Have You Ever Been to Earth?

Steps Towards Sustainability

Since we are all inhabitants of this lovely planet, I think it’s necessary to recognize and celebrate Earth Day! This day is recognized worldwide by more than 193 countries to demonstrate support for environmental protection, all of which are coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.

Inside Bower Place, many of our retailers are working hard to provide sustainable initiatives and products that are worth celebrating. Here are just a few of the retailers who are working hard to make this world a more sustainable place!

Rewear, Reuse, Recycle

Right inside Bower Place, one of our most popular retailers is making huge waves in sustainability initiatives, from their new line of “green” sustainable fashion pieces to their clothing recycling program, H&M is showing us what Earth Day is all about!

The Garment Collection Program is a global initiative by H&M to achieve a sustainable fashion future. Here’s how it works: Konmari your closet and take your bag of unwanted garments into H&M. They will happily accept all textiles, any brand, any condition (even odd socks, worn-out T-shirts and old sheets!). Your donated textiles are then sent to the nearest recycling plant where they’re sorted by hand and placed into one of three categories: rewear, reuse or recycle. Clothing that can be worn again is marketed worldwide as second-hand goods; textiles that are no longer suitable to wear are converted into other products, such as remake collections or cleaning cloths; and textiles that can’t be reused get a new chance as textile fibers. If that isn’t a convincing enough incentive, for every bag of textiles you drop off in store, you’ll receive a discount card for $5 off a $30 purchase. So you get rewarded for doing good for our planet . . . it’s a win-win!

Fresh Ethics

Lush Cosmetics have always been innovators when it comes to their products, and that goes double with their ethics and belief in sustainable packaging and recycling. If their products don’t come delivered completely package free (or naked, as they like to say), they are presented in 100 per cent recycled plastic pots and bottles – even the lids are recycled! The life of their black pots begins with recycled plastic collected from curbside blue bins across Oregon, California, Washington and British Columbia. The plastic is collected, sorted, granulated, washed and turned into flakes. The flakes are then sorted into many kinds of plastics, including polypropylene, which is used to make their black pots and lids.

As a customer, you can also help Lush with this cause! Inside Bower Place, Lush encourages customers to save their black pots after purchase and return them in-store store once they are empty. From there, the lovely staff collect, clean, package and send all pots back to the factories where each pot will begin its life over again! Bonus, if you bring back five empty and clean black pots, you will receive a fresh face mask for free! Do good for the planet, then do good for your skin!

The Last Straw

The banning of plastic straws has become a hot topic in the last few years, and for good reason. According to a 2017 study from researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a whopping 91 per cent of the plastic we use is not recycled and instead ends up in landfills or the ocean. Because of statistics like that, some municipalities and corporations are starting to make efforts to fight pollution. As part of that, they are proposing to ban or cut back on plastic straws. Among corporations jumping on board, Starbucks is one of the first globally recognized brands to announce it will be moving away from plastic straws. In addition to switching to compostable straws, they have released a new strawless drink lid design for their regular cold-drink cups. Following closely behind are other companies such as A&W who have already eliminated their plastic straws and have introduced paper alternatives into all their restaurants. Eliminating your cups all together, inside Bower Place both Starbucks and David’s Tea will discount your beverage of choice is you bring in your own reusable cup. You get your americano daily any way, why not save some cash while helping the environment?!

Earth Day definitely goes beyond April 22nd, and there are small things we can all do to make huge impacts in our daily lives to benefit this beautiful planet. We hope you check out these sustainable superstars on your next trip into Bower Place!

Megan

Marketing Assistant

Megan is a self-described geek who fancies blankets, books and tea (maybe a cat or three too)!

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