This idea may seem trivial, but it became very special and even extraordinary when it mobilized a community and allowed children to learn mutual aid, ecology and to advance in their educational journey. “One day, we had an activity with the school. Garbage was collected in the yard and the children boarded 1000%. So I thought that I could offer them to learn more about recycling. So we started picking up old pencils of all kinds in the class, then throughout the school. We sorted them, counted them, then sent them to TerraCycle for those who no longer worked, ”explains Ms. Lachapelle.   Give back to the next   Children also learn through the project they have called Pencils that have stomach aches , shapes and colors. They also make sure that the still good pencils will be used by someone. Thus, not only the other groups in the school, but also members of the community get involved to collect and sort pencils.   Nearly 1,500 pencils that have been placed in the various boxes installed in the region are still good. They are redistributed in several places such as in residences for the elderly. "We thought of them during confinement so that they could write to their families," continues the teacher.   This movement has gained momentum and now almost everyone is thinking of putting their old pencils in the right place. Who knows, they may still be useful. Children will certainly need it for the start of the school year in September. High school youth as well as those enrolled in the adult program will also benefit. “I wanted to interest my students first, but now people from Laval, Montreal and even Saint-Michel-des-Saints are getting on board. "   The project continues No break for recycled pencils this summer. In fact, the drop-off points are still in place in the region and Ms. Lachapelle monitors the process. She will propose the idea of continuing the project to her new students in September. We bet that they will not be difficult to convince! To dispose of your pencils, several drop-off points are available and the list is published on the Facebook page. The pencils that hurt in the stomach .

Cult French clean skincare brand Caudalie has officially the opened the doors to its first Canadian flagship Boutique Spa in Toronto. Called the Caudalie Hazelton House, the new 1,100 square foot boutique (located in Yorkville) includes a retail space as well as a spa that will offer a full range of Vinothérapie treatments. Given that the province is still currently in phase two of reopening, facial treatments are currently unavailable (these will be available for booking when Toronto enters phase three), however body treatments can be booked immediately.  There are social distancing measurements in place, including allowing clients to use the skin scanner tool whilst guided by a therapist to analyze their skin needs and be given a personalized regimen, as well as the wearing of masks by staff and clients during treatments. Design elements in the boutique have been inspired by vineyards in the brand’s home of Bordeaux, including a grapevine chandelier, white oak wine barrel merchandising fixtures and marble inspired by the tiles from the brand’s first spa. Plus, the brand has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle empty Caudalie products from consumers and keep waste to a minimum. Speaking of the boutique’s opening, Caudalie’s co-founder Mathilde Thomas said, “Opening a flagship location in Toronto is an important milestone for Caudalie, one that we’ve been looking forward to for a while. The history, culture and energy of Toronto excited us to connect with this beautiful city, share our brand story and immerse Toronto into the DNA of Caudalie.” After months of working from home, there’s probably never been a better time to book yourself in for a little (or a lot of) pampering. To book your appointment, visit caudalie.ca or call 427 215 1267.  

Cult French clean skincare brand Caudalie has officially the opened the doors to its first Canadian flagship Boutique Spa in Toronto. Called the Caudalie Hazelton House, the new 1,100 square foot boutique (located in Yorkville) includes a retail space as well as a spa that will offer a full range of Vinothérapie treatments. Given that the province is still currently in phase two of reopening, facial treatments are currently unavailable (these will be available for booking when Toronto enters phase three), however body treatments can be booked immediately.  There are social distancing measurements in place, including allowing clients to use the skin scanner tool whilst guided by a therapist to analyze their skin needs and be given a personalized regimen, as well as the wearing of masks by staff and clients during treatments. Design elements in the boutique have been inspired by vineyards in the brand’s home of Bordeaux, including a grapevine chandelier, white oak wine barrel merchandising fixtures and marble inspired by the tiles from the brand’s first spa. Plus, the brand has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle empty Caudalie products from consumers and keep waste to a minimum. Speaking of the boutique’s opening, Caudalie’s co-founder Mathilde Thomas said, “Opening a flagship location in Toronto is an important milestone for Caudalie, one that we’ve been looking forward to for a while. The history, culture and energy of Toronto excited us to connect with this beautiful city, share our brand story and immerse Toronto into the DNA of Caudalie.” After months of working from home, there’s probably never been a better time to book yourself in for a little (or a lot of) pampering. To book your appointment, visit caudalie.ca or call 427 215 1267.

