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In Canada, we have plenty of room for improvement when it comes to reducing waste, from water, to clothing to every day products around the house. We know that every piece of plastic ever made is still on the planet today, much of it polluting the ocean and third world countries. It is evident that a real change is needed.
Fortunately, even at the individual level, small changes have the ability to make a real difference in our health and the health of the planet.
Let’s explore some easy ways to reduce your footprint:
Support Local Sustainable Shops
Chances are, right in your own community you will find businesses that have taken the extra time to source products to align with your low waste goals. Check out thrift shops, eco-friendly gift stores, refilleries, and locally-owned vegan restaurants to name a few.
Discover the Circular Economy
Photo credit: FILL Kelowna. These buckets come to FILL full of hand soap, dish soap, shampoos, and more! Once emptied we take them back to West Kelowna to get filled again, so there is no waste!
What is the Circular Economy? In contrast to the dominant linear economic system, characterized by the “take, make, waste” stages, a circular system focuses on “sharing, re-using, repairing and recycling."
Examples of circular economies include repair cafes, secondhand marketplaces such as thrift shops, and companies offering to refill your vessel with their product.
Curb Unnecessary Water Use
Water is one of the most precious resources, and a requirement of life. Eliminating water waste by checking for leaks, installing low-flow appliances, using timed irrigation, and installing a rain barrel to use as water for gardens.
Start Refilling
Photo credit: FILL Kelowna
In the mission to reduce plastic, a great tool is refilling of existing containers to reduce your need for new ones (and let’s face it, most of these are plastic…). Heading to a refill store with your containers in hand, and filling up with household cleaning and hygiene products, or even bulk foods, is a great way to save packaging and often times pay less!
As our easy tips suggest, taking the first step on your journey to sustainability doesn’t have to big massive, difficult or daunting. In the case of shopping local, participating in the circular economy, reducing water use, and refilling - it has the real likelihood of being fun, cost effective and easier than you think!
Bonus tip! On your next walk, pickup garbage in your local area to reduce plastic pollution, or if you prefer the company of like-minded people — join a garbage clean up! FILL Kelowna is hosting an Earth Month Garbage cleanup Saturday, April 20 leading up to Earth Day. Anyone interested in participating can meet at the FILL Kelowna store at 9 am.
Join us this month to help make our world a greener place!
And, if you haven’t been to FILL Kelowna yet, they are having a 20% off storewide sale for Earth Day on Monday April 22nd! A great time to stock up on your favourite products or try something new!
Photo credit: FILL Kelowna
About FILL Kelowna
Located at 23- 3155 Lakeshore Road, FILL is a refill store where customers can truly decrease their plastic use by filling their cleaning and hygiene products using their existing containers! You will be able to refill shampoo bottles, conditioners, body wash, face wash, hand soap, toothpaste, deodorant, face cream, hair spray, hair gel and more. Cleaning products can be refilled too. Dish soap, laundry soap, dish washer tabs, spray cleaner, all purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, window cleaner, laundry soap, fabric softener and more.
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