Harmonizing his professional life with his personal values, this is what drove Mayer Vafi to co-found Better Narrative in 2018. He was then Creative and Business Director within the Pajar clothing brand, and roamed the globe in search of duvets and other furs for the manufacture of coats. An antithetical situation for this follower of veganism, which pushed him finally to leave behind a brilliant career of 15 years. " The challenge was to continue working in technical clothing, but with better practices, " he says. A reflection that, beyond veganism, led him to explore the principles of circular economy.   From there was born Norden , a brand of vegan clothing and accessories, made of polyester from recycled plastic bottles. " Compared to ordinary clothing, the use of this yarn in the manufacturing process can consume 45% less energy, 20% less water and emit 30% less GHG."Focusing on transparency, the choice of the wire manufacturer was on Repreve, American recycling company that has developed two technologies traceability of its product. The first, FiberPrint, prints on the wire a serial number to know the source and the number of bottles used for making a garment. The second, UTrust, verifies the actual use of the yarn in the finished product, thus discouraging misleading advertising.   More broadly, Better Narrative's ambition is to complete the life cycle loop of its products. The company offers a coats recovery program at least two years after purchase in exchange for a discount on the next purchase. Returned coats are washed, repaired and sold at a reduced price or donated to a charity, such as Welcome Hall Mission. Otherwise, TerraCycle, in Ontario, upgrades defective clothing to make polyester yarn again. If the manufacture of coat components is currently done in China to ensure a certain volume and accessibility of the finished product at a reasonable price, the selected plant is certified WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Production Manager), thus ensuring a legal textile manufacturing , human and ethical ".   All these values have enabled Better Narrative to obtain PETA certification, guaranteeing vegan products, and to be in the process of being certified by B-Corp to supervise and validate its performances in sustainable development. Following last year's successful pre-launch with four retailers, Better Narrative is poised to officially launch its Norden Coat brand at 75 outlets in Canada, Germany. and in Japan. Raincoats, winter boots and school bags, all made from recycled materials, will complete the range of products in 2020. In the long term, Mayer Vafi intends to gather in Quebec all stages of the manufacturing process, recycling bottles recovered locally until the confection.

Back in July, the City of Ottawa made a shift to allow its residents to put plastic bags in the compost bin. People noticed.   After the plastic bag bill passed, many people took to Twitter to voice their disapproval, calling it a "stupid policy" for "the lazy," and "idiotic at a time when in many jurisdictions, plastic bags are trying to be phased out."   While it may seem odd to allow plastic bags in the green bin, many people find it makes the process of capturing household organic waste a little more tidy. Municipalities that allow it skim plastic bags off early in the disposal process.   Many jurisdictions actually encourage the use of biodegradable bags, and consumers buy them with the belief that they will decompose with the rest of the organic waste. But that isn't always true.   Even in the landfill, compostable plastics may not degrade, according to a study done by the University of Plymouth in the U.K. The study tested five types of commonly used plastic bags, including ones labelled "compostable" and "biodegradable," to see how well they break down in different conditions. They tested the bags in both soil and sea, where they remained intact, exactly like regular plastic.   Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, a U.S. business that has gained a reputation for recycling the "non-recyclable," has written about this. In his book Linear to Circular: The Future of Packaging, he writes that most consumers "don't realize … that biodegradable bioplastics will break down only under the right conditions — those of a specific industrial composting facility."   Szaky emphasized that "even if that happens, [the bags] won't contribute value to the compost, unlike coffee grounds or leaves, which have a wide range of micro- and macronutrients as well as a living ecosystem of bacteria and other microbes."   Even if they could create those perfect conditions, some municipalities have banned compostable plastics from green bins, including Toronto.   The City of Toronto website says:  "There are many types of products that call themselves 'degradable.'   "They may be degradable in the presence of certain components … and are made to degrade in a certain time period. This time period and conditions may not match the actual conditions in a processing facility."   The Metro Vancouver solid waste site states that "plastics, including those marked biodegradable, do not belong in the compost as they do not break down properly during processing."   People who are confused or concerned about any kind of plastic have other options. Many municipalities suggest lining your bin with newspaper for an easier clean or simply not lining the bin at all. They also suggest washing out your bins regularly and putting them on the curb consistently, even when they're not full.   Or you could simply call your municipality's facility and ask what they accept.

Health at your fingertips with Landish

Already their company name surprises and we wonder what that means. Landish is inspired by the word outlandish which means strange, unknown. But conversely, Landish means familiar, not that strange. This Montreal startup is focusing on good nutritional health by offering protein bars and powders perfect for breakfast, snacks, on the go or even before or after training.  

