Three weeks following the first anniversary of legalization on November 8, 2019, the top cannabis people, brands, organizations and products of 2019 were recognized at the sixth annual Canadian Cannabis Awards (CCA).   Presented by Lift & Co., a total of 32 awards were announced in both consumers’ choice and judged categories at a black-tie gala at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto, hosted by Big Brother Canada winner and cannabis ambassador Sarah Hanlon.   “The CCAs are the gold-standard for excellence in the industry, and provide award-winners a vital point of differentiation for their investors, partners and consumers going into the next highly competitive, highly regulated, year in Canadian cannabis,” said Matei Olaru, CEO of Lift & Co. “I’m proud of the trusted platform Lift & Co. provides to elevate and help celebrate Canadian cannabis brands that are building the future of cannabis in Canada—the CCAs are one way we underscore our commitment to providing leading information to the industry each year.”   As the first CCAs edition to recognize a full year of legal recreational cannabis sales, consumers chose the top cannabis flower and oil products of the year with a record-setting 31,000+ votes. Consumers voted between August 23 and October 25 by sharing a product review and/or purchase receipt on Lift.co.   Select top products of the year included:  

• Rossignol by Organigram for Top High THC Bottled Oil,
• Argyle Softgels by Tweed for Top Cannabis Capsules,
• Jean Guy by Good Supply for Top Sativa Dominant Preroll,
• Tangerine Dream by San Rafael ’71 for Top Sativa Flower and,
• Ruxton (Sour OG) by Broken Coast Cannabis for Top Hybrid Flower.

  The top people, organizations and brands were determined by expert judging panels following a nationwide nomination process that took place between August 23 and September 20.   Highlights of winners in the industry-insider-judged categories include:  

• Retailer Superette, which took home awards in the inaugural Top Retail Store—Single Location and Top Budtender categories, as well as Startup of the Year and Co-founder and CEO Mimi Lam named as this year’s Womxn in Weed—Trailblazer,
• Solei Renew CBN Oil won for Innovation of the Year for their proprietary THC-to-CBN conversion technique that helped launch the first CBN oil on the Canadian market,
• Tweed x TerraCycle won the Top Non-Profit/Charity/Community Initiative for the development of the first national recycling program in the Canadian cannabis industry, and
• 7ACRES resonated with the judging panel with their #RespectThePlant campaign to secure the Brand of the Year award. This is the second year in a row The Supreme Cannabis Company won this award.

  These are the brands, people and products to watch in 2020.   As the industry gathered to celebrate 2019 and look ahead to another year of growth and maturation, Employer of the Year winner TREC Brands—a Toronto cannabis brand house with a commitment to donate 10% of their profits to the community—launched the 10% for Good initiative at the CCAs and called on the industry in attendance to join them to build a positive legacy by focusing on the broader community. Attendees at the event, and now the public, can give to a choice of four Canadian charities as part of the campaign—Dress for Success Toronto, HXOUSE, Evergreen, and Cannabis Amnesty. Donations are open here until the end of the year.  

An estimated 25 percent of recycled materials in the United States are contaminated, according to the National Waste and Recycling Association. These improperly prepared or misplaced items can complicate the sorting process or — worse yet — render the entire batch useless and destined for the landfill.   Not only does this have a negative impact on the environment, but it can also be a financial burden for businesses. In New York, for example, Department of Sanitation inspectors will fine companies for having contaminated recycling bins.   Emily Gove, corporate director of sustainability for Building Maintenance Service, a building service contractor based in New York, says the stricter legislation has helped raise awareness about the importance of recycling — and recycling correctly.   "There's still some resistance, but in general people see recycling as the easiest and most visible way of bettering sustainability in the office," says Gove. Nevertheless, people's good intentions can sometimes do more harm than good.   "People want to recycle," says Keith Schneringer, director of channel marketing for WAXIE Sanitary Supply, San Diego. "That's part of the reason we have issues; they don't want to throw anything away."   This aversion to placing waste in the garbage has lead to "hopeful recycling," a process in which a person tosses an item in the recycling bin in the hopes that it will be recycled.   "While the person means well, the item not only can't be recycled but could also contaminate the stuff that could have been recycled," says Schneringer.  

