glass less harmful to the planet than plastic, but you will be able to repurpose this bottle infinitely. This shampoo bottle can later become you water bottle, a storage jar, a space for plant propagation and much more. On our Instagram there are some reels you can check out that show the different uses of our shampoo and conditioner bottles. Some stores like ours, even have money back programs. This is where after you make a purchase you can return the bottle back and get some money back! You can find more here on our Return+Earn program.
Substitute single-use for reusable, cut down, make the most out of what you have before rebuying, and give back when you can. To offset some of their waste or other environmental harm;people will have gardens, donate to greater environmental causes, and get involved in making their communities more sustainable. There’s always something you can do to cut your pollution down, it’s just a matter of putting the work in.
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Digital cleansing and being mindful about digital consumption allow us time to be more present, connect with nature and appreciate what we already have. And, when we remove the pressures of our affluent society, we can perceive living to be simpler, slower, and calmer. We require making space in our mind to think sustainably and consume responsibly in our daily lives.
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Picture this:
You wake up to your alarm on your phone, after you hit snooze a few times you eventually roll over to check your social media for a bit before getting out of bed. As you’re making your breakfast and brushing your teeth… you’re still on your phone. Maybe you’re watching the weather or the news before heading to work. While in the car or the bus you are listening to your favourite song or podcast. You return to scrolling on your phone many times during the workday on your breaks and lunch. After getting home you make some dinner and binge watch the new season of your favourite series on Netflix. Then back to scrolling in bed as your drift off to sleep.
…Not that hard to picture right?
Well it’s probably because this is a regular day for so many of us. With newer phones, and so much time alone (thanks Covid), we have been able to consume media excessively. We know that being constantly online can often can lead to anxiety and depression, but it also can lead to a mental fatigue and reduce our ability to be grounded in our daily activities that also demand attention and decisions.
Digital cleansing and being mindful about digital consumption allow us time to be more present, connect with nature and appreciate what we already have. And, when we remove the pressures of our affluent society, we can perceive living to be simpler, slower, and calmer. We require making space in our mind to think sustainably and consume responsibly in our daily lives.
Of course, the internet gives us so many advantages like quick information, entertainment, and instant communication. And for many of us, our jobs rely on it. However, it’s still important to set limits for yourself and take breaks, what some call a “digital detox”. Let’s take a look at what you can do:
Three things to do now
Three habits to take on
With the advent of social media and having more than a tv-box and a radio as a source of information, we are hyper aware of what goes on in our global community. We can use this to make informed decisions and care more for our neighbours, but it can also exhaust us from being intentional and making sustainable choices.
As much as we at The Peeled Pantry try to make sustainable products available to you, it also takes your energy and passion to lead an eco-friendly life. We believe digital detoxing brings us closer to sustainable living through increased interaction with human beings and nature, and fewer distractions.
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I’m sure we all have the jitters of excitement about the events are to come and what to prepare (I know I do). It’s important to be aware of how the holiday season is a huge money machine for thousands of companies. These companies know that the public are looking to buy new items for décor, costumes, gifts, etc. It can be so easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of advertisements and sales that come on at this time of year. This is how we often fall to overconsumption. Make sure to try to be more aware of what you are buying and how necessary it may be these next few months.
Canadians are among the largest wasters of food in North America
Overconsumption is not just an issue with objects or clothing items, but food waste becomes a huge problem this time of year. With every holiday there’s always food and drinks around! Bonding over a good meal is one of the best parts of the holidays. Unfortunately, with last minute parties popping up, or lack of planning, we can get swept up while shopping and buy way more food than we need and end up throwing the rest out. According to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), Canadians are among the largest wasters of food in North America, with approximately 873 pounds wasted per capita per annum.
And that’s all! I’m sure you’ll all be off to a great start with being conscious with your food consumption this holiday season.
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New seasons bring new celebrations, new holidays, and new trends.
“What coat is in style for fall right now?” “What’s everyone wearing for Halloween?” “And how do I get everything for cheap?!”
Trends are coming in and out of style faster than ever before. With the rise of social media, as quickly as something trends (fashion, makeup, a household product, etc.), it seems that it goes out of style just as fast. Consumers want what’s “in” right now, and they want it for cheap. Wondering how these companies keep up with this fickle demand?