Well being at work

The Landish team wants to be part of the daily lives of people who have long, busy weeks. To counteract bad snacks, lack of key nutrients, health and immune systems under pressure and lack of energy, their products are made from ingredients such as reishi mushroom, spirulina and cricket powder. These natural foods are rich, among others, in Vitamins B and B12, iron, magnesium and iodine. In order to continue their mission of staying healthy during the work week, Landish created the "Out on the Landish" series of outdoor activities for businesses in downtown Montreal. Employees can therefore move in groups. Transportation and snacks, of course, are provided by Landish.

Environment

The Montréal startup is focusing on sustainable development and is tackling two issues in particular: food packaging waste and deforestation. To do this, for each order placed, a tree is planted in Quebec, in partnership with One Tree Planted and Landish is also associated with TerraCycle to transform packaging waste into park benches. Finally there is something for everyone. 6 flavors are offered for the bars (mint-chocolate, vanilla-coconut, double chocolate, apple-cinnamon, chocolate-espresso and chaï-vanilla). For protein powders, there is the choice between chai, chocolate or vanilla that can be found according to the different basic foods (reishi, spirulina or cricket powder). It is not the choice of flavors that is missing!

Back in July, the City of Ottawa made a shift to allow its residents to put plastic bags in the compost bin. People noticed.   After the plastic bag bill passed, many people took to Twitter to voice their disapproval, calling it a "stupid policy" for "the lazy," and "idiotic at a time when in many jurisdictions, plastic bags are trying to be phased out."   While it may seem odd to allow plastic bags in the green bin, many people find it makes the process of capturing household organic waste a little more tidy. Municipalities that allow it skim plastic bags off early in the disposal process.   Many jurisdictions actually encourage the use of biodegradable bags, and consumers buy them with the belief that they will decompose with the rest of the organic waste. But that isn't always true.   Even in the landfill, compostable plastics may not degrade, according to a study done by the University of Plymouth in the U.K. The study tested five types of commonly used plastic bags, including ones labelled "compostable" and "biodegradable," to see how well they break down in different conditions. They tested the bags in both soil and sea, where they remained intact, exactly like regular plastic.   Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, a U.S. business that has gained a reputation for recycling the "non-recyclable," has written about this. In his book Linear to Circular: The Future of Packaging, he writes that most consumers "don't realize … that biodegradable bioplastics will break down only under the right conditions — those of a specific industrial composting facility."   Szaky emphasized that "even if that happens, [the bags] won't contribute value to the compost, unlike coffee grounds or leaves, which have a wide range of micro- and macronutrients as well as a living ecosystem of bacteria and other microbes."   Even if they could create those perfect conditions, some municipalities have banned compostable plastics from green bins, including Toronto.   The City of Toronto website says:  "There are many types of products that call themselves 'degradable.'   "They may be degradable in the presence of certain components … and are made to degrade in a certain time period. This time period and conditions may not match the actual conditions in a processing facility."   The Metro Vancouver solid waste site states that "plastics, including those marked biodegradable, do not belong in the compost as they do not break down properly during processing."   People who are confused or concerned about any kind of plastic have other options. Many municipalities suggest lining your bin with newspaper for an easier clean or simply not lining the bin at all. They also suggest washing out your bins regularly and putting them on the curb consistently, even when they're not full.   Or you could simply call your municipality's facility and ask what they accept.   — Taylor Logan

The DVBIA collected 52lbs of cigarette butts in only one month to show the impact that micro-waste makes on downtown cleanliness.   When the Downtown Clean Team collects cigarette butts, they usually dispose of them using Terracycle, a cigarette waste recycling program that recycles the butts into a variety of industrial products and composts any remaining tobacco.   To show the impact that micro-waste has on downtown cleanliness, the Clean Team stored all cigarette butts picked up from the streets of downtown Vancouver, and in only one month, the team collected 52lbs of butts in the DVBIA’s 90-block catchment alone.       On September 19th, the Downtown Vancouver BIA displayed the 52lbs of cigarette butts in a glass container on the North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Joined by the City’s cigarette mascot, Ashley, the team handed out pocket ashtrays – small, envelope-style ashtrays that allow smokers to store their butts until they have access to a trash can.   As part of the City’s annual anti-litter campaign, “Put waste in its place”, pocket ashtrays are being distributed for free year-round at several community centres, libraries, and at City Hall campus in an effort to decrease cigarette litter. The City’s pocket ashtrays were introduced in June and handed out throughout the summer in an effort to help reduce the number of cigarette butts littered on the streets of Vancouver.