Cult French clean skincare brand Caudalie has officially the opened the doors to its first Canadian flagship Boutique Spa in Toronto. Called the Caudalie Hazelton House, the new 1,100 square foot boutique (located in Yorkville) includes a retail space as well as a spa that will offer a full range of Vinothérapie treatments. Given that the province is still currently in phase two of reopening, facial treatments are currently unavailable (these will be available for booking when Toronto enters phase three), however body treatments can be booked immediately.  There are social distancing measurements in place, including allowing clients to use the skin scanner tool whilst guided by a therapist to analyze their skin needs and be given a personalized regimen, as well as the wearing of masks by staff and clients during treatments. Design elements in the boutique have been inspired by vineyards in the brand’s home of Bordeaux, including a grapevine chandelier, white oak wine barrel merchandising fixtures and marble inspired by the tiles from the brand’s first spa. Plus, the brand has partnered with TerraCycle to recycle empty Caudalie products from consumers and keep waste to a minimum. Speaking of the boutique’s opening, Caudalie’s co-founder Mathilde Thomas said, “Opening a flagship location in Toronto is an important milestone for Caudalie, one that we’ve been looking forward to for a while. The history, culture and energy of Toronto excited us to connect with this beautiful city, share our brand story and immerse Toronto into the DNA of Caudalie.” After months of working from home, there’s probably never been a better time to book yourself in for a little (or a lot of) pampering. To book your appointment, visit caudalie.ca or call 427 215 1267.  

( ENSPIRE Health & Wellness ) Vegan, Non-Toxic and Cruelty-Free Home and Body Care Product Line Sea Witch Botanicals Advocates for Clean Waterways and Personal Health

 

ENSPIRE Contributor: Rosa Linda Fallon

  Growing up on the Pacific Northwest Coastline, Alesia Hall was inspired by the mythological Sea Witch who was known as the purveyor of the seas.  After learning more about the toxic chemicals found in many products that were harming the oceans and sea life combined with her love of the waterways, Hall sought to bring non-toxic, plant-based personal care products to the marketplace.  She wanted to create an alternative home and personal care product offering natural, environmentally-friendly, and cruelty-free solutions consumers would feel good about using.   Bringing together her education in massage and aromatherapy and her passion for creating healing remedies, Hall founded Sea Witch Botanicals, a personal care product line that aims to keep the world’s water healthier by providing natural, affordable and non-toxic home and body care products. “There are a lot of unnecessary and harmful ingredients used in soap and cosmetic manufacturing,” Hall says. Synthetic fragrance oils are the most insidious toxic ingredient, according to Hall. These fragrance oils are compiled of hundreds to thousands of industrial-grade ingredients and are only tested and regulated by the companies that manufacture them. Hall says these ingredients never have to be listed on the packaging, and they contain cancer-causing chemical compounds. They can also provoke headaches, asthma, and skin irritation, among other reactions.   With the company’s mission to protect the waterways, it is not enough for them to just use clean ingredients in their products. Sea Witch Botanicals utilizes TerraCycle zero-waste boxes for their disposable gloves and glue sticks, thereby diverting them from ending up in the landfill. The company also has waste sorting stations throughout the facility including compost, recycling, and clean plastics.   Their commitment to sorting their waste has led to being able to divert ninety percent of production waste from ending up in the landfill, according to the company’s Annual Waste Audits done by Sustainable Connections, a nonprofit partner.   Sea Witch Botanicals also supports charities including Earthjustice and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to help promote awareness, research, and protection of the environment.   Founder Alesia Hall said she is passionate about supporting Earthjustice because “the earth needs a good lawyer.”  Earthjustice is a nonprofit organization that works to accomplish legislation for the protection of the planet.  Hall said the company also supports The Environmental Working Group (EWG) because its mission is directly linked to Sea Witch Botanicals’ pursuit of educating consumers on health concerns connected to many toxic ingredients used in home and personal care products.   Hall aspires to see Sea Witch Botanicals as an industry force for good to help drive the demand for ocean plastics to be upcycled in the packaging industry. Between the containers, raw goods are transported in, to the small plastic spray tops in finished goods, the plastic already exists in our environment to produce this new packaging.   “Rather than creating more virgin plastic in our supply chain, we’d like to help make ocean plastics more accessible for manufacturers in all industries,” Hall says. “This is a part of our overall mission to support a zero-waste production facility and product line.”   Upon the onset of the pandemic, Alesia formulated a new product, Fortifying Hand Soap featuring antimicrobial eucalyptus, lavender, and orange essential oils. The soap is embedded with a biodegradable print “Keep Calm & Wash On.” The company also created a blog “How to Properly Wash Your Hands” along with videos and infographics on their social media to help stakeholders understand just how important this action is to combat the virus.   As for what’s next for Sea Witch Botanicals, customers can be on the lookout for new scents coming in the next few months.  Their regular seasonal scent Krampus launches in the fall, as always. The company is also looking to expand its bulk and zero-packaging offerings for products such as their best-selling home helpers, Canary Clean & Produce Wash.