Unfortunately, it’s with unethical manufacturing products.
Manufacturing is the process of making something (products) on a large-scale basis using machinery. Ethical Manufacturing is making sure that this process is done in a sustainable and socially responsible process. It would be nice to think that all companies produce their products with a strong moral compass. But to produce products on a large scale in an ethical matter costs money. Money that none of these companies want to pay.
Examples of Unethical manufacturing?
Well, this can be done in a variety of ways. Examples include companies having sweat shops/using unethical forms of labour, using low quality and harmful ingredients/materials, incorrect or misleading labels and misleading advertisements and more.
These companies know what they are doing is wrong, and often mislead with greenwashing tactics to try to convince consumers to not look too much into how their companies work. Check out our blog on what is greenwashing and why do we care? for more.
It’s important to look at the bigger picture with this. Living in North America, we can often centre ourselves and the values of our communities on this side of the world without understanding that any unethical/unsustainable form of manufacturing that’s happening anywhere in the world will inevitably affect us here.
Think to yourself: If you won’t purchase clothing from a sweat shop in Canada, why are you more prone to buy from these shops across the world? Because it seems far away. This is how companies can sweep these practices under the rug.
...as the consumers we have agency in where our money goes.
Different and more environmental laws in other countries allow companies to have cheap labor but also bypass some of the stringent requirements that make operating in Canada more expensive. Also, the practice of operating overseas allow these companies to lack overseas accountability. Even though they import to Canada, it can be much easier to get away with violating lows and standards in a country on the other side of the world. This is the reason many companies shift their manufacturing practices to other countries. However, as the consumers we have agency in where our money goes. If we shift to investing in companies that produce more ethically, this demand will push for more ethical practices and transparency on environmental impact on other companies.
Choosing with your wallet means a lot. It means policy changes overall; companies changing their standards, bettering the environment and our own well-being. So, before your next shopping trip, take a minute to look at the tags on your products, check out the company’s website, and be sure of where exactly your money is going.
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Greenwashing (noun)
The act or practice of making a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is.
-Merriam-Webster Dictionary
In the past decade, it’s become clear to the public that the environment is headed in a dangerous direction. The research is clear with how changing your lifestyle to be less wasteful, use less plastic, and be more knowledgeable of where you are spending your money can really help our environments.
These businesses know people want to know where their money is going now more than ever, especially as people are buying with a more eco-conscious mind. So, with advertising, they will package their product to look more sustainable than it is. This includes car companies misleading their customers to thinking a new car contributes less harmful emissions (when it doesn’t), a company advertising a product’s new packaging is 100% recyclable or compostable without proof readily available, fast fashion brands having “sustainable lines” without accepting responsibility for massive clothing landfill they contribute too, coffee chains getting rid of plastic straws but still selling fully plastic cups, the list goes on and on.
Greenwashing can be as simple as water bottle companies putting images of trees, mountains, or any nature on their labels. They do this with the hope that the buyer subconsciously thinks this water bottle is better for the environment than others. It can be that simple.
Large corporations and “greenwashing” businesses that do not have environmental values and accountability, are slowing the progress that is required for us to live sustainably.
First off, be aware of where you are shopping, and to whom your money is going. It’s always best to support businesses that have their vision aligned with your values. You can typically find their mission statement/impact on the environment right on their website, but it’s even better to do a quick search to find if they are meeting their promises. Local businesses that strive to source and manufacture their products in eco-friendly ways are always your best bet, as there is usually lots of transparency, thus eat and shop local. Thrifting and buying from second-hand stores are a great way to combat overconsumption and practice sustainable buying.
Feeling overwhelmed? Totally understandable. But try to remember there is a lot of work that has been done for you to make sure you are shopping ethically. There are many standards and certifications on products that clearly indicate when there are eco-friendly options, and these certifications can be found on a variety of products/events/companies/etc. Examples include FSC, iso 14001, for enviro, Fair for Life, Leaping Bunny, Rainforest Alliance, etc.
Companies that have clear goals and mission statements about their impact on the environments will be sure to show that they are not greenwashing. They will have labels (like the above paragraph mentions) that are clearly visible and easy to read. You can check out our products for some examples.