Trash Talking

Common misconceptions can sabotage customers' recycling efforts. The following materials are frequently misplaced in recycling bins, potentially contaminating the load.   Jan/san paper. Paper towels, toilet paper and tissues are never recyclable. People often try to recycle paper towels along with office paper, says Laura Craven, director of communications and marketing, Imperial Dade, Jersey City, New Jersey.   Plastic film. Think chip bags and candy wrappers. In most municipalities these are not recyclable; however, there is a solution for diverting film plastics, says Emily Gove, corporate director of sustainability for Building Maintenance Service, New York. TerraCycle, for example, supplies boxes and shipping labels to companies so that they can collect film waste and return it for repurposing.   Coffee cups. These often end up in the paper recycling bin, but sometimes they do not belong there because they have a wax liner. "There is a lot of confusion about whether or not paper coffee cups can be recycled," says Gove. "It depends on the hauler's capabilities and the recycling policy of the building you're working in. That's why it's always best to familiarize yourself with the building policies for recycling and waste management."   Compostable packaging. People mistakenly think that compostable packaging is recyclable. "If you're going to purchase compostable items you need to participate in a composting program," says Gove.

As the co-founder of Austin-based design firm LAND, Caleb Owen Everitt’s portfolio includes Hermes, Nike, Vans, Warbly Parker and Patagonia just to name a few. His latest client however is HAOMA, a unisex skincare brand that was just released in time for Christmas shopping.   Everitt and the rest of the team at LAND were instrumental in making sure that HAOMA was not just a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly brand, but that they were also giving back. They partnered with Trees.org – every product purchased directly plants one tree to help assist with reforestation – and Terracycle – an innovative company that breaks down hard-to-recycle items to ensure HAOMA packaging is 100% recyclable.   With a recent product launch, Everitt was eager to talk about how his team’s work ensures HAOMA will stand out in today’s crowded beauty market.      

How did LAND and the rest of the HAOMA team come up with the brand’s concept?

HAOMA was born from the idea that plants and humans share a deep symbiosis; and having faith in the idea that returning to the earth and trusting in the healing and nurturing nature of plants can heal us on a personal and global level.  

Why were having all-natural ingredients and sustainability partnerships important?

We longed to create a brand that wholly venerates nature, and it’s only right that we give back far more than we take. Working with Terracycle and Trees.org is a first step in that direction – as we grow as a brand, we plan to evolve our sustainability program, always aiming to lessen our environmental impact and hopefully inspire other brands to take similar approaches.  

What makes HAOMA stand out in the crowded beauty market?

We’re guided by a deep respect for the plants we’re working with, and we are committed to enriching the world by creating culturally rich content and events. We believe that will transcend the crowded market.  

A lot of people still aren’t familiar with CBD – do you feel like an educational component is necessary when marketing HAOMA?

People are becoming more familiar with the effects of cannabinoids, but we do find ourselves explaining that cannabidiol, the cannabinoid we are currently working with, has no psycho-active effect – unlike its better-known cousin THC. That said, we have cannabinoid receptors all throughout the epidermis, so CBD in skincare is a really effective way to access plant medicine.  

What does HAOMA mean?

We originally heard about haoma in a lecture by Terence McKenna. The plant was described in early religious texts as stimulating, healing and nourishing but the actual botanical identity has been lost in time. We were drawn to the idea of this mysterious plant and all that it encapsulates.  

What was the aesthetic you were going for with HAOMA’s packaging?

As designers, we were interested in exploring a new, more humanist version of luxury. We set out to design a system that’s rooted in the past, yet looking into the future.

