Many of the products we use every day to maintain our homes and personal health have negative environmental effects that go unnoticed. 

Here are some common household and personal care items that seem harmless but have hidden environmental footprints — and what you can use instead.

1. Paper towels

Paper towels are the go-to choice for cleanups, but they are typically used only once and require large amounts of trees, water and energy to produce. Not all paper towels are made from virgin wood pulp. Some paper towels may be manufactured with recycled paper, which lessens the environmental impact. Either way, it’s still a common form of waste. 

A better alternative is reusable paper towels or cloths. These can be washed and reused significantly more times than standard paper towels. 

2. Toilet paper

Toilet paper is a washroom essential, but it’s also an extremely disposable product: after a few seconds of use, it’s flushed away. A lot of wood pulp that is used to make toilet paper for Canadians and Americans comes from Canada’s boreal forest. Logging can cause short-term deforestation and negatively impact wildlife.

Alternatives to regular toilet paper include recycled or bamboo toilet paper. While they may require a higher upfront cost and some installation, bidets are effective at drastically cutting down toilet paper use.

3. Laundry detergent

Liquid laundry detergent is commonly sold in large plastic jugs, whereas laundry pods are coated in polyvinyl alcohol, a plastic that isn’t biodegradable and can contribute to microplastic pollution. Some detergents also contain harmful chemicals like phthalates. 

To make your laundry routine more sustainable, consider refilling detergent directly at a bulk store. 

Try to also find healthier, eco-friendlier detergents. The Environmental Working Group provides lists of safer, more sustainable household and personal care products.

4. Disinfectant wipes

Many disinfectant wipes are made with synthetic fibres, preventing them from being recycled or composted; after one use, they’re thrown away. Wipes may also contain a harmful chemical group called quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), which have been linked to a range of health problems like metabolic disruption and asthma. 

Using reusable cleaning cloths with disinfectant sprays that can be refilled is a more sustainable option. 

5. Dish sponges

Regular dish sponges may seem insignificant and harmless, but they are commonly made of plastic. When sponges are exposed to friction from being scrubbed on dishes, they risk shedding microplastics. And since they’re plastic, they cannot be recycled or composted.

Look for sponges that are made of plant-based materials, like cellulose or loofah, as they can biodegrade. Dish brushes made of bamboo are another good option.

6. Disposable razors

Disposable razors are usually made of a combination of metal and plastic. Since this makes them a mixed material item, it complicates the recycling process and often leads to razors becoming waste. Billions of razors end up in landfills each year. 

A sustainable alternative is a stainless steel safety razor. It doesn’t contain plastic, lasts much longer, generally offers a better shave and reduces waste in the long run.

7. Soap bottles

Soap stored in bottles, whether that be hand soap, shampoo or conditioner, creates plastic waste and requires more water and energy to produce. Liquid soap’s high water content and bulkier packaging increase transport resources and carbon emissions.

Bar soap uses less packaging and is less resource-intensive to produce. If you want to stick with liquid soap, consider refillable options from zero-waste or bulk stores.

8. Makeup wipes

Makeup wipes are a convenient way to remove makeup, but they are another common form of waste. 

Makeup wipes are a single-use item. Similar to disinfectant wipes, they are also often made of synthetic fibres, which means they don’t break down easily. This means that they will accumulate in landfills or the environment.

A more sustainable choice would be to use micellar water with a reusable cloth. Micellar water is more effective at removing makeup, while the cloth can be washed and reused many times. 

Summary

On their own, these swaps may seem small, but collectively they can make a difference. Every reusable, refillable or biodegradable alternative helps cut down on pollution, reduce emissions and lessen the demand for often resource-intensive production. Choosing a sustainable alternative is a step toward a cleaner, healthier future.

As conversations about climate change, conservation and sustainability continue to grow, documentaries have gained popularity as a medium for highlighting what’s happening to our planet. Whether it’s about wildlife loss or some of the driving forces of the climate crisis, documentaries can offer insight and inspiration for action. 

Here are some sustainability- and environmental-based documentaries currently available in Canada.

1. Our Planet

Our Planet is a documentary series that showcases the world’s wildlife and habitats, and raises awareness about the threats they face. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Our Planet was made in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and Silverback Films. 

Episodes take viewers on a journey through Earth’s various biomes, from jungles to seas and deserts. They highlight how climate change and human activities, such as overfishing and plastic pollution, are impacting some of these places and the wildlife that inhabits them.

The first season of Our Planet is currently available on Netflix and for free on YouTube, while the second season is exclusively available on Netflix.

2. Chasing Coral

Chasing Coral explores the rapid disappearance of coral reefs around the world. The film follows a team of divers, photographers and scientists as they document coral bleaching, revealing how rapidly warming oceans — caused by their absorption of extra heat from greenhouse gases — are affecting these vibrant and important ecosystems.

Climate change is altering the world’s oceans, which, despite teeming with life, can often feel invisible to people. Available on Netflix, Chasing Coral is a wake-up call that reveals a hidden crisis occurring underwater and inspires viewers to care for the oceans.

3. The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff provides a critical analysis of the environmental and social costs of modern consumerism. Through an engaging narrative and animated graphics, the documentary exposes some of the driving forces behind consumerism and follows the lifecycle of goods, from resource extraction and manufacturing to distribution, consumption and disposal. It illustrates how each stage impacts people and the planet. 

Available on YouTube, The Story of Stuff provides a deeper understanding of how overconsumption is tied to larger environmental issues and encourages viewers to rethink their habits and consider more sustainable alternatives.

4. Dominion

Through the use of hidden-camera footage and drones, Dominion provides a troubling glimpse inside animal agriculture facilities in Australia. While the content may be difficult to watch, the documentary has a clear goal: to expose the exploitation and abuse of animals.

Dominion reveals the concerning practices across multiple animal agriculture sectors, including cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and fish. The film also highlights how livestock production raises concerns about deforestation, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution.

Dominion may not be an easy watch, but it delivers a thorough and uncompromising assessment of the environmental and ethical consequences of animal farming and challenges audiences to rethink commonly consumed foods and products. 

The documentary can be watched on YouTube.

5. Will Renewables Stop the Climate Crisis? & Global Renewables: Pioneering the Energy Transition


This two-part documentary, available on German news outlet Deutsche Welle’s YouTube channel, provides a comprehensive overview of renewable energy. 

“Will Renewables Stop the Climate Crisis?” explores the urgent need for green energy and whether renewables alone can halt the climate crisis. 

“Global renewables: Pioneering the energy transition” picks up the story with real-world examples of how communities in Germany and the United States have successfully adopted renewable energy, highlighting the technical details and social collaboration needed to make the transition feasible. 