Already being aware of greenwashing and what it is, is a great step forward. Continuing to research and being aware of where your spending is going is how we can hold these companies accountable.
Remember, your wallet has power!
]]>Well, that’s great to hear! It’s very easy to get caught up in the big scary statistics about where are planet is heading, and there often can be a sense of “things won’t change, so there’s no point in me trying to do anything about it.” If everyone in the world just slightly changed their mindset to living an eco-friendlier lifestyle, that’s how we can begin to see not just a change in the good of the environment, but in how societies respect our environments.
Now, what exactly does eco-conscious mean?
Defined by The Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Eco-conscious | adjective
marked by or showing concern for the environment.
Let’s start easy: shopping.
Shopping is something we all must do. We need to buy clothing, food, home goods, and much more. Here’s 3 things to thing about to make your shopping day a more sustainable or eco-conscious one.
Problem: Over consumption is an ever increasing issue, especially in the Western world. Call it impulse buying or maybe it’s just sensory overload but there is a culture of buying much more than needed. Justifications for these purchases range from “it’s on sale”, “I may want this later” to “I don’t want this to sell out in case I do end up wanting it”. A few decades ago, we would have had to patiently wait for the next season’s catalogue, make a selection and wait a few more weeks for the order to arrive. Unfortunately, it is today’s age of convenience and accessibility that has our landfills ballooning.
What to do instead: When shopping, simply think: Do I need this and how much of this do I need? Of course, it’s fine to buy things you want, and enjoy shopping from time to time. To be mindful with your spending, you can try make a list of what you want or need to buy and stick to it. This could mean meal planning for grocery runs and picking a few clothing pieces, home decor you want to add this season.
Problem: We don’t think about what happens when we are done with our products. This doesn’t just mean one-time-use items that generate immediate waste, but also items that after their life, are just plain hard to reuse or recycle.
What to do instead: Consider what the end-of-life looks like for your product and it’s packaging. Is it recyclable or compostable? Will the vendor or manufacturer take it back for reuse? Is there value in the used materials, or will it just become waste? A perfect example would be a glass jar carrying a product instead of a plastic one. Not only can glass jars be reused by you, but glass is also way more recyclable – and glass material is more valuable as a raw material than plastic.
Problem: If you knew more about your purchases, you might not want to make them. For foods, this includes knowing about ingredients and where/how they are sourced. We often buy things without looking at the labels and miss key information. For clothing and home goods, question if your product is made ethically. So many companies rely on poor labour laws and lax environmental laws, which are not only unethical, but also use unsustainable materials and practices.
What to do instead: Be sure to pay attention to the origin and longevity of what you are buying. If you have two products to choose from and they both look to be great eco-friendly options, always go for the one that will last you longer, especially since these can even cost you less in the long run.
As you can tell by now, there are quite a few considerations that go into making an eco-conscious decision or purchase. We hope this helps you on your journey to living an eco-conscious lifestyle and cutting down on the unnecessary purchases.
To end on an actionable note, here’s what to ask yourself on your next shopping day:
Happy sustainable shopping!
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Fall brings so much to do! New clothing to wear, pumpkin carvings, lighting candles, hosting Halloween events, going apple picking and so much more. Although, it can get easy to lose track of your goals of living a more eco-conscious lifestyle. Here’s some things you can do to get the most out of this season, and still be putting the environment first.
1. Lighting Candles.
Who doesn’t love the feeling of putting a good movie on, getting a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate, all with your favourite scented candle burning. It’s practically a fall staple! However, it’s important to avoid candles made from paraffin wax. These candles (when burned) release compounds into the air that can be toxic (acetone, benzene, tolune, etc.), which can damage our environment.
Instead go for candles made from more natural ingredients like soybean wax or beeswax. These produce a non-toxic, eco-friendly burn.
2. Harvest your Garden.
Fall as we all know is the season of Harvest! If you’ve been able to plant in your garden this year, a great event you can host is inviting friends and family into your garden and have a harvesting event.
Play some good music, serve your favorite hot chocolate or cider and have fun gathering all the fruits/veggies you’ve worked so hard to grow this year. This is also a great activity to do with your kids! While harvesting your garden, teach them about the different types of agriculture that you’ve planted and have them choose their favourite one!