Episode 38: This podcast episode brings listeners a People’s Choice Session from WasteExpo 2019. Liz Bothwell | Dec 16, 2019   In the latest episode of our NothingWasted! Podcast, we bring you a dynamic People’s Choice Session from WasteExpo 2019: “The Latest Trends on Hard to Recycle Items.” The discussion features Walter Alcorn, vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability for the Consumer Technology Association; Brett Stevens, global vice president of material sales and procurement for TerraCycle; and Kelly Cramer, lead of How2Recycling and director of program management for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.   Here’s a sneak peek into some of the speakers’ insights:   Walter Alcorn: Some of these electronics, especially historically, are tough to recycle; CRT [cathode-ray tub] televisions and monitors are a drag—they have leaded glass in the tubes, which is very difficult to separate out. But the good news is that we’re seeing less amounts of lead in the newer products; mercury has also gone away now that the CCFL/LCD [cold cathode fluorescent lamp/liquid crystal display, respectively] era is over … Roughly a quarter of U.S. households still have at least one CRT television or monitor, and that’s one thing that causes the entire stream of consumer electronics to be underwater economically. It costs more to recycle those electronics than you can get on the back end as far as revenue. Collection is also a huge challenge.   Kelly Cramer: How is the consumer going to experience this package? We can’t ask people to do surgery on their packaging. So, we have to have a common-sense perspective, but we also have to think about the consistency of every label compared to those that have been issued in the past and will be issued in the future.   Brett Stevens: Our business model is based on three key pillars: to make everything recyclable, by which brands fund the collection and recycling of items—and we work with lots of CPG [consumer packaged goods] companies around the world to do just that; to get brands to make their packaging or products from recycled materials; and, finally, our newest program, which is convincing brands to rethink the design of their packaging entirely—to shift to a durable, reusable model.   Listen to the full episode below and more episodes here.

As the adage goes: We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Just under five years ago, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set for the year 2030: 17 targets for "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production is the concept touching all of the Goals. The earth is a finite cradle, but there can be more balance with enough to go around. Systems thinking to support responsible use of materials (such as through recycling) and equitable access to resources will give way to a more connected world.

Collaboration across the Goals is integral to responsible consumption

We at TerraCycle are of the position there is no such thing as waste — only misplaced resources. But the world doesn’t currently see it that way, which is why there is so much discarded material; especially plastic — a substance that is nearly indestructible, takes eons to break down; and could potentially be used for a great number of things, such as building housing or repairing roads. Where the human-made concept of waste is sort of black and white (something is valuable or it isn’t); collaboration across industries, governments and business sectors can bring valuable perspectives together for more opportunities to capture resources. For example, the higher up the waste hierarchy you move (landfilling to incineration to recycling to reuse), more jobs are created to keep resources such as water, natural gas, even information cycling around and used in production. This supports SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; which has many of the same priorities as SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Radical breakthroughs start with the achievable

One of the most straightforward targets of SDG 12 is to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The importance of keeping one eye on ideal situations (such as more consumers investing in durable goods, governments passing producer responsibility laws, or businesses designing for recyclability) while doing actionable, everyday work on the ground cannot be stressed enough. We work with global brands, retailers and municipalities to offer the world ways to consume more responsibly; it is through these partnerships that we are able to fund programs and work around the gaps in public recycling. But one of the most interesting solutions we provide is the ability for people to make a difference on their own. For the many types of packaging and products that don’t have a sponsored program or a home in municipal recycling, our Zero Waste Box division empowers people to take matters into their own hands. Consumers advance more circular use of material by working to support each aspect of the recycling system — access, participation, separation of materials, and end-markets (which we find) — with a personal investment in the global recycling network.

We can drive more action by losing gaps in data

It is difficult to put stock in responsible consumption activities when there is little or no data to support it, especially at the consumer level. Individuals look for positive impact metrics, as well as incentives, for activities such as recycling, buying secondhand, or conserving water and gas at home. More macro gaps in data on food loss and waste go hand-in-hand with incomprehensive nature systems globally. Resources must be placed against quantifying progress as systems for responsible consumption of resources improve. Better data equals better solutions and more accurate stock of policy needs and the change towards a circular economy. For example, accompanying the banning of single-use plastics in a city, country or even a school with metrics of litter reduction per mile conveys to stakeholders what’s working, what isn’t, and how to improve.