The documentary balances urgency with optimism, with one framing the global problem and the other showing actionable solutions.

Part one is available here, and part two here.

Summary

These documentaries showcase the range of challenges and solutions shaping the planet and society, from climate change and food systems to wildlife and renewable energy. They inform, inspire and show that meaningful action is possible for everyone.


​

​Around 70 per cent of Earth’s surface is covered with water. Yet only about three per cent of Earth’s water is fresh, and roughly two-thirds of that is not readily accessible. In other words, only a small fraction of Earth’s water can sustain life. 

The other 97 per cent is saltwater. Saltwater can be made drinkable through desalination, a process that removes salt and other impurities. However, desalination is far more energy-intensive than treating freshwater. Desalination can also produce a byproduct of highly concentrated brine, which is often discharged back into the ocean. Elevated levels of salt within localized areas can disrupt marine ecosystems.

Fortunately, Torontonians don’t need to worry about this particular issue. Toronto and other municipalities across Southern Ontario source their drinking water from Lake Ontario. The Great Lakes of North America — Ontario, Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie — collectively hold around 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater supply. But while it might feel as though this seemingly abundant access to freshwater will last forever, there are signs that it shouldn’t be taken for granted. 

In 2021, Lake Ontario registered some of its lowest water levels in decades, dropping roughly 30 centimetres below its average level. In prior years, Lake Ontario’s water levels reached record highs. 2019 saw a record 75.92 metres, but by 2021, levels dropped by over a metre to 74.7 metres. This abrupt shift, driven in part by climate change, underscores that Lake Ontario is subject to unpredictable swings. 

It’s unlikely that Southern Ontario will face severe water scarcity in the near future. But, as populations grow, human activities increase and the climate continues to change, it is important to act before problems arise. 

The good news is that small changes add up. Many water conservation habits are easy to build into daily life. Here are some steps to reduce your water use.

1. Turn off the tap when it’s not in use

The easiest step in reducing water consumption is turning off the water when it is not being used. Whether you’re brushing your teeth, shaving or lathering on soap in the shower, turn off the water if you don’t need it — you can save several litres each time. 

2. Thaw frozen food in the fridge

If you know you’ll need a frozen ingredient in a day or two, move it to the fridge to thaw. Submerging it in water works too, but that leads to unnecessary waste.

3. Run full loads when cleaning dishes and textiles

When using a dishwasher or laundry machine, ensure every cleaning cycle is run with a full load and set to the appropriate setting. This will maximize water and energy efficiency. Make sure to follow the owner’s manual for guidance.

4. Water vegetation in the morning

Water your plants and lawn in the morning, especially during the hotter and sunnier months. This will ensure the water can be adequately absorbed without being quickly evaporated, so you can water less often.

5. Clean your property without water

Consider sweeping or using a leaf blower to clean your driveway, steps, patio or deck instead of hosing it down. Even small changes like this can save hundreds of litres over time.

6. Know the location of your water shut-off valve 
​
In the event of a pipe burst or leak, knowing where your property’s water shut-off valve is located is essential. A pipe burst or leak can cause major property damage and waste a significant amount of water. Knowing where and how to shut the water off minimizes damage and wasted water. 

It’s easy to overlook water’s value when it flows freely from the tap, especially here in Toronto. But freshwater is limited, so being more mindful of how we use it protects our health, city and the future of our planet.

Toronto is home to numerous grassroots and community-driven sustainability organizations. From repairing damaged household items to advocating for stronger environmental policies, many groups and initiatives strive to help residents make greener choices in their daily lives. 

Here are five organizations helping to shape a more sustainable Toronto.

1. Repair Café Toronto

Launched in 2013 by Torontonians inspired by a movement that began in the Netherlands, Repair Café Toronto aims to combat throwaway culture. The group hosts events each month across the city in community centres, Toronto Public Library branches and other local venues. 

Volunteers, known as fixers, teach people how to repair broken household and personal items, such as small appliances, computers, electronics, clothes and jewellery, for free.

The goal is to extend the life of everyday items, reduce landfill waste, teach people new skills and encourage people to rethink and value their belongings. Since its first event, the group says thousands of items have been fixed and diverted from landfill. 

While volunteers always strive to do their best, successful repairs are not a guarantee. The process still fosters conversation, learning and awareness about how things are made and why repairing matters.

Repair Café Toronto is a partner of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group’s REmarket event, bringing their invaluable service right to the community.

https://repaircafetoronto.ca/ 

2. CultureLink Bike Hub

Based in North York, CultureLink Bike Hub is an initiative by CultureLink Settlement and Community Services. CultureLink Bike Hub seeks to support cyclists and promote a repair and reuse culture by offering services and workshops on bicycle repair and maintenance, like DIY hours and the Earn-a-Bike program. This teaches people practical new skills while promoting environmentally friendly transportation. 

The group also collects used bicycles, recovers usable parts and builds new bikes, which can be given away to those who need them. 

By promoting cycling as a low-cost, eco-friendly and accessible mode of transportation, CultureLink Bike Hub supports climate action while teaching Torontonians useful skills and knowledge. As another REmarket partner, it highlights how transportation and the circular economy can go hand in hand.

https://www.culturelink.ca/bike-hub/ 

3. FoodShare Toronto

Food insecurity and waste are major issues in Toronto. One organization that seeks to tackle these issues is FoodShare Toronto. FoodShare advocates for the right to food, partnering with communities and organizations to ensure that marginalized groups, in particular, have access to affordable, fresh and mostly local foods that are also relevant to their needs.

Some initiatives that FoodShare is a part of include Flemo Farm, a community farm in the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood, and Sunshine Garden, a recreational gardening program and market in collaboration with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). 

FoodShare also operates Toronto’s largest mid-scale compost program beside its urban farm at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute. Residents can drop off their food scraps to be composted. In 2019, the group diverted 56,088 lbs of food waste from landfill.

FoodShare’s mission highlights how environmental health and human well-being are deeply interconnected.

https://foodshare.net/ 

4. Toronto350
​
Part of the international 350.org movement, Toronto350 is a volunteer-led group dedicated to climate action. The group works to push governments, corporations, banks and other institutions to divest from fossil fuels, accelerate the transition to renewable energy and support a more just, sustainable and equitable world for all.
         
Toronto350 also engages people through education, advocacy and rallies, underscoring the need for both grassroots action and systemic change in addressing the climate crisis. By bringing together environmental protection, social justice and civic engagement, Toronto350 aims to build a more livable, sustainable and inclusive future.

https://www.toronto350.org/ 

5. Toronto Environmental Alliance

For over three decades, the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) has served as the city’s environmental watchdog. With the goal of promoting a greener Toronto, TEA engages with residents, community groups, workers, professionals and city councillors to drive discussions and address local issues. TEA covers a wide range of issues, including climate change, waste reduction, environmental policies and sustainable transit.