3. New Wardrobe? Check your closet and labels first.
“Back to school sale!”, “Half-off for Fall!”, “New Autumn Closet Deal!”. With each new season the fashion industry comes ready with a new wardrobe collection. Often find yourself getting caught up in the new season shopping blitz? Unfortunately, this is how overconsumption happens.
Shop more eco-consciously by checking your closet well before shopping and going for classic pieces. See what you have, what you want to get, and what you need. If you’re looking for a basic white shirt to add this season, then buy exactly that instead of an embellished or gold-buttoned piece. Next, check the labels to buy more natural fibre clothing – this means staying away from synthetic blend material as they will still release microplastics during washes. These two tips will help you create a sustainable wardrobe that lasts long.
4. Get a good thermos.
Goodbye iced drinks! It’s officially hot drink season. Instead of going to your favourite café spot to pick up your go-to order. It may be a good idea to make your drink at home. 91% of all plastic is not recycled (National Geographic) and those single-use coffee cups/lids/straws are definitely part of that number.
Investing in a good quality thermos (and a good coffee machine if you want to splurge!) is a great way to help bring that number down.
5. Spend Time Outdoors.
Finally, enjoy the outdoors this autumn! It’s a great time to enjoy the beauty of our environment. The leaves are changing into gorgeous colours, holidays are right around the corner, the weather is at a great temperature (not hot but not too cold yet!).
So, get out there! Checkout pumpkin patches, go on a walk with friends, go apple picking. Enjoy the most of this season, before winter creeps up on us! 🍂
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At this time, you’re probably seeing “back to school” deals everywhere. 50 percent off this, Two-For-One on that…it can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, we can get in the happen of seeing a good deal and buying much more than what we need.
Here’s some tips to help you start the school year off on the right track.
Carpooling with other parents in the neighbourhood. Look to see if there are any children in your neighbourhood who go to the same school (or nearby) as your child and see if their parents are interested in carpooling. You can start by reaching out to a facebook group or other social group in your neighbourhood or school. Carpooling is a great way to not only save on gas and reduce gas emissions, but you are also saving time and creating great relationships with your community.
Start teaching your kids about green living early. A great way to make sure that your children are living with a green mindset is to start teaching them about the importance of being eco-conscious early. Instilling these values is how we make sure the next generation is continuing this work of being eco-conscious. If you have a garden, that’s a great way to teach about composting, and chores like taking the trash out is an opportunity to discuss the 3R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle). Get them involved in annual events like Earth Day and Earth hour, see if there is an eco-club at their school, and make sure to lead with fun!
Support Local. Instead of going to superstore giant businesses for your back-to-school shopping, see if there are local businesses around you that have what you need and are committed to working in an eco-friendly manner. It’s a great way to support your community, and in a business where sustainability is an important part of their production.
That’s it! Happy Back-To-School season for you all. Fall is just around the corner, and we can’t wait for a new season, and for upcoming weekly blogs. Stay tuned for more!
]]>In this day and age, we think its fair to say...there will always be another sale. Don't act on a sale unless you've already planned for it.
If you need to act on it, take a few minutes to come back to the shopping cart to avoid an impulse buy.
Well there you have it, a bit of pre-planning and by trying to find what your person can really use, you'd be saving on a lot of unnecessary gifting.
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It’s understandably hard to avoid plastic and fossil-fuel products all together but there are a few factors to keep in mind when looking for a low-waste gift:
If nothing from the previous tips inspires a gift idea, here's our extensive list of low-waste gifts to consider.
I. Edibles
Yes, those edibles count as well. But we are talking about food here, a good dish or a baked treat. Everyone loves to eat so you can't really go wrong here.
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Note 1: Seeing we are in such a diverse community, your friend or neighbour might really enjoy a cultural treat.
Note 2: Don't forget to check for food allergies and intolerances.
