The Green Room

Debby Harris from Richmond, BC writes:

We are a Richmond, BC company that has been producing and selling guestroom amenities (toiletries) to upscale hotels, resorts, airlines and cruise ships for 20 years. We have been concerned about the environment for numerous years. In fact, in 1998 we developed and patented a compartmentalized recycling basket called the "Waste-Not-Basket" to drive guest recycling in hotel rooms. These are now sold to over 200 properties throughout North America.

More recently, we have been introduced to a new material called PSM (or Plastarch), a biodegradable product made from cornstarch resin. Today it is being produced for products such as shower caps, utensils, golf tees, garbage bags, toothbrushes, etc. However, we are concerned about its ability to biodegrade in landfills, and certainly don’t want to produce more methane gas or other noxious emissions than if we continued providing recyclable plastic bottles for our amenity programs.

Can you guide me to an authority on plastics who can give us the straight-goods on PSM and other biodegradable materials? We certainly want to contribute to improving our environment and value your opinions.

Lindsay replies:

Your business initiative to get hotels and others recycling sounds great. There are quite a few hotels that market themselves as "green" for this very reason. With respect to your question on bioplastics, it’s a good one, although not something the Foundation has researched. I can give you some information to get you started and then you’ll need to do a bunch more reading and asking around.

Issue 1: Using cornstarch or soy instead of petroleum to make plastic uses 3-4 times less Co2, and the production uses about 68% less fossil fuels.

Issue 2: Most bioplastic bags, containers, etc. won’t biodegrade under the conditions of a backyard composter. You’d have to quiz your supplier about this in detail. How biodegradable is it? How long does it take? Can people put it in their home composter or does it need to go to a specific facility? For instance, I’ve seen claims that one product that was 100% compostable and biodegradable breaks down within 3-6 months in a commercial composter or 4-5 months in a home composter. How long will they take to breakdown in a landfill is unknwon.

Issue 3: Cornstarch-based bioplastics can be made from GMO (Genetically Modified Organism). Half the corn grown in the U.S. is GMO. This is yet another layer.

It sounds like you need to find out how long these materials take to break down in a typical landfill, unless you’re certain they will go to a specific composting facility. Best of luck with your quest!

Jennie Thorner from Vancouver, BC writes:

I would like to compile a list of companies known for testing on animals. I want to make sure I’m making wise consumer choices and would like a reliable source to tell me which companies test on animals. A list or more information would be much appreciated!

Lindsay replies:

Testing on animals is not a topic that we have become involved in to date. The good news is that I plan to profile "labeling" in general in a future David Suzuki Nature Challenge newsletter . It will translate what certain labels mean, like fair trade, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), EnergyStar, etc. It will also show you how to make your own products by using simple ingredients not tested on animals!

Personally, I was recently doing a search for such a list and found one in a book called "The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience." Animal testing still happens today and there is no regulation around the labeling of "cruelty-free," "no animal testing," "not tested on animals," etc. The bottom line is to look for the White Rabbit logo .

Below is the long list I copied from the book, but I’d suggest you get the source as it has more detail and an explanation of how they derived the list. Also, because the David Suzuki Foundation is a non-profit organization we cannot recommend brands that we are for or against. You see, we just don’t test them or watchdog the companies. It’s really up to you to decide.

If this sort of thing interests you, I’d suggest you pick up "Not Just A Pretty Face ." I just finished it on the weekend and it’s a very empowering read! So, who tests on animals as listed in the book "The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience."