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A rising middle class, a world population projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, and a planet approaching the limit of its ability to provide make responsible consumption not just a buzz topic, but a matter of survival. Whether the eradication of poverty, hunger or illness (SDGs 1-3); or the support of economic growth and climate positivity (SDG 8 and 13), all goals for sustainable development are about creating a balance of resource flows. Responsible production and consumption are essential to this — and achievable through connection, community and a bit of creativity.

The chemistry department of Laflèche College has joined the My Ecolabo program, an eco-responsible laboratory program. In fact, the Laflèche College chemistry laboratory has been showing level 1 Ecolabo certification for a few months.   Laboratory users have already implemented several targeted eco-responsible actions to ensure the maintenance and progression of the certification levels of the program: reduction of electricity consumption, recycling of materials and latex gloves through programs such as Terracycle, replacement of toxic products with ecological substitutes, etc. In addition, membership in the Ecolabo program is reflected in the educational component since the teaching of the eco-responsible and ecological vision is now also done in the classroom.   Orchestrated by a team of eco-leader volunteers from the University of Montreal, the My Ecolabo program aims, a priori, to raise awareness and present the benefits of eco-responsible laboratory practices and to improve laboratory management to make them more sustainable. Through concrete actions, members of the Écolabo program undertake to reduce the ecological impact of the laboratory's activities.

Once the holidays are over and your guests have returned to their homes, you’ve unwrapped all the presents under the tree, and you’ve toasted the New Year, take a look around. When the hubbub is all said and done, there’s a lot left over to clean up. In an effort to be as kind to Mother Earth as possible, you’ll want to dispose of things properly—and sometimes that means not throwing certain items into the recycling bin.   That might sound contradictory, but trust us: There are a few surprising materials that, when thrown in with your glass bottles and metal cans, can mess up the recycling process. To help guide you through what goes where, we pulled this excerpt from Erin Rhoads’s recently released book, Waste Not Everyday: 365 Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Reconnect. And may you never throw your wreath in the trash again.  

Shattered Cups

Broken drinking glasses shouldn’t go into a recycling bin as they are made from tempered glass, which is different from a glass jam jar. One piece of tempered glass can ruin glass recycling. Instead, wrap it in newspaper, secure it to prevent any shards from poking out, and place it in your trash bin.  

Used Toothbrushes

Used plastic toothbrushes can be recycled at TerraCycle—or you can reuse them at home to assist with cleaning.  

Aluminum Foil

In the U.K. alone, more than 4,000 tons of aluminum foil is discarded during Christmas festivities. If foil can’t be reused, rinse it and roll it into a ball the size of your first so it can be recycled. Or do without.  

Wreaths and Trees

Grass clippings, tree branches, and weeds should be kept out of landfills, as organic matter doesn’t break down properly. Make sure they’re placed in a compost bin or taken to a drop-off point where they are accepted.  

Glitter and Confetti

Glitter and some confetti are made of plastic. It can easily escape into the wider environment, where animals mistake it for food. Think about going without; otherwise look for glitter made from natural materials (such as mica or cellulose) or use a hole-punch to make confetti out of dried leaves.  

Balloons

Balloons are used once. When they escape into the environment, they post a serious threat to wildlife, especially birds. Look for paper decorations and bunting that can be reused over and over. Bubbles are a fun option, too.   Excerpted with permission from Waste Not Everyday by Erin Rhoads, published by Hardie Grant, December 2019.