II. Plants
It's the gift that keeps on... growing. If they are a plant lover, this could be a no brainer. A potted plant makes a beautiful and thoughtful gift. If they don’t have a lot of time for plant-care or is a total plant newbie, may we recommend succulents? We like to make our own arrangements for gifting. |
III. Be local
We love this because supporting local just makes sense - support the local economy while reducing the carbon footprint. Local farms will carry jams and craft olive oils. |
IV. Responsible materials
Fortunately with the internet, there are a lot of clothing and goods you can shop online. Which also means you can check for where the product is made, where the shop is located, and what materials the product contains. Keep a look out for recycled and natural fibers, made and shipped locally. |
V. Your Time
Time is precious and a busy fella will always appreciate a helping hand. Offering to babysit or helping to fix up something around the house as a gift might by something your gift would greatly appreciate during the holidays. |
Go to <Part III> <Part V>
]]>Do you ever find yourself looking at potential gifts before you have someone to gift to? This maybe a sign that you’re about to buy something that is not the most useful and might even end up returned or unused.
Although it's easy to make a return nowadays, it is not as sustainable as you would think. When you have something shipped or bought in-stores, there is already a carbon footprint there. When we ship it back, it adds to the carbon footprint and in some cases gets thrown out to landfill. When we bring it back to the store, there are some products that will still get thrown out, like opened cosmetics.
To avoid going through this wasteful process, our next tip is to make a few observations on your recipient to find the most useful, productive gift for them.
If we take a step back and really observe the person's day-to-day routines, likes and hobbies, we can truly find the perfect gift for your person.
Here's a few things to ask yourself about your giftee to get you brainstorming on useful gift ideas:
You can make their life easier by buying something that they will use every day. Say they love baking but they are still using a very old mixer, perhaps a new one would be a good gift idea.
Say..."I wish I had more time for yoga" or "I would like to get my leather boots repaired sometime”. Here's a perfect opportunity to give the gift of an experience.
Think along the lines of essential kitchen ware and personal care products. If they love a certain brand, you can restock on a few of their faves. If there's something else they love to use, like say the mixer, maybe buy a new accessory for it.
Our goal is to not make excessive purchases that will lead to unused products that will eventually end up in the landfills or be returned.
]]>With the flood of sale emails in your inbox, the pressure to buy everyone you know a gift during the holidays can seem unavoidable.
And if you are looking for eco-friendly gift choices this season, it's impossible to not feel overwhelmed! But to help you out, we've put together a guide with a few simple tips that can help to sort through the holiday madness while keeping the environment in mind.
Waste is described as the excess, unused, or residual material from a process. In our gifting context, it comes in the form of excessive packaging, excessive number of gifts, and excessive returns.
Gifts and enjoying the seasonal decor are not the root of the issue. It's how we go about accomplishing these things can make all the difference between wasteful and sustainable.
If there is only one takeaway from this guide, it should be: the least wasteful gift, is the one that is well-loved! Since over 90% of ALL self-storage is found in North America, it shows that all too often we buy stuff that we don't even use. Asking "will they use or want this after a year or two?" can be a great question to figure out whether something is a perfect gift -- and also something that can help reduce waste!
If you love making lists, then this is going to be easy. If you don't, now is definitely the time to give it a try. Pre-planning is the key to reducing all waste.
If we can take an audit of what is already available for gifting around the house, brainstorm on what we can gift other than a physical gift and then finally jot down what you would really need to buy.
We usually start by making a list of everyone we want to gift and then assigning a gift idea to each person. You can even add a dollar amount to dedicate a specific budget for this holiday season on gifting.
There's a few ways to how pre-planning will help you reduce waste. You won't be...
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Note 1: Try to stick to the list as much as possible and not expand your list to have more people or more gifts than you need. If you must, consider a kind action or a baked good.
Note 2: Lists can apply for food planning as well! Excessive food is a form of waste and sticking to a plan can help trim the green garbage this year.
Go to <Part II>
]]>Now let's talk about what you can actually gift. Before looking at a physical gift, we like to brainstorm on a few ideas that don't bear the heavy packaging.
Give the gift of an experience. You may have already heard this, but paying for something other than a traditional present is a fantastic way of avoiding waste.
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Presents in this vein can range from a simple restaurant gift card, all the way to bespoke or personalized services. But what are some more examples you ask? Here’s our list of creative ideas:
Hope this gets your creative juices flowing and inspires you to gift something a bit different this year. It's also perfect for last-minute ideas!
Go to <Part I> <Part III>
]]>If you are in the midtown-Toronto area, you’ll be happy to know that you can now buy your favourite cleaning and beauty products at the Davisville Guardian Pharmacy.