* Chesebrough-Ponds: makes Ponds, Vaseline
* Church & Dwight: makes Aim, Arm & Hammer, Close-Up, Nair
* Clairol: makes Aussie, Daily Defense, Herbal Essences, Infusium 23
* Clorox: ArmourAll, Glad, Liquid Plumber, Pine-Sol, Soft Scrub, SOS, Tilex
* Colgate Palmolive: Ajax, Fab, Mennen, Palmolive, Soft Soap, Speed Stick
* COTY: Adidas, Calvin Klein, Glow, The Healing Garden, Jovan, Kenneth Cole, Marc Jacob, Rimmel, Stetson
* Dial: Purex
* Helene Curtis Industries: Finesse, Salon Selectives, Thermasilk
* Johnson & Johnson: Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Neutrogena
* Kimberley-Clark Corp: Cottonelle, Huggies, Kleenex, Kotex, Pull-Ups, Scott Paper
* L’Oreal USA: Biotherm, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Lancome, Maybelline, Ralph Lauren, Redken, Soft Sheen, Vichy
* Malaleauca
* Olay
* Pantene
* Pfizer: Ben Gay, Listerine, Lubriderm, Plax, Visine
* Playtex: Baby Magic, Banana Boat, Ogilvie
* Proctor & Gamble: Cover Girl, Crest, Iams, Max Factor, Tide
* Reckitt Benckiser: Easy Off, Lysol, Mop & Glo, Old English, Resolve, Spray N’ Wash, Veet, Woolite, Coppertone, Dr. Scholl’s
* S.C. Johnson: Drano, Edge, Fantastik, Glade, OFF!, Oust, Pledge, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Skintimate, Windex, Ziploc
* 3M: Post-it, Scotch
* Unilever: Axe, Dove, Lever, Suave

Leanne Mitchell from Regina, SK writes:

I’m confused. I recycle with a local recycling program and in it we can recycle plastics 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7. Your article on plastics in the Summer 2008 issue of Finding Solutions does not exactly match and says we should not reuse plastics 1, 3, 6 and 7. Am I confusing reusing with recycling or why is there this difference?

Lindsay’s response:

Our article "Plastics by the Number" explained what numbers 1 through 7 is called and in what products you’ll find them. You are correct in assuming that reusability and recyclability are two different things. All numbers are potentially recyclable, depending on your town or city’s recycling program. The safest plastics to reuse (e.g. for food and beverages) are 2, 4 and 5 (sing it… 2, 4, 5 keep yourself alive)! That means 1, 3, 6 and 7 are best purchased in moderation and recycled after ONE use.

Lindsay Queen of Green has had a bunch of people comment that they’re in love with their microfiber cloths. She says: if you’ve seen them you’ll know that you only need water to do surface cleaning of your home. Great. Farewell toxic cleaning products!

Well, there’s a catch. Microfiber cloths are made from petroleum-based fabrics. That’s right, a non-renewable resource. But one could argue that the life span of such a cloth and its ability to reduce toxic cleaning products in your home — plus the fact that you’re not using paper products — still makes microfiber cloths a desirable choice. And that’s the best part — you have a choice!

Have you taken steps toward a greener summer vacation this year? Got plans for an upcoming eco-friendly holiday? Advice for lowering eco-footprints at the campsite, cottage or on the water? Favourite green hotel? We want to hear your ideas and tips! Share your comments here.

Lenore Dickson and Mike West, who live just outside Dundas, Ontario, have eco-minded kids - nine-year old Ruby and eleven-year-old Will - who chose to make David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge the theme of each of their summer birthday parties.

They made piñatas of things they really wanted to take a whack at – an incandescent light bulb and a Hummer – tie-dyed organic cotton T-shirts, and played cooperative games that had both a low environmental impact and repurposed stuff they had lying around the house - three-legged and sack races, bucket brigade, capture the flag, limbo, ball tosses and a dress-up relay - as well as a Nature Challenge Match Game and Treasure Hunt .

Here are some pictures from their parties:

All the kids at Ruby’s party had a hand in playing a Nature Challenge Match Game.

Ruby demonstrates one method of ridding the world of incandescent light bulbs. Celeste Alex (in purple) had such a good time, her mother Robin Lane reported, she came home “all excited about how we can participate as a family in David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge” . The other friend in the photo is Louise Monk.

For their party piñatas, Ruby and Will each picked something they wanted to give a good bash. Will chose a Hummer. Here they are putting on the final touches.

Will and his friends went on a Nature Challenge Scavenger Hunt. They pieced letters together to solve the puzzle ‘polar bears walk on thin ice’ and, by chance, came upon a white tail deer skull with antlers. Front row kneeling (L to R): Tate Angelkovski, Grant Forsythe, Brandon Viaes, William Rutherford. Standing: Cody Riccatone , JJ Shanlin, Emma Holland , Will Dickson, Noah Van Duzer, Noah Leggatt, Tim Bentley, Jess Sussman. Tucked in behind: Will Bermingham, Evan Souter.