This is a question the MTU Sustainability Demonstration House is asking during its The Keweenaw’s First Waste Reduction Drive, this Saturday, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Michigan Tech’s Lot 24, on Sharon Avenue in Houghton, near the Gates Tennis Center and Sherman Field.   There are five items that will be collected, to be repurposed:  

• Foil-lined granola/energy bar wrappers
• Plastic bottle caps and rings
• Any plastic bag containing a recycling number
• Alkaline batteries
• Egg cartons (Styrofoam)

  Although these items can not be recycled curbside, that does not mean they can not be recycled or reused. The Sustainability team has found a unique recycle/reuse opportunity for these five items:  

• Foil-lined wrappers will be given to Terra Cycle to be converted into a hard plastic for manufacturing.
• Plastic bottle caps and rings will be sent to Preserve to be converted into kitchenware and toothbrushes.
• Plastic bags will be properly recycled.
• Alkaline batteries will be properly recycled.
• Egg cartons will be given to local chicken farmers for reuse.

  “We are excited to see the amount of waste we will be saving from the landfill as a community,” the release states. “In addition to reducing landfill waste, we are happy to be educating our community on the many recycle/reuse opportunities available for our waste.”   HOW TO PARTICIPATE   1. COLLECT the following 5 items at your home or office (ensure they are clean):  

• Styrofoam and cardboard egg cartons
• Any foil-lined granola/energy bar wrapper
• Plastic bottle caps and rings
• Any plastic bag containing a recycling #
• Batteries

  2. BRING your collected items to Fisher Hall on Saturday, June 27   WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR WASTE?  

• Egg cartons will be given to local farmers for reuse
• Foil-lined granola bar wrappers will be melted into a hard plastic by TerraCycle
• Bottle caps and rings will be converted to kitchenware by Preserve
• Batteries and plastic bags will be properly recycled

How did the French brand Caudalie establish itself as a powerful eco-responsible leader in the beauty industry? Its founder Mathilde Thomas enlightens us.   It's been a long time since the Caudalie adventure began for Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas. The discovery of the power of polyphenols housed in grape seeds, in 1993, launched the brand, which soon became anchored in the beauty routine of women around the world. A true pioneer in the beginnings of clean beauty, Caudalie continued to evolve, with Mathilde's actions, to be even greener and more eco-responsible without compromising on its effectiveness.  

