alternative gifts

 -- Quote of the Day --

"In essence, if we want to direct our lives, 

we must take control of our consistent actions. 

It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, 

but what we do consistently."   

~ Tony Robbins

Looking for Alternative Eco-gifts?

As promised over the next month we'll be sharing some alternative holiday options to consider...

Looking for alternative ecologically friendly gifts this year? Consider purchasing a set of large, sturdy square bottomed reusable bags. There are a lot of varieties to choose from, but may I suggest those that are created from recycled plastic bottles – these are fantastic, very strong and a great way to support the waste-to-resource system that feeds a sustainable planet. Plastic litter is a huge concern.

Consider this stat quoted from an article by the San Diego region’s Marine Debris Campaign Manager, Danielle Miller: “In 2007, 9,316 plastic bags …were removed, (however) countless others made their way to our ocean contaminating our water, degrading our precious marine ecosystems and harming marine animals. An estimated 60–80% of all marine debris and 90% of floating debris is in the form of plastic, which is highly toxic and does not biodegrade in the environment. …It takes more than 12 million barrels of oil to produce the plastic bags consumed in the United States each year.” (Resource- Zero Waste San Diego Group)

Just how many bags per recipient? Well, personally we own a dozen different kinds of reusable bags and this takes us through most of our shopping, but we could probably do with a few more. I certainly prefer the square bottomed ones created from recycled plastic bottle materials, recycled coffee bags or heavy canvas. You can find these at nearly every retailer these days – grocery stores are especially becoming more supportive of this movement towards sustainability. 12 bags will likely cover most of the shopping activities for a family of 3. 6-8 bags may be appropriate for an individual.

 

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts from their books, information about their radio program, newsletter, blogs, and more at: www.brummet.ca 

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