TEA’s work has influenced municipal decisions. For example, in 2017, amid plans to privatize garbage collection in Scarborough, TEA released a report that highlighted concerns about waste diversion rates being lower in areas with privatized collection. The report was shared with city councillors and the mayor and was featured in mainstream media. City Council later voted to defer privatization plans to gather more information. This work reflected TEA’s focus on accountability and data-driven policy, ensuring that Toronto’s sustainability goals are backed by evidence.

TEA also leads an initiative called Reusable Toronto. Working with local organizations, businesses and community members, it strives to reduce single-use plastics and promote reusable alternatives through advocacy, policy change and community engagement.

TEA and its efforts represent the policy aspect of sustainability, illustrating that collective advocacy can drive change across Toronto.

https://www.torontoenvironment.org/ 

Summary

Each of these organizations plays an important role in the sustainability movement. Together, they demonstrate how meaningful change starts small and locally, and that everyone has a role to play in building a cleaner, fairer and more resilient Toronto.

​

​Dropping off clothing at a donation bin feels like the right thing to do: people can declutter their spaces, the clothes are seemingly diverted from landfills and the donated items can be worn again by someone else. Since clothing donation bins can be found around places like schools, parking lots and plazas, the good deed can feel effortless. But what happens after those clothes are dropped off is a bit more complicated than many people realize. 

Once clothes have been dropped off at donation bins, they are collected and sorted, with only clothes in good condition and with resale potential entering thrift stores. About half of donated clothes make it to stores, and only half of that will actually sell. In other words, only a small amount — less than a quarter — of donated clothes are resold and reused locally. 

A few things can happen to the remaining clothes. Clothes that are not suitable for use, due to factors like severe damage or stains, often end up in landfills. Some clothes might be repurposed into new products, like industrial rags, blankets, floor mats or car-seat fillings. Many others are sold to clothing graders who ship them abroad to buyers in countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. From there, the clothes go to local retailers and are sold to consumers. Canada plays a role in this system. In 2023, around $180 million in used clothing was exported to overseas markets from Canada. 

There are significant environmental impacts associated with these operations. Transporting all these clothes across continents contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but the greatest impacts are seen in the countries that receive them. For example, in Ghana’s capital, Accra, millions of used clothes from Western countries arrive in the city each week, flooding its clothing market. However, upwards of 40 per cent of the clothes received are not suitable for use and are discarded in both legal and informal landfills or burned. Clothes can also end up clogging sewer systems or being dragged out to the ocean during the rainy season. 

Similar issues have arisen in Tunisia, where large amounts of used clothing enter the country’s local markets, but only a small portion ends up getting sold. The rest ends up in landfills or bodies of water. Compounding these issues, many clothes nowadays are partially or entirely made of synthetic materials, mainly plastic. When these clothes break down, they can release microplastics into the environment.

A major factor in this problem is overconsumption. With fast fashion, clothes are mass-produced and more disposable than ever before. Not only are they cheap and tend to fall apart fast, but they also fall out of trend just as quickly. This model is unsustainable and will only worsen without change.

So, what can be done? One of the most important steps is to be more mindful when buying clothes. Donated clothing that gets sold can help charity organizations fund their programs and services, but the reality is that they receive far more clothes than they can manage. It’s also clear that many donated clothes end up as trash elsewhere, which pollutes the environment. 

In many ways, donation bins have become the solution to people’s impulsive shopping purchases without confronting the problem of overconsumption. Buying less and being an overall more conscious consumer reduces demand and stops this environmentally harmful system at its roots. 

If a garment is damaged, make the effort to repair it on your own, at a repair café or through a tailor. Do clothing swaps with family, friends or with people in your community. If clothes have to be donated, consider looking for local thrift stores, shelters or hospitals — there might be a better chance that the clothes and funds generated from sales are allocated to those in need. Examples in Toronto include the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Suits Me Fine boutique, Double Take Thrift Store and Sanctuary.

At the end of the day, the most sustainable garment is the one you already own. Donating clothes can still support a circular economy, but only if it’s paired with mindful consumption and greater consideration for where they might end up.

​Food has a big impact on the planet, from the way it’s grown to how it’s transported and disposed of. However, there are many ways to make more sustainable food choices. Here are some steps that can help you reduce waste and make your meals more eco-friendly.

1. Buy food locally

Buying directly from local growers at farmers’ markets reduces the distance that food needs to travel and the emissions associated with it. Many goods from farmers’ markets also use minimal packaging. Markets in Toronto, like at St. Lawrence Market North, Dufferin Grove and Evergreen Brick Works, are great options for local shopping.

2. Use your own cups, utensils and containers

Single-use plastics continue to be a major waste problem. Bring your own jars, containers and bags when grocery shopping or eating out, and use a reusable cup when ordering takeout drinks. If you have your own utensils, you can politely decline those disposable ones that often come with your takeout order. 
Bulk stores are also a great resource for stocking up on cooking essentials, and some, like Bulk Barn, even offer discounts when you bring your own containers. Skipping single-use plastics and using your own items can make a difference over time. 

3. Plan meals

Meal planning isn’t just good for your wallet; it’s also a great tool against food waste. By mapping out the week’s meals and buying only what you need, you avoid making impulsive purchases and ensure that ingredients are used up before they spoil. Similarly, check labels or research the best tips to properly store items. This further ensures food is preserved longer, which can reduce waste.

4. Rethink food scraps

Most people are quick to toss out food parts they believe are not usable, like broccoli stems, corn cobs and peels from fruits and vegetables. Review the food scraps you usually throw away, do some research and try to consider how they can be used. Perhaps vegetable peels could be baked into snackable chips, while corn cobs could be added to vegetable stock. Food scraps still tend to have nutrients in them, so using them helps make the most out of every ingredient.

5. Compost your food

Whenever food has to be discarded, make sure it goes in a compost or organics bin and not the garbage. Food that is thrown in the garbage and enters landfills produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, as it breaks down. Composting keeps more food out of landfills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and essentially recycles food and its nutrients back into soil. Whether that be in your backyard or through municipal collection, composting is an effective, sustainable habit to build.

6. Look for sustainable certifications

Not all food is produced the same. The production process for some foods may follow strict environmental and labour guidelines, while others may not. Labels like those from Ocean Wise, Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade can help identify products that were made following more sustainable and ethical practices. Learning about these certifications can help you make better-informed decisions at the grocery store.

Eating sustainably is an important step in protecting the planet. Each container that’s reused, meal that’s planned and ingredient that’s repurposed is a small step towards a healthier world.