They carry our bestsellers from partners like The Unscented Company, Change Toothpaste (tablets), Birch Babe Naturals, and also our Peeled Essentials line.
All products are packaged in reusable glass containers just like our online store. Best of all, Guardian is partnering with us to offer in-store returns for your used Peeled Pantry bottles!
We’re excited to be bringing a zero waste option to our own community here in Davisville Village.
#packagefreeretail #reusewithtpp #wemakeitaccessible
Look for the return+earn logo on our bottles. Buy the first product with a pump and bring back just the bottle to return at the store for cash credit. Next time, you can buy the product in just a cap to reduce the extra bit of waste.
As we go out in the nice weather, picnic in parks and hike along trails, let’s remember to be kind to our Earth. Here are a few eco-tips to help do your part for mother nature in return for it’s beauty and the serenity it provides you.
Hiking | Camping | Cottaging
]]>Who else has been on a trail and hiked past plastic bottles, pop cans, beer bottles, plastic cutlery and plastic bags lying on the ground? Although some of these materials are recyclable and even biodegradable, by no means do they do so safely on their own.
We can definitely do better, so here is a simple guide to all things sustainable for the outdoors.
On day-hikes, the biggest concern for waste is with food and water. Remember to leave no trace behind during your adventures. Here's a list of tips for your next hike:
Special note during COVID times: account for your masks, don’t leave them behind on the trail!
In addition to reusables, you will want to choose unscented and biodegradable products when you're out on a campsite.
There are two main reasons for this: not to attract wildlife (and risk both yourself and the animals), and to not introduce toxic chemicals to the earth. Also note that biodegradable does not mean it's good for waterways. Certain ingredients can still upset aquatic ecosystems.
Here’s a packing list to add on to your day-hike list.
If you’re aiming for a longer trip in sheltered quarters, then we would add a few more items to the two lists above.
Well, there you have it! The bit you can do for mother nature in return for it’s beauty and the serenity it provides you.
Pumps and sprayer lids will last a long time (…years…decades!) if you take good care of them. The limiting factor should be when the spring mechanism inside breaks, not clogging, and that’s because you’ve been cleaning your pump and sprayer lids properly all this time. This is especially important for products like body lotion, as bacteria can build up over time and lessen the lifespan of the spring.
The Peeled Pantry wants nothing more than to support your waste-free lifestyle. You may know that we are unable to accept returns of pump and sprayer lids for hygienic reasons; we can’t clean these according to our restaurant-grade sterilization process. This is all the more reason for us to help you keep your own clean. Follow this easy, step-by-step process to keep these items in your refillable jars for years to come.
How to clean your pump and sprayer lids:
Hold the pump or sprayer over running tap water for a final outer rinse!
Screw that bad boy back onto your reusable bottle and you're off to the races!
]]>That’s because we have an everyday superpower, toothpaste. This miracle substance scrapes off the daily grind and gets at those in-betweens to leave our mouths clean and fresh. When shopping for this essential toiletry item, it seems as though every incarnation of toothpaste we’ve used since childhood seems to work just fine. This begs the simple question: why change your toothpaste?
How rare it is to actually stop and think about toothpaste. It’s one of the earliest skills we’re taught. Brush in the morning and brush at night because it’s mandatory to keep us cavity-free and dentist visits tolerable. Lucky for us, The Peeled Pantry brings us choices for high-quality and effective products that are good for you and good for the planet.
...fluoride alternative [...] reducing the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth.
We’re very excited to showcase a new addition to our plastic-free dental care trio, Change Toothpaste. This Canadian-made, fluoride-free toothpaste was created with the environment in mind. It comes in waste-free packaging and the toothpaste itself is easy-to-use tablets. Change toothpaste only contains a handful of ingredients and boasts all of the cleaning power of your regular drug store brand. Sodium sulfonate is a plant-based foaming agent that gives this product the regular feel of toothpaste when used with water. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol extracted from birchwood that brings a bit of natural sweetness to the tablet. It also acts as the fluoride alternative in the toothpaste by reducing the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. Win-win. Add to this a couple of polishing agents and some natural minty flavour and you have yourself some toothpaste.