Both Ruby and Will asked their friends to bring donations for The David Suzuki Foundation in lieu of gifts – thanks kids!

Got more great ideas for earth-friendly kid fun? Add you comments here!

Chuck Penner from Ottawa, ON wrote us:

I am a cleaner for schools, offices, restaurants, etc. and have decided to "go green" a.k.a. use environmentally safe products for my work. There are several books on Amazon on the subject of cleaning using "green" products, but I don’t know which one is right for me. Any recommendations?

Lindsay replied:

Your quest to provide your school with safe, chemical-free cleaners is an excellent initiative. Kids are by far more negatively impacted by the harmful effects of cleaning chemicals than adults are. Too often indoor air quality is 2-5 times worse than it is outdoors because of the toxic cleaning products we use, so you’d be doing everyone in the school a service!

I’d say you almost don’t need a book, mind you I have about 3 green cleaning books myself, which are posted on my website . I also have a series of green cleaning recipes posted that will work for your purposes and will soon be posting a "green cleaning" ingredient list.

I can’t say I’ve found "the" book. I often "Google" a lot of solutions and recipes. Besides, it’s not really sustainable to go out and buy 10 green cleaning books. Do sign up for our program called David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge and view the videos where I show you how to create cheap and effective products. You’ll also find more solutions, such as link I provided for the Toxic Smart Guide. Let us know how you do!

Hi everyone, it’s exciting to be in the Green Room! I’m Elizabeth, a volunteer with the David Suzuki Foundation helping sift through the amazing amounts of email we’re receiving every day. I’ll be sharing hosting duties and look forward to reading what you have to say.

I aim to live as green as possible in Toronto, which looks pretty green this summer thanks to all the Vancouver-like weather we’ve had — although, I’d still like to see less traffic and cigarette butts on our streets, among other things! I’m in the heart of downtown and walk, bike, cab it or take public transit nearly everywhere. When I’m not producing television or writing for magazines, I’m shopping local at the St. Lawrence farmer’s market and the Healthy Butcher, checking out music festivals, and enjoying the outdoors like busing to Muskoka with a big group of friends for a canoe-camping trip on Moon River.

I grew up just outside of the city with a big backyard and vegetable garden where subdivisions today used to be huge pepper fields and horseback riding trails. Almost every summer weekend was spent camping in Haliburton, Ontario. After an exciting and memorable time at Carleton University in Ottawa, I completed my journalism degree at Ryerson in Toronto and have since worked in television for several years.

One of the turning points for wholeheartedly taking on eco-living unfolded for me two summers ago while I co-produced a half-hour documentary special on climate change. After listening to great thinkers and writers on the subject, including Tim Flannery, Al Gore, and our very own David Suzuki, I became determined to help make a difference for our precious planet Earth. It’s often challenging (especially living in a condo without green composting), but my husband and I do our best and participate in groups and the community to build positive and long-lasting change. The Green Room is a great opportunity to connect across the country, and I look forward to sharing and learning from you!

Denham Dingle of Lindsay, Ontario asks:

Define "pesticide" please! Is it a substance to kill animal pests only or does it extend to plants - i.e. so-called "weeds"?

Good question! The definition of ‘pesticides’ includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, algaecides, and slimicides. Be aware that "Weed and Feed" products include chemical pesticides.

So yes, the definition of pesticide extends to plants - so-called ‘weeds’.

Ken Davis of Lone Pine Publishing sends this note:

Our company published three new books this spring - Garden Bugs of Ontario , Garden Bugs of Alberta , and Garden Bugs of British Columbia .

These books, written by professional entomologists in an accessible manner and beautifully hand-illustrated throughout, talk about both beneficial and damaging insects in the garden from the perspective of using natural controls and also with a view to sharing the fabulous display of nature available at the ‘bug’ level right in your own back yard. For more information, you can check out these books on our website www.lonepinepublishing.com .