​Advancements in technology have profoundly transformed society. Humans are more interconnected than ever before through various means of communication, such as video and phone calls, social media and instant messaging. Technology has also made education and learning resources more accessible. 

However, despite technology’s many advantages, it carries significant environmental costs. From massive, energy-hungry data centres that house and power the digital world, to growing mountains of electronic waste, the environmental footprint of technology is becoming harder to ignore.

Environmental impacts

The lifecycle of many technological devices — from raw material extraction, to consumer use and eventual disposal — has implications for the environment. Resources like cobalt and lithium are necessary for the production of goods like phones, computers, electric vehicles and solar panels. Demand for cobalt and lithium is surging due to the global push for renewable energy and digital connectivity. 

However, the extraction process of these resources takes a toll on the environment. The Democratic Republic of Congo mines most of the world’s cobalt, producing over 70 per cent of global output. The country has seen significant deforestation and water contamination from dust and debris as a result of cobalt mining. High concentrations of cobalt have also been linked to crop damage and declining soil quality. Similar issues can be found in the extraction of lithium.

Depending on the extraction method, large areas of land have to be cleared for open-pit lithium mining. Brine mining, on the other hand, requires millions of litres of water to pump underground, lithium-rich brine up to the surface, which is then evaporated in large artificial ponds to remove the lithium. Chemical solutions may also be used to extract lithium from ore, but they risk seeping into soil and water sources. 

These processes are highly disruptive to wildlife and the environment. Unless steps are taken to mitigate these problems, the impacts could be intensified as the need for technology continues to increase.

The environmental impact of using technology often goes unnoticed by many. Just about all digital activities — asking ChatGPT for homework help, playing video games, streaming movies, sending emails and attending video calls — affect the environment through their reliance on data centres and data transmission networks. These systems keep the digital world running by storing, processing and transmitting data, but they also use a lot of electricity, much of which is still generated from fossil fuels. 

According to the International Energy Agency, data centres and data transmission networks each accounted for nearly 1.5 per cent of global electricity use in 2022. Data centres worldwide are projected to emit 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030, led by Big Tech companies like Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft. 

In addition, many data centres use significant amounts of water to cool down electrical components. In the United States, estimates suggest that about 64 billion litres of water were used in 2023 for cooling purposes; that’s expected to double or even quadruple by 2028. Demand for energy, natural resources and digital infrastructure is only expected to grow in the coming years, especially with rapid developments in fields like artificial intelligence. 

The environmental toll doesn’t end when devices stop working. Electronic waste (e-waste) is a rapidly growing stream of solid waste. Commonly discarded items include computers, mobile phones, household appliances and medical equipment. In 2022, around 62 million tonnes of e-waste were produced globally, and only about 22 per cent of that was properly collected and recycled. 

E-waste is often illegally transferred to Global South countries that lack appropriate regulations and enforcement, recycling infrastructure and training. This leads to e-waste being commonly dumped on land or into water bodies, thrown into landfills along with regular waste or incinerated. 

This improper handling of e-waste releases toxic pollutants, like lead, dioxins and mercury, that can contaminate soil, air and water. If current trends continue, global e-waste is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, while recycling rates could fall to 20 per cent. 

Summary

Technology has major environmental costs that extend throughout every stage of its life. The resource extraction process damages ecosystems, everyday use and the operations of digital networks consume vast amounts of energy and the disposal of devices leaves behind considerable amounts of toxic waste. 

At the same time, technology has transformed the way humans live — for the better, in many ways. Technology is one of society’s best hopes for solving these very problems, especially if it is used differently. 

The world is only going to become more digital, so innovation and progress must go hand in hand with sustainability if technology is going to serve both society and the planet. There are steps that individuals can take as well. We should utilize the devices and technology we already own, repair them when necessary, buy secondhand and dispose of them at recycling centres where available.

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group’s REmarket event has a partnership with Renewed Computer Technologies (RCT), where people can drop off e-waste to be refurbished or recycled. These small steps ensure technology is sustainably used in our day-to-day lives.

Every year, the world generates over two billion tonnes of municipal solid waste. That number is expected to double to nearly four billion by 2050. Global waste production is currently at unsustainable levels, driven in part by the cultural desire to buy more, even when people don’t necessarily need to. 

Once goods are used or lose their appeal, they are thrown away simply because it’s convenient. But this way of thinking is not innate to humans. In fact, it’s a relatively new phenomenon that has been ingrained in human behaviour through factors like the invention of plastic and cultural conditioning.

The rise of plastics and consumerism

Modern plastic has its origins in 1907, when inventor Leo Baekeland created Bakelite. Dubbed “the material of a thousand uses,” Bakelite was a synthetic material that was durable, heat-resistant and could be shaped into nearly anything. Over time, more plastics would be invented. Plastic manufacturing and usage skyrocketed among the Allied forces during the Second World War, as it became a useful substitute for scarce natural resources that had to be preserved. Military equipment, attire and vehicles all used plastic in some form. 

After the war, plastic was mass-produced and entered civilian life, including in the manufacturing of cars, goods and furniture. The seemingly endless possibilities of plastic excited people, and many believed that a future abundant with material goods was on the horizon. This was a turning point, as plastic helped drive the cultural transformation that turned people into consumers.

However, the notion of people being “consumers” wasn’t entirely due to the rise of plastic. People have always needed to consume resources for their survival. Growing food, making clothes and building infrastructure necessitated consumption. But originally, people were much more frugal and thoughtful with their belongings, largely out of necessity. 

The inclination to buy more than needed began to materialize in late eighteenth-century Britain and nineteenth-century United States, when there was an increase in the commercialization of goods. Shops and department stores were expanding in quantity and physical size, and they openly displayed products for public viewing. While many of these stores primarily served a middle- to upper-class demographic, they cultivated feelings of envy and desire among people. There were growing perceptions that consumption and newness were means of achieving happiness. These ideas soon aligned with corporate strategies to foster more consumption.

As manufacturing continued to grow into the twentieth century, concerns arose that insufficient consumer demand would stall profits and lead to an overproduction crisis. Corporations realized they needed to stimulate consumption artificially. To address this, they turned to advertisement campaigns that began encouraging people to be less frugal and to put greater value on material goods. At the same time, products were being intentionally designed with shorter lifespans, a strategy known today as planned obsolescence. 

After the Second World War, consumerism took off in the West. People were eager to spend money. Plastic democratized material goods, making them cheaper and more accessible. Radios and television became widespread, allowing advertisements to reach people directly in their homes. 