Unsure of how to use toothpaste in tablet form? It’s easy! Pop a tablet in your mouth, give a little chomp down and add a wet toothbrush to the mix. It will be foaming in no time. Tablet toothpaste will bring you back to the days of Flintstone vitamins adding some nostalgia to your brushing ritual. I digress…
Speaking of toothbrushes, I hope you didn’t think we would forget about toothpaste’s crucial sidekick. The new Peeled Essentials Bamboo Toothbrush completes our waste-free dental care trio. The simple design is composed of only a 100% biodegradable bamboo handle and soft, BPA-free nylon bristles.
Both of these necessity items will make an effortless transition into your sustainable bathroom routine. Change Toothpaste is entirely waste and plastic-free. It comes in a refillable (and returnable) glass jar and the tablets themselves dissolve in your mouth and then go down the sink. No more tossing clunky toothpaste tubes into the garbage. The Peeled Essentials Bamboo Toothbrush can easily be dismantled with a pair of scissors, the nylon bristles go into the bin and the bamboo handle can go into yard waste or your backyard compost.
We’re confident that switching to Change Toothpaste and Peeled Essentials Bamboo Toothbrushes and Dental Floss will be a positive step toward your waste-free, sustainable lifestyle and an upgrade to your personal dental care routine. Happy brushing friends!
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]]>The Peeled Pantry is very excited to announce the launch of our new zero-waste dental care trio. This utilitarian tripod will transform your twice daily brush brush into a powerful and decisive step forward into plastic-free living.
Today, the littlest item will make its debut, humble dental floss.
We’ve sourced top-quality materials to bring you a truly plastic-free, all-natural dental floss. The floss itself is made of natural silk, biodegradable by nature. This malleable product is known for both its strength and softness, which makes it an ideal candidate for the job. Next, this silk must be turned into floss. This is done by coating it in candelilla wax and peppermint oil. If this is the first you’ve heard of candelilla wax, don’t worry, I had to look it up too. It’s wax that’s been derived from the leaves of the Candelilla shrub native to Mexico and the southwest United States. Of course we’re not surprised by the addition of peppermint oil in its intent for minty freshness, but did you know that it has mild anti-microbial properties as well? This brings you fresh breath not just from the aromatics oil, but also from the cleaning ability of the floss itself.
All this considered our new floss is a big step up from traditional dental floss, which is typically made of nylon, a petroleum-based product. It is then packaged in a hard plastic dispenser box, and further wrapped in yet more plastic for display. This is like a plastic burrito, but unfortunately not biodegradable or delicious. All of this plastic packaging is either headed straight for the landfill or is relatively hard to recycle. Small items that go into your blue bin can be difficult to sort at the recycling facility and sometimes end up becoming garbage in the end anyway.
Our plastic-free packaging takes the guesswork out of recycling as there are only two materials used to wrap up this product, cardboard and aluminum. Simply break down the cardboard and add it to your grey bin and the tiny aluminum bit can be popped in the trash (it’s too small for the blue bin), or you add it to your scrap metal collection if you’re keen like that.
"silk-based floss because it stays intact until the job is done. It can get between tightly spaced teeth without snagging"
Plastic or not, we’re all flossing daily (right?), and if we’re considering alternatives they need to get the job done. I can hear our readers’ thoughts, “This is FLOSS we’re talking about, and what matters is that it removes the yickies from between my teeth. Tell me, does it work?”. Well thank goodness, you’ve read this far and YES, it works! The Peeled Pantry rigorously tested many natural floss materials but landed on this silk-based floss because it stays intact until the job is done. It can get between tightly spaced teeth without snagging, making the case for this durable and effective product.
We’re so excited about this new product in our Peeled Essentials that we’ve already made the switch ourselves. Be sure to stay tuned with us as we continue to feature the remaining items in your zero-waste dental care trio. Up next, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
This new Peeled Essential will turn your bedtime routine into a riot of reflecting on what an eco-friendly bada$$ you are with this new addition to your bathroom necessities.
Add Peeled Essentials plastic-free dental floss to your next order here!
]]>Face masks can get a bit (how can we say this politely?)... pungent with continued use. Sometimes they could use a bit of a refresh rather a full wash, and this is where a freshener spray really shines.
Making your own mask refresher spray is very easy, and you only need 3 ingredients:
You will also need a small (30 to 60ml) misting spray bottle to dispense your mixture.