Beauty brand Burt's Bees has teamed up with National Geographic on an initiative to draw attention to the issue of climate change. The US beauty label and the media giant have announced a social media blackout dubbed #NatureBlackout, timed to coincide with the UN Climate Summit. Following the blackout, the brand will appeal to its followers to make a #ChangeforNature pledge on September 26, with each new habit triggering a $10 donation to the National Geographic Society to focus on the reduction of plastic waste in the ocean. "As a brand founded to connect people to nature, we must protect it," said Paula Alexander, Director of Sustainable Business and Innovation at Burt's Bees, in a statement.   "National Geographic is committed to generating solutions for a healthier and more sustainable future," added Valerie Craig, Vice President of Impact Initiatives at the National Geographic Society. "To date, we've awarded more than 14,000 grants for bold, innovative and transformative projects. One of our current priorities is researching solutions to prevent plastic waste from entering the ocean. We're thrilled that for each #ChangeforNature pledge, Burt's Bees will donate $10 to support our efforts to reduce individual plastic consumption and the flow of plastics into watersheds." The beauty industry has seen a wave of sustainable initiatives recently. Earlier this year, Procter & Gamble-owned hair care brand Herbal Essences joined forces with waste management giant TerraCycle to launch a series of bottles comprising 25% beach plastic, while REN Clean Skincare has pledged to become completely "zero waste" by the year 2021. The personal care conglomerate Unilever recently unveiled a three-part plan to target plastic use in the US, including a pledge for 50% of its plastic packaging to be made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) content by the end of 2019, and Lush Cosmetics marked World Oceans Day this year with a limited-edition ‘Shark Fin Soap' that saw 100% of its sales proceeds directed to the Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation, which fights for the protection of the underwater predators.

Beauty brand Burt's Bees has teamed up with National Geographic on an initiative to draw attention to the issue of climate change.       The US beauty label and the media giant have announced a social media blackout dubbed #NatureBlackout, timed to coincide with the UN Climate Summit. Following the blackout, the brand will appeal to its followers to make a #ChangeforNature pledge on September 26, with each new habit triggering a $10 donation to the National Geographic Society to focus on the reduction of plastic waste in the ocean. "As a brand founded to connect people to nature, we must protect it," said Paula Alexander, Director of Sustainable Business and Innovation at Burt's Bees, in a statement. "National Geographic is committed to generating solutions for a healthier and more sustainable future," added Valerie Craig, Vice President of Impact Initiatives at the National Geographic Society. "To date, we've awarded more than 14,000 grants for bold, innovative and transformative projects. One of our current priorities is researching solutions to prevent plastic waste from entering the ocean. We're thrilled that for each #ChangeforNature pledge, Burt's Bees will donate $10 to support our efforts to reduce individual plastic consumption and the flow of plastics into watersheds." The beauty industry has seen a wave of sustainable initiatives recently. Earlier this year, Procter & Gamble-owned hair care brand Herbal Essences joined forces with waste management giant TerraCycle to launch a series of bottles comprising 25% beach plastic, while REN Clean Skincare has pledged to become completely "zero waste" by the year 2021. The personal care conglomerate Unilever recently unveiled a three-part plan to target plastic use in the US, including a pledge for 50% of its plastic packaging to be made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) content by the end of 2019, and Lush Cosmetics marked World Oceans Day this year with a limited-edition ‘Shark Fin Soap' that saw 100% of its sales proceeds directed to the Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation, which fights for the protection of the underwater predators.

A young Quebec company is dedicated to the nutritional health and better fitness of people swept away by the whirlwind of long working hours, where poor nutrition, lack of energy and good nutrients are slipping into the agenda. This startup is called Landish, a word that comes from outlandish (strange, unknown) and which, unlike the latter, would mean "familiar, not so strange."   This name perfectly describes the brand new Landish products coming to the market, namely protein bars and powders, a range of natural products, nutrient dense and containing beneficial ingredients such as insects, algae and certain varieties of mushrooms. as many high-performance foods that have been consumed for ages in many parts of the world. That's how six bars and five protein powders are offered to meet the needs of people in a hurry and overworked, whether for a quick breakfast, the small cravings in the middle of the day when the energy is on the decline, when traveling between two appointments, and even before or after training. In fact, all the reasons are good to eat with a Landish product, especially when the snack is both good for the taste and for health! A question of balance and well-being at work ... The Landish team is made up of dynamic and dedicated people, who are very aware of the importance of maintaining a good balance between a healthy and varied diet and physical exercise, despite the heavy workload in the office. With this in mind, they organize a series of outdoor activities every month that they offer to various businesses in downtown Montreal with the goal of getting their employees moving. These outings have already started in May and continue throughout the year, even in winter. Already, Mistplay, GoMaterials, Building Stack, Heyday and Life House companies have agreed to participate, knowing that moving in a group is always more stimulating and fun. Transportation is provided by Landish, not to mention the snack with protein bars during a well-deserved break! ... and a question of environment Landish is also sensitive to the future of our planet and is constantly looking for solutions to reduce its environmental impacts. The young company relies heavily on responsible food and sustainable development. And it makes it a priority! It has therefore decided to tackle two problems: food packaging waste and deforestation. The company spares no effort to reduce the impact of its bar wraps, which are made of rolled aluminum to maximize the freshness of the product, like most of these products on the market. Recycling of this type of packaging is not offered by municipalities. Landish has partnered with TerraCycle, a company specializing in the recycling of "non-recyclable". The latter transforms difficult to recycle materials and makes them park benches, garbage cans, chairs, etc. To find out how to participate in this eco-responsible movement, simply register here. In addition, for each online order made on the Landish site from Quebec, the company is planting a tree in the province, in partnership with the organization One Tree Planted. According to this organization, since 2001, Quebec has seen a decrease of seven million hectares of forest land. For more info: www.landish.ca  