There was a cultural shift: people were more materialistic and wasteful. This was highlighted in a 1955 LIFE Magazine article titled “Throwaway Living” and encapsulates the life people know today: the convenience of throwing away things after one use. While plastic and consumerism changed the way people lived, they also left behind a wasteful legacy.
​

The impact today

These shifts and events laid the foundation for many of today’s problems. Excitement about plastic began to wane when plastic waste started to surface in the oceans around the 1960s. This raised alarms about the possible environmental impacts. 

By the 1980s, plastic was widely considered a major issue for the marine environment, just a few decades after it was introduced. Steps were soon taken to mitigate this problem, including the push for municipalities to start collecting and processing recyclable materials. 

But, despite these efforts, most plastics continue to enter landfills or the environment. Today, over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year, with about half of that being intended for single-use applications.

Consumerism continues to expand as well. With today’s technology, it has never been easier to sell or purchase something. People are inundated with advertisements on their devices. Social media and influencers are constantly raving about new trends and products. Online shopping makes getting products easy. Much like the decline in product quality decades ago, many of today’s goods are produced without durability and craftsmanship in mind. 

This is particularly evident in fast fashion, where clothes are cheaply produced with the intention of falling apart quickly or going out of style after a season or two. The unsustainable patterns of the past have not only persisted but been amplified, becoming the ideal business model.

Summary

The advent of plastic and the rise of consumerism have profoundly shaped society today. Convenience and abundance have led many people to value the idea of having more goods and replacing them as quickly as possible. But this puts strain on the planet’s already overstretched resources. And as global waste production continues to rise and the environment becomes more polluted, governments, corporations and individuals all share a responsibility in tackling this problem. 

By rethinking our approach to consumption, we can ensure that generations today and in the future live in a cleaner, more sustainable world.

​

In a world overflowing with pollutants and litter, one form of waste stands out: cigarette butts. Cigarette butts — the remains of smoked cigarettes — can be found in just about any public space, like parks, sidewalks, roads and beaches. Cigarettes are a widely consumed item worldwide, and they are rarely disposed of properly. As such, cigarette butts are a major environmental pollutant, despite their small size.

This article explores the composition of cigarettes, the environmental impact of cigarette butts and initiatives aimed at reducing the amount of waste generated by these products.

Background on cigarettes

Modern cigarettes are primarily composed of dried leaves from the tobacco plant and chemical additives that may add flavour or enhance the smoking experience. They also contain a plastic filter and a thin piece of paper that wraps everything into a cylinder. 

Filters were introduced in the 1860s to keep loose tobacco out of smokers’ mouths. Beginning around the mid-twentieth century, it was discovered that cigarettes contained carcinogens; there are thousands of chemicals and toxins present in cigarette smoke, including nicotine, cadmium, tar, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Filters were then advertised as a means of protecting smokers’ health, as they would supposedly reduce the amount of chemicals inhaled. 

However, tobacco companies realized that trying to selectively filter out harmful chemicals was impossible. Furthermore, filters made the smoke easier to inhale and encouraged deeper, more frequent draws. 

Nonetheless, production of these filters, commonly made of a plastic called cellulose acetate, significantly increased after that. Cigarettes are not just harmful to smokers; they have a major impact on the environment.

Environmental impact

About 1.25 billion adults use tobacco products. This demand explains the nearly 6 trillion cigarettes that are sold annually worldwide. However, many people may not know how to properly dispose of them. Some places may also lack adequate infrastructure to accommodate this type of waste. 

Annually, about 4.5 trillion butts are littered — making it the most littered item in the world. In Toronto, cigarette butts are one of the most common forms of litter found on the city’s streets. Overall, tobacco products make up between 25 to 40 per cent of all litter globally. 

The manufacturing process of cigarettes is quite harmful to the environment. Tobacco farms tend to require a lot of land, which may lead to deforestation. According to the World Health Organization, around 3.5 million hectares of land are cleared annually to accommodate these farms. Hundreds of millions of trees are chopped down, and billions of litres of water are used to create cigarettes. 

Equally harmful is the improper disposal of cigarette butts. The plastic filters in cigarette butts are not biodegradable and also tend to contain leftover toxic chemicals. Over time, after cigarette butts have been discarded, the plastics and chemicals in them can enter into and pollute bodies of water, soil and other parts of the environment. This ultimately harms humans and wildlife.

Solutions

Banning plastic filters would be a major step towards minimizing the waste and environmental impact of cigarette butts. As mentioned, production of these filters greatly increased in the wake of claims that they supposedly decrease the risk of certain health-related effects of smoking. However, filters aren’t effective in improving health. As such, banning them would prevent unnecessary waste from being produced and entering the environment. 

Another approach to reducing waste is recycling the plastic filters and adding them to asphalt mixtures to create stronger roads. After the filters are cleaned and undergo a processing phase that turns them into small pellets, they can be combined with asphalt. The cellulose fibres found in cigarette filters can reinforce asphalt and make it more flexible. Overall, the asphalt becomes better at withstanding heavy traffic and temperature changes. 

This idea has seen real-world application. In Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, the city’s waste management firm began placing containers for cigarette butts at public events in 2024, with the intention of utilizing the filters in road construction. In fact, the Slovakian city of Žiar nad Hronom already has a road made with discarded cigarette filters, proving the viability of this approach.

Efforts are also being made in Toronto to cut down on cigarette waste. In 2023, the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group (SLNA-WRG) began a partnership with TerraCycle Canada, a recycling company, seeking to address the city’s most widespread form of litter. So far, this initiative has led to the installation of 44 cigarette butt collection containers throughout the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. 

Over half a million cigarette butts have been collected and sent to TerraCycle for recycling. This involves separating cigarette waste by material type, composting the ashes and tobacco, and converting leftover materials into their raw form to create new products. The SLNA-WRG hopes to create a neighbourhood sculpture or bench made from recycled cigarette filter plastics and to promote change in behaviours and attitudes towards this topic.

Summary

Individual cigarette butts may appear insignificant, but collectively, their impact on the environment cannot be overlooked. As the world’s most littered item, we have a responsibility to continue finding methods of disposing of and repurposing the contents of cigarette butts. The efforts in Slovakia and Toronto offer insight into how this can be done.

​

​On October 8 and 9, 2025,  the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group held its 14th REmarket event, which included the ever-popular FreeMarket, where you can donate things, shop for free and find useful items for your home and family.

Free markets like ours are sprouting up across communities as we are all learning to be more conscious of what we buy and dispose of. It’s great to find new homes for things that might otherwise be thrown away.

When we’re exchanging things for free – giving, receiving and reciprocating – we’re participating in the gift economy. The goals and values of a gift economy are to share more, reduce our reliance on buying new things, reduce waste and build trusting relationships in our communities.