NASHOBA SCHOOLS - An unnatural calamity has befallen Santa’s elves in the North Pole. Too many toys are returning for recycling, and no matter how hard they try, they just can’t keep up. To save his magical workshop and the North Pole, Santa is going to need all the help he can get.   This is the story told in “Respect Your Toys” by author J. Anthony Garreffi, of Lancaster, who has been visiting students at Florence Sawyer School (Bolton), Mary Rowlandson School (Lancaster) and Center School (Stow) to read his book and share the important message of reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling.   “This empowering story teaches children of all ages that even our smallest, unintended actions can have huge consequences,” Garreffi said. “It’s exciting to teach students about how they can make a difference by reducing waste and recycling.”   As part of Garreffi’s educational school visits, he asks students to donate broken or worn out toys to be recycled. In return, students receive a free copy of one of his two books, “A ‘ChristMax’ Carol,” a story about compassion, or his second book, “Respect Your Toys.” Both books contain music to augment Garreffi’s messages, which he sings while playing his guitar. With the support of Hasbro toys and Terracycle, a zero-waste recycling company, all broken toys donated by the students will be 100 percent recycled.   “We are grateful to Garreffi for spending time with our students to help them understand how each of them and their families can make our environment a safer and cleaner place to live,” said Reina Rago, coordinator of Extended Learning and Enrichment for the Nashoba Regional School District. “There’s nothing better than watching a child’s eyes sparkle when they realize they count and can make a difference in the world.”

The city of Delray Beach is on a major mission to clean up cigarette butts.   In March, the city installed "cigarette butlers" along Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to U.S. 1. The butlers are little boxes where smokers can drop the end of their cigarettes and cigars.   "Those who are wanting to use it know what to look for," said Amanda Skeberis, the city’s Clean and Safe Administrator.   Skeberis said Delray Beach made the butlers easy to find, but tried to make them not noticeable for those who don’t know what they are. The butlers serve a purpose, and the used butts are passed on to be recycled.   Skeberis said the city has collected 23,000 butts since the program started.   "The paper in the tobacco, they break down, but then the filter has a lot of plastic fiber and that is the part they meltdown to create plastic," Skeberis said.   The butts get mailed to Terracycle at no cost to the city. Skaberis said Delray Beach is looking to add more butlers next year.

A weekly roundup of ophthalmic news from around the web.   For the first time ever, the majority of medical students are women. The proportion of women in medical school has been on the upswing, according to a new report, increasing from 46.9% in 2015 to 49.5% in 2018. This year, that percentage reached 50.5%. The continued growth in applicant numbers indicates that the interest in a medical career remains high, which is crucial as the United States faces a projected shortage of 122,000 physicians by 2032. Association of American Medical Colleges   The NEI is seeking your input on future research goals. Members of the public—including physicians, patients, caregivers and the scientific community—are asked to comment on 2 separate initiatives: NEI’s 2020 Vision for the Future and a new research program called the Anterior Segment Initiative (ASI). The former will look to better define the institute’s research opportunities and areas of emphasis, while the ASI plans to address current knowledge gaps about the anterior segment and barriers to research. National Eye Institute   A presumed case of familial retinitis pigmentosa quite literally got the best of physicians. The patient and her father had all the typical symptoms: nyctalopia, mild microcornea, slightly arrow anterior chamber angles without hyperopia and 1+ anterior vitreous cells. Genetic testing, however, revealed a missense mutation in the BEST1 gene, confirming a diagnosis of autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy. The patient, whose case was described in the latest issue of Ophthalmology, is expected to have a stable visual prognosis. Ophthalmology   Contact lens wearers and dog lovers unite … sort of. The Guide Dog Foundation just received a shipment of training modules including benches, tables, waste stations and agility ramps made from recycled contact lens materials. So far, the ONE by ONE Recycling Program—the only contact lens recycling program in the United States—has collected more than 95,000 pounds of waste such as contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since its inception in 2016. “We are grateful for the efforts of Bausch + Lomb and TerraCycle in reducing the environmental waste of contact lenses while also making this critical donation to help improve the lives of those who are blind or visually impaired,” said John Miller, CEO, Guide Dog Foundation. Bausch + Lomb, TerraCycle   Prefilled aflibercept syringes are now available in U.S. markets, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced. The single-use 2-mg syringes were approved back in August, and is indicated for 4 conditions: wet AMD, macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. Regeneron