Environmental

I want to make sure that I am doing everything possible to have a positive effect on the environment. For example, rather than owning a vehicle, I am a member of the Victoria Car Share Co-op. I am trying to eliminate as much paper as possible by issuing electronic receipts and putting as much product documentation on this site as I can. I use 100% recycled paper when printing anything. Even my web host is going green.

The one thing that is difficult is packaging. I knew from the beginning that I would want to find an environmentally sound solution for this. I was further inspired by ideas in the book 'Cradle to Cradle' about packaging.

I have scoured the web to educate myself about plastics. Obviously, PVC is a nightmare. So far, I have found that Greenpeace and the Healthy Building Network have given a thumbs up to High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). It is non-chlorinated, requires fewer additives, and is much more easily recycled, so that is what I am using. I guess ultimately, I would like to find a product like this that is recommended by organizations such as those above, and that also has a high recycled content in it. I found one that is 100% recycled, but it is dyed black and they wouldn't tell me the ingredients of the dye. The bottle is not food-grade, whereas my current bottles are, and the odds are that the dye is toxic, so I decided to stick with my current bottles.

The same goes for brown bags and boxes. I believe my brown bags are manufactured with 100% recycled material and without chlorine, acid, etc., as are some of my boxes. I also do a lot of recyling of boxes.

I have also just found labels that are 100% post-consumer recycled paper and 100% recycled  water-based glue, and chlorine free. Who would of thought there is this much to think about? It may seem insignificant to spend time finding these products, but if we all did it, it would have a tremendous effect on the health of the planet.

If you can help me find better packaging, please let me know! If you live in Victoria, keep your bottles and bags for me to reuse. I will give you a credit on your next purchase for their value.