We definitely need the useful donations we get from our neighbours to make Freemarket a success. But we want you to know that during times outside of REmarket events, you can still enjoy the gift economy spirit and meet some nice people by joining an online swap or “for free” group. In these groups, you can post items to give away. You might also find something you need that is being gifted by someone in your community!

While Toronto is home to several free exchange groups you can choose from, Buy Nothing Canada groups have well-established guidelines and work within specific geographical boundaries. The guidelines and local exchanges make it easier to meet up, but they are also intended to foster a sense of community, reciprocity and social trust.

In addition to meeting some nice people, giving stuff away has additional benefits, outlined below. 

1. A say over where your item goes
​
You don’t need it and don’t use it, but it has some monetary or sentimental value. Knowing your item can live on and bring joy to a neighbour who can use it may be the little push you need to let it go. The feeling may be more rewarding than any money you could have received by selling it!

2. Get ‘er done

If you haven’t gotten around to selling it, don’t know what it’s worth or don’t know if the process is worth the trouble, try letting it go for free! You’ll experience the relief of getting the decision checked off your to-do list.
Give a second life to weird stuff you might otherwise throw out.

Yarn scraps? Empty jars? Wired earbuds? A scented candle you used once, but it made you sneeze? Try giving it away before you give it up for landfill.

3. Reflecting on consumption

Hanging on to things we don’t need or trying to resell them can be strategies we use to reduce buyer’s remorse. Giving things away can help us reflect on our buying habits in the future. REfusing to buy in the first place is the best waste reduction strategy in our toolkit!
​
If you’ve got things to share and just can’t wait until the next REmarket, try your local Buy Nothing Canada group or other swap groups. Meet some folks in your community and enjoy the good feels!

​

These days, we’re paying more attention to supply chains and sustainability in fashion. And
there are exciting initiatives afoot to encourage sustainable fashion and hold suppliers
accountable for how their products are made and disposed of.

But here’s an angle that’s often overlooked when we talk about eco-conscious fashion:
costume jewellery. That’s the stuff you buy that is not made of precious metals or gems.
If you are refreshing or downsizing your wardrobe, you might forget about your jewellery
entirely, or if you’re like me, just say, “Ugh. It’s so small that I don’t know what to DO with it.
Maybe later.”

Well, buckle up. It’s time to use our 5REs to talk through those oh-so-easy to acquire and
accumulate earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings that end up being oh-so-difficult to get rid
of.

REfuse

Refusing is all about preventing materials from entering waste streams in the first place. If
you “refuse” to purchase or accept an item, you won’t have to worry about the rest of the
5Rs.

For costume jewellery, you can REfuse by considering before you buy:

• Will you use it more than once?
• Do you have a specific plan to incorporate it into your wardrobe?
• Are you being seduced into buying more than you need by BOGO or a sale

You can also REfuse by rejecting jewellery made from nickel, lead and certain alloys
(composite metals) that are toxic for you and for the environment! Jewellery made of these
materials quickly tarnishes and can’t be cleaned. They also tend to break easily, leading to
them being thrown out more quickly.

REduce

You can REduce the quantity of your jewellery by buying less often and focusing on versatile,
well-made pieces that work with multiple outfits. Rather than buying a lot of cheap, low-quality
jewellery, you should buy fewer pieces that are instead made of safe, high-quality metals and
alloys like gold, sterling silver, stainless steel, titanium and platinum.

Favour natural materials
like wood, leather and precious or semi-precious stones over plastic and rhinestone. Quality
jewellery can be repaired and cleaned, ensuring that you can enjoy it for many years.

REuse

Love the jewellery you have! You’ll be less tempted to buy new costume jewellery if you clean
what you already have and keep it in a visible and easily accessible place, so you remember to
use and enjoy what you already own.

When donating jewellery for REuse by others, it is less likely to end up in landfill if it is in
clean, ready-to-wear condition:

• Ensure clasps are not broken and earrings have their backs.
• Untangle necklaces.
• Place jewellery in a small box so that it will be easy to find for donation sorters to review
and organize

And did you know you can repair your jewellery at a repair café? Check out Repair
Café Toronto and watch for upcoming Repair Cafés at REmarket!

REpurpose

Do you have broken costume jewellery that’s not worth fixing? Me too. Fortunately, at least
some of our old costume jewellery can be upcycled.

By getting broken jewellery into the hands of dedicated re-users and jewellery artisans, you
are diverting at least some of it from landfill and potentially extending its life.
If you are a crafter, consider your own upcycling projects too!
REcycle.

Well, we’ve saved the worst for last. The combination of mixed (and sometimes toxic) metals,
glues and plastics used to make costume jewellery cannot easily be recycled. So, if your
costume jewellery is damaged, or you can’t find a way to repurpose it, its next home is the
garbage.

Sustainable jewellery buy and swap tips:

• If you don’t know the composition of the jewellery you are buying, ask!
• Shop local businesses and artisans that prioritize eco-friendly materials and practices.
• Favour quality metals, natural materials and upcycled jewellery.
• Buy less often and buy quality.

Period Underwear and Reusable Pads

Menstrual cups don’t work for you? No problem! Two other great alternatives include reusable pads and period underwear. 

Reusable pads are fastenable absorbent pads that can be washed and reused after cycles. The absorbent part of the pad is usually composed of cotton, bamboo, hemp, or synthetic materials. They can last three to five years, preventing hundreds of disposable items from ending up in landfills. 

Period underwear functions similarly to regular underwear but also contains a fabric that traps blood and prevents leaking. It can be made of synthetic or natural fibers and can last around two years. While these products have an environmental footprint due the water and detergent required for maintenance and cleaning, they still reduce the waste associated with the packaging and plastics within disposable products.

These underwear come in many styles, colors, and fits, presenting an inclusive option that can be customized to suit each wearer's personal tastes. Even the occasional use of these products can compound and reduce the amount of disposables that end up in landfills.

Let’s keep the discussion going

While there are many facets involved in the issue of menstrual waste and its impact on the environment, offering a wide range of sustainable, healthy, and affordable menstrual products allows people to make more conscious decisions about their health and well-being. It also provides more autonomy and dignity to those who are unable to access traditional period products. 

Pressuring large companies to modify and acknowledge the non-biodegradable materials present in their products also makes these corporations accountable for reducing their plastic waste and creating products that don’t have a negative impact on the planet or our bodies. 

By bringing the issue of sustainable menstruation out into the open and offering reusable menstrual products that prioritize well-being over discretion, we can challenge harmful attitudes and myths that can make menstruating people feel stigmatized and alone. After all, menstruation has been around for so much longer than the social taboos and disposable products that people currently associate with them. 