Online thrift store ThredUp is set to join companies including Patagonia, H&M and Calvin Klein at this year’s Decoded Future summit in New York. The one-day summit, which held its inaugural event in NewYork last year, will take place at Convene at 117 W 46th Street on October 18. Founded by trend intelligence service Stylus, the summit will discuss contemporary trends and their effect on brands, with a focus on sustainability and social good. The event will commence with a presentation from Stylus’ chief creative officer, Tess Mansfield, who will discuss Stylus’ key trend predictions for 2020 across the industries of fashion, beauty, marketing, retail, food, travel and more. The summit will then continue with an opening panel featuring brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Airbnb, Patagonia and Vita Coco, where the companies will discuss their thoughts on creating sustainable and social change and the value of placing purpose at the heart of brand and business strategy, Stylus said. The event will feature leaders from a wide range of additional brands and companies, including H&M, ThredUp, Marriott International, Pinterest, Calvin Klein, Harvard University, Fitbit, Gossamer, By Chloe, Butterfly.ai, Women’s Health, Farmtrue, TerraCycle and more. According to Stylus, the rest of the day’s content will be split into three categories: ‘Adapting to Changing Attitudes,’ a category dedicated to addressing sustainable, health and wellness-driven travel, the anti-fast fashion movement, and future consumer insights looking forward to 2035; ‘New Rules of Engagement,’ discussing mental health and wellness in the digital age, technology and the future of medical, and omni-intelligent retail; and ‘Addressing the Not-So-Niches,’ a beauty-focused category that will discuss the future of packaging, the maturing marijuana market, and building a successful plant-based brand. “Decoded Future brings together, and aims to empower, industry change-makers and influencers – the people that are in a position to influence our future,” said Marc Worth, CEO of Stylus. “It aims to reveal the positive impacts of technology, what a sustainable future looks like, and the opportunities that arise from it. It’s a must-attend for anyone wanting to drive change and get ahead on tomorrow.” The day will close with a final keynote from Christian Ward, Stylus’ head of media and marketing, followed by a discussion on algorithms, artificial intelligence and brands.

Online thrift store ThredUp is set to join companies including Patagonia, H&M and Calvin Klein at this year’s Decoded Future summit in New York. The one-day summit, which held its inaugural event in NewYork last year, will take place at Convene at 117 W 46th Street on October 18. Founded by trend intelligence service Stylus, the summit will discuss contemporary trends and their effect on brands, with a focus on sustainability and social good. The event will commence with a presentation from Stylus’ chief creative officer, Tess Mansfield, who will discuss Stylus’ key trend predictions for 2020 across the industries of fashion, beauty, marketing, retail, food, travel and more. The summit will then continue with an opening panel featuring brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Airbnb, Patagonia and Vita Coco, where the companies will discuss their thoughts on creating sustainable and social change and the value of placing purpose at the heart of brand and business strategy, Stylus said. The event will feature leaders from a wide range of additional brands and companies, including H&M, ThredUp, Marriott International, Pinterest, Calvin Klein, Harvard University, Fitbit, Gossamer, By Chloe, Butterfly.ai, Women’s Health, Farmtrue, TerraCycle and more. According to Stylus, the rest of the day’s content will be split into three categories: ‘Adapting to Changing Attitudes,’ a category dedicated to addressing sustainable, health and wellness-driven travel, the anti-fast fashion movement, and future consumer insights looking forward to 2035; ‘New Rules of Engagement,’ discussing mental health and wellness in the digital age, technology and the future of medical, and omni-intelligent retail; and ‘Addressing the Not-So-Niches,’ a beauty-focused category that will discuss the future of packaging, the maturing marijuana market, and building a successful plant-based brand. “Decoded Future brings together, and aims to empower, industry change-makers and influencers – the people that are in a position to influence our future,” said Marc Worth, CEO of Stylus. “It aims to reveal the positive impacts of technology, what a sustainable future looks like, and the opportunities that arise from it. It’s a must-attend for anyone wanting to drive change and get ahead on tomorrow.” The day will close with a final keynote from Christian Ward, Stylus’ head of media and marketing, followed by a discussion on algorithms, artificial intelligence and brands.   By Gabriella Lacombe