The essential oil is the key item here, and is for scenting your spray - the other ingredients are just for diluting and mixing. Any essential oil will do: the best part of this is that you can choose any of your favourite scents, or even mix them.
Essential oils are too strong to go on your mask directly, they need to be diluted with water first - but oil and water don't mix. At least, not without some help.
That's where the natural soap comes in! Soap molecules are special intermediaries, with heads that are attracted to water, and tails that repel water (and attract to oil instead).
Adding just a bit of soap to our mixture lets our essential oil get suspended in the water, rather than floating on top:
Notice that the bottle on the right is milky - that's the essential oil suspended in the mildly soapy water, just how we want for diluting it.
Natural and Castile soaps are perfect for this as they are very mild so they can suspend the oil but won't make the spray feel slick. The soap gets 'used up' as it bonds with the essential oil, so the mix doesn't have a soapy feel at all. Science! Ya!
Making your spray is very easy, and should take less than 5 minutes:
And that's it - all that's left is to use it on your masks! Use a few sprays to deodorize your masks. Some masks get harder to breath in when damp, so this is best done at the end of a day so the mask can dry before next use.
Tip: Give the bottle a quick shake each time before you use. The essential oils do seperate a bit, even with soap.
Plastic (polymer) material is arguably the least recyclable. Plastics can only be recycled successfully, if at all, 2-3 times. The quality of the plastic drastically reduces - broken down to smaller polymer chains - with each recycle. Ex: food-grade plastics —> article of clothing —> maybe a lawn chair. Note: Plastics cannot be 100% recycled material because they need reinforcement material aka mix in new plastic.
♻️ Tips:
The highest-grade paper is printer paper and it can be recycled 5-7 times —> toiler paper and cardboard boxes. This also means that paper products can be made of 100% recycled content. With every recycling process, the fibres will become shorter which means virgin fibres will need to be mixed in eventually.
♻️ Tips:
Aluminum is the most recycled and recyclable material on earth and maintains the same physical and mechanical properties after each recycling process. A lot of the aluminium produced is still around today. Ex: beverage cans, aluminum foil, chip bags and baking trays in your kitchen.
♻️ Tips:
Glass can be recycled an infinite number of times as well and can retain the original colour. Ontario recycles about 63% (2003) of the glass from recycling bins. They can also be sterilized well and does not risk melting or leaching - ideal for multiple uses of the same product.
♻️ Tips:
For more information, visit your town/city or municipality to see whats excepted in your recycling bins and how to sort them properly.
]]>Wanted to start a zero-waste lifestyle but not sure where to start? We’ve got your THE guide for you. 7-steps to help you get started and stay motivated!
]]>Wanted to start a zero-waste lifestyle but not sure where to start? We’ve got your THE guide for you!
Now that you feel the urgency to reduce waste, don't panic!. You don’t need to fit all your waste into one jar - in fact, this could be completely unrealistic for you. As with anything, its a journey of habitual changes, not a giant rule book you need to start overnight :)
Figure out what that means to you and start small. Your zero waste goals should be SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.
Ex: Forgoing single-use plastic bags for a year or switching plastic ones for glass bottle refills for 3 months ;)
Take a moment to observe your daily habits and routines to see if they help you achieve your goals.
Ex: I've started to notice how often I forget my reusable bag when out so I leave a small grocery bag folded in my jacket pocket at all times.
There’s a lot of research, advocacy, and innovation around zero-waste and each society tackles it differently. The more you know, the more informed decisions you can make about fulfilling your zero-waste goals.
Brainstorm on a long-term plan to achieve a zero waste home/lifestyle (the ultimate goal) so that you're considering all types of waste in your life.
Ex: Buying less of fast-fashion, switching out your gasoline-fuelled car or doing a home energy assessment.
Tell others about the work you have done so far (without making anyone feel guilty or uncomfortable of course). Everyone has their own journey, but having those thought-provoking conversations can help gain perspectives and share best practices. You might even inspire someone to join the journey.
If you feel like you're failing, IT'S OK!! Just keep going. Like with any other lifestyle change, eating healthier or getting more sleep, this takes time and effort for all of us and that's ok. You're still making a huge difference in your life, for others and the planet!
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