It’s up to us to make the future of periods a positive one for both society and the environment. 
​
​

As the spooktacular season of Halloween approaches, front yards come to life with the warm glow of pumpkins, jack o’lanterns, and skeletons, while store aisles overflow with an abundance of confectionery delights.

Regrettably, these celebratory traditions come with a gloomy downside. From plastic candy wrappers to flimsy decorations and costumes, Halloween generates a substantial amount of waste that can be difficult to recycle.

While we should never dampen the Halloween spirit, we can still explore ways to continue celebrating this haunting holiday while safeguarding the future of our planet, avoiding any ominous twists in our story. 

Ghoulishly green costume ideas

One of the most memorable aspects of Halloween is the rare opportunity to become anyone or anything your heart desires, with an infinite array of choices at your fingertips. You can transform into a beloved movie character, embody a well-known Halloween icon, or even take on the persona of everyday objects, like a pizza slice.

However, one downside of this tradition is that it has a huge carbon footprint, since most of the costumes people buy are sourced from the fast fashion industry and tend to be of poor quality (Robertson, 2021). These unsustainable materials have a short lifespan, preventing people from reusing them, and ultimately, can find their way into the trash, contributing to the pollution of our landfills.

To prevent this waste buildup, consider reaching out to friends and family to ask about borrowing their costumes or recycling your own from previous Halloweens. Should you find the time and desire to embrace your creative side, consider upcycling one of these costumes into a fresh and special creation of your own. For instance, you can use old clothing you no longer need or materials found around the house to transform your costume, which can significantly reduce unnecessary plastic waste from new costumes.

Enchanting eco-friendly decorations

Halloween decorations range from elaborate outdoor displays that consume a lot of electricity to the more straightforward and traditional pumpkins atop kitchen counters. But despite their differences, both options can contribute to excess waste. 

Consider purchasing more traditional decorations, like Halloween pumpkins, from local growers or farmers’ markets to reduce the energy spent on transportation. After enjoying the aesthetic aspects of your pumpkins, you can maximize their use by saving the seeds and flesh for recipes like pumpkin soup. Additionally, you can reduce waste by composting your pumpkins or donating them to local community gardens and animal shelters (Robertson, 2021).

When it comes to outdoor decorations, such as plastic skeletons and tombstones, you can embrace a sustainable approach by crafting them yourself from recyclable materials like cardboard, which you can repurpose from old Amazon boxes or other sources within your home. 

Alternatively, you can explore more do-it-yourself (DIY) ideas, such as crafting ghosts from old sheets or fashioning reusable spider webs from yarn. To take it a step further, make sure to store these DIY creations in a designated box, preserving them for use during the next Halloween season.

Lastly, if you prefer purchasing your decorations, consider choosing items that are not only reusable but also of high quality, that way they can be used in the years to come. For products like candles, it’s advisable to opt for soy-based or beeswax candles because paraffin-based ones can emit toxins and soot. 

Spooky sustainable treats

While costumes and decorations are relatively easy to upcycle and reuse, candies and chocolates pose a different kind of challenge because they can expire. 

In 2021, the National Retail Federation projected a Halloween candy spending of approximately $10.1 billion (Social, 2021). While the consumption of candy and chocolates surges during the Halloween season, these tasty treats are beloved throughout the year. 

To kickstart a sustainable Halloween, it’s important to understand what candy is made of, where these ingredients come from, and what impact it has on the environment and its people.

Two of the most concerning ingredients found in candy and chocolate products are cocoa and palm oil, which are often sourced from low-income countries. West Africa accounts for 70% of the world’s cocoa production, while Indonesia and Malaysia together host 90% of the world’s palm oil trees (Chiu, 2022).

The production and extraction of cocoa and palm oil in these regions results in deforestation of local rainforests, leading to risks for both the climate and biodiversity of these nations.

These processes are also associated with severe human rights violations, such as forced and child labour. Although prominent chocolate manufacturers like Mars, Nestle, and Hershey have promised to stop using cocoa harvested by children, tracing cocoa back to its origins to verify these claims remains challenging. 

As a result, the recommended approach is to steer clear of products containing palm oil by carefully inspecting labels before making your purchases. Some brands that already exclude palm oil include Reese’s original peanut butter cups, plain M&Ms (but avoid Peanut M&Ms), and Hershey’s Kisses (excluding Hershey’s Hugs). 

Rather than boycotting chocolate altogether, you can opt for responsibly sourced chocolates by seeking out third-party certification labels from organizations like Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance.

While it’s important to note that these labels do not guarantee a flawless product, they serve as a useful starting point. One helpful website for finding responsibly sourced chocolates is The Chocolate Scorecard. 

Beyond the sourcing of these candies and chocolates, another environmental concern revolves around their wrappers, which are usually made of plastic and aluminum.

One approach is to purchase candies in bulk and wrap them using recyclable materials like paper bags, making sure to wear gloves and maintain cleanliness to address any health worries. Alternatively, you can skip edible treats altogether and consider items like pencils, homemade multicoloured crayons, and even seeds for children to start planting early. 

If you live in the Toronto area, you can also check out local low-waste stores, such as Bare Market and Unboxed Market, that offer eco-conscious Halloween treats and gift options.

Harvesting Halloween sustainability: In conclusion

This Halloween, as we indulge in our favorite traditions, let’s also take a moment to reflect on their socio-environmental impacts. From the sourcing of ingredients to the disposal of wrappers, our choices matter. By being mindful of what we consume, embracing sustainability in our decorations and costumes, and selecting responsibly sourced treats, we can celebrate Halloween while preserving the planet. 

​

While there is consensus that discarded cigarette butts are a serious cause of litter and a nuisance to pick up, we seem to remain distant from the substantial pollution and damage they cause.  

Littered cigarette butts, which are one of the top single-use plastics, unleash toxic chemicals that severely impact our land and water as well as the health of living organisms. While Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada recognize butts as the most frequently found microplastics in aquatic environments, cigarette filters are not included as part of the government’s commendable goal to reach zero plastic waste in Canada by 2030. 

In an effort to address the issues of pollution, chemical leaching, and microplastics, the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group (SLNA-WRG) has partnered with the waste management company TerraCycle and members of the St. Lawrence Market Business Improvement Area to pilot a cigarette butt–recycling project. 

This initiative involves the installation and servicing of 24 free butt receptacles outside of interested local food-based businesses. Due to the prominent locations of the receptacles, community members are able to easily access these collection points and deposit their cigarette butts in real time. Rather than simply being sent to a landfill, the collected butts are then recycled by TerraCycle to lessen the negative environmental and health issues they create.
​

Cigarette butts are actually the most abundant form of plastic waste in the world, with about 4.5 trillion individual butts polluting our global environment. As the most littered item on earth, they produce an estimated 1.69 billion pounds of toxic garbage each year.      

In a recent issue of Environment International, Lucia et al. (2023) call these discarded butts “an environmental hazard for aquatic organisms” because “they contain more than 5,000 chemicals such as nicotine, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.” Among these, “at least 150 compounds are considered highly toxic, mainly because of their carcinogenic and mutagenic potential,” the authors warn. 

The problem is not limited to the ingredients in cigarette tobacco. Almost all of the 6 trillion cigarettes sold globally have plastic filters made with cellulose acetate, which degrades poorly, as the Bulletin of the World Health Organization pointed out in its October 2022 issue. 

According to the city’s latest Litter Audit of Toronto, cigarette butts are the second most identifiable littered item after chewing gum, which account for 18.1% and 22.5% of all small litter, respectively. This is despite the fact that there are 10,300 litter bins throughout Toronto’s streets with receptacles for garbage, recycling, and cigarette butts. However, the butts collected in this manner go to landfill and are not recycled. This is not ideal, as the landfill itself then becomes a source of chemical leaching and spreads plastic waste.

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood, as a community, is well positioned to tackle this global issue by changing people’s attitudes and behaviours regarding cigarette butt–littering. By installing recycling receptacles outside their establishments, the participating food and beverage operators are helping to reduce the cigarette waste on our main streets and raising awareness about this important issue. 

The response from the community’s food-based businesses has been very positive, as can be seen by the growing number of receptacles throughout the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood. 
​
​The SLNA-WRG encourages all residents and visitors to the St. Lawrence area to keep an eye out for these new receptacles and, whenever possible, make use of them. Placing your cigarette butts in these new receptacles is a small step you can take to reduce your environmental footprint while keeping your environment and fellow community members healthy and safe!

A full list of the participating businesses and receptacle locations can be found here.
​
Founded in 2019, the SLNA-WRG’s objective is to help residents in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood change their consumption patterns to reduce waste and positively impact climate change. If you are interested in participating or hearing about our current initiatives, you can contact us at reduce@slna.ca.

​

It’s that time of year again—the time for back-to-school shopping, when students search for the perfect supplies to help them through the academic year ahead. 

While the thought of returning to school can feel intimidating and occasionally unpleasant, the tradition of back-to-school shopping has solidified its place in most students’ lives as something exciting.

Yet, what frequently goes unmentioned is the amount of school supplies that end up in the trash. For instance, around 580,000 tonnes of books, including textbooks and notebooks, are disposed of each year (CBC, 2020). This amounts to hundreds of millions of usable books being wasted (Dcunha, 2022).

Rather than overspending on school supplies only to see them go to waste, you can REuse, REduce, and REcycle for a heftier wallet and a healthier planet.

REuse

Reusing old school supplies is a straightforward approach to both reducing waste and saving money. Items like backpacks and locks, which are considered long-term supplies, can serve well for four years or longer depending on their quality and how well they are maintained.

To make the most of this strategy, take some time to look around your home and gather any school supplies, from pens and pencils to journals and folders, that you have collected over the years. This way, you will have lots of options to pick from when choosing what to use for the upcoming school year. 

After you have decided which school supplies to reuse, consider repairing ones that are broken or damaged, and give them a good cleaning if they are dirty. For example, if your old backpack has a wonky zipper or a loose strap, you can try to fix these issues yourself, have them addressed by a local repair cafe, or bring them to a local tailor. You can often restore old items to a like-new condition with a little bit of time and effort. 

This approach not only makes your supplies feel new again but also helps the environment a lot. By using your old school supplies again, you are reducing the demand for new products, which lead to waste and pollution via their production and transportation processes (Minos, 2022).

REduce

While reusing school supplies is a great approach to lowering your carbon footprint, you might find that a few items are in short supply at home and need to be bought from stores. In such cases, it is perfectly fine to buy new items when necessary, but it is recommended that you prioritise quality over quantity. 

For example, when faced with a choice between a 20-pack of fragile mechanical pencils and a 5-pack of sturdy ones, go for the 5-pack. A well-made mechanical pencil lasts longer than a flimsy one, and when it is time to discard them, there will be less waste because you have bought fewer items.

Another suggested approach is to buy second-hand supplies from friends and family, platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Karrot, or local thrift stores (Astoul, 2023). You can also rely on totally free markets (like the WRG’s FreeMarket event) and local swaps to obtain these items. And if you have any usable school supplies that you want to discard, consider selling or donating them to those who could use them. For example, did you know that the WRG accepts working stationery items and school supplies at REmarket? 

Lastly, to cut down on both household clutter and waste, choose reusable items over disposable single-use ones. For example, instead of using single-use plastic snack bags or water bottles, opt for containers that can be washed and reused for many years.

By following these suggestions, you can buy school supplies at a more affordable cost, make long-term savings by choosing reusable options, and have a more eco-friendly household. 

REcycle

In addition to reusing old school supplies and reducing the amount of new ones you buy, you can also recycle your old supplies when they can no longer be used and opt for new ones made from recycled materials. 

For example, Staples Canada accepts used pens, markers, and toner cartridges for recycling in many of its stores. In partnership with Staples, the WRG also accepts these items for recycling at its triennial REmarket event. 

Similarly, if you find yourself needing a new backpack because your old one is damaged and cannot be fixed, look for bags that are made from recycled materials, such as plastic bottles, or those that come with lifetime warranties.

While the American brand Terra Threads offers backpacks made from recycled materials, the Swedish brand Fjällräven provides backpacks with life-time warranties (DiBenedetto, 2022). 

However, it is important to know that some companies engage in a practice called greenwashing, where they falsely advertise their products as sustainable so that they can sell them for a higher price.

One strategy to help you avoid buying items that have been greenwashed involves using the platform Good On You. This website allows you to research brands and assess their impact on the environment, labourers, and animals. 

Take the brand Herschel Supply Co. as an example. Good On You rates the brand as “not good enough” because its products are reported to include harmful chemicals, and it has failed to openly share essential details about its worker protection policies. 

With the Good On You platform, you can avoid brands that greenwash and make thoughtful back-to-school purchases that are good for the environment and those living in it.

Summary

With the back-to-school season prompting students to search for new supplies, it is important to give equal attention to waste reduction.

By adopting the three REs mentioned in this article—REuse, REduce, and REcycle—a more sustainable approach can be taken. Reusing old supplies cuts down waste and expenses, focusing on quality over quantity reduces environmental impact, and considering recycled options and avoiding ‘greenwashing’ aligns choices with sustainability. 

This marks a new era of conscious back-to-school shopping—one that celebrates mindful choices, sustainability, and a brighter future for all!

​
​