An ever greener process

  "The list of elements that we want to eliminate from our formulas grows as studies show that some are endocrine disruptors," explains Mathilde Thomas. Since 2017, all of the brand's new skincare products are therefore free of silicones and PEG (polyethylene glycol) - agents frequently used for the silky texture and the surfactant properties they bring to products -, and its complete portfolio is revisited to remove gradually some agents. A major challenge - "Each step is complicated!" -, which it is possible to note thanks to the launch on the market of innovative ingredients, such as derivatives of coconut and sugar, which allow fluid and stable natural concoctions. Mathilde Thomas' other bet? "I want Caudalie to be zero waste - that is to say that all of our packaging is recycled, recyclable or refillable - by 2022." The glass used for the bottles will therefore be transparent, and metallic or laminated impressions on the plastic tubes will be eliminated. For parts that are more difficult to recycle, such as serum pumps, made from several materials, the brand teams up with the recycling company TerraCycle .   This increased awareness, the founder had in Hong Kong, where she lived to conquer the Asian market. “When you live in Asia, the pollution problem becomes extremely concrete. We visited paradisiacal beaches overgrown with waste, and when we surfed, each wave was strewn with plastic residue, ”laments Mathilde. As soon as he returned to France in 2018, tight measures were taken to reduce Caudalie's environmental impact. "Since I go to the lab every week, it makes the process easier!"  

The impact of COVID-19

I was supposed to meet Mathilde Thomas in person, at the end of April, during her planned visit to the Queen City for the inauguration of Caudalie's new head office in Canada, which will house both her offices and her boutique-spa. Crisis Covid-19obliges, its opening was delayed. The brand's boutiques and spas around the world have also temporarily shut down. “The business is badly affected. We have unemployed staff, on temporary layoff… it's a crisis that we have never experienced, ”confides Mathilde, saddened, during our interview with Zoom. When I ask her about the consequences of this event on our consumption habits in the future, the business woman tells me that the hope lies in the next generation. “Young people are very sensitive to the environmental cause and they will only go to work for companies they believe in. They see the product as a whole. This is what will change customs! ” she said, enthusiastic. Anyway,   Théo Dupuis-CarbonneauDiscussion with Mathilde Thomas, confounder of Caudalie © Supplied by ELLE Québec   "In the evening, I mix my Make-up Remover Oil ($ 34) and my Vine Flower Cleansing Foam ($ 34) to remove all traces of makeup!"   Buy © Supplied by ELLE Québec   Buy © Supplied by ELLE Québec   “The whipped texture of the new Lift & Firmness Body Balm ($ 53) penetrates like a charm. And its delicate smell of orange blossom is divine!”   Buy © Supplied by ELLE Québec   "After having melted a little mineral tinted cream ($ 32) with my Premier Cru cream ($ 169), I complete my makeup with a touch of red and a bit of Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara ($ 36)."

How did the French brand Caudalie establish itself as a powerful eco-responsible leader in the beauty industry? Its founder Mathilde Thomas enlightens us.   It's been a long time since the Caudalie adventure began for Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas. The discovery of the power of polyphenols housed in grape seeds, in 1993, launched the brand, which soon became anchored in the beauty routine of women around the world. A true pioneer in the beginnings of clean beauty, Caudalie continued to evolve, with Mathilde's actions, to be even greener and more eco-responsible without compromising on its effectiveness.  

An ever greener process

  "The list of elements that we want to eliminate from our formulas grows as studies show that some are endocrine disruptors," explains Mathilde Thomas. Since 2017, all of the brand's new skincare products are therefore free of silicones and PEG (polyethylene glycol) - agents frequently used for the silky texture and the surfactant properties they bring to products -, and its complete portfolio is revisited to remove gradually some agents. A major challenge - "Each step is complicated!" -, which it is possible to note thanks to the launch on the market of innovative ingredients, such as derivatives of coconut and sugar, which allow fluid and stable natural concoctions. Mathilde Thomas' other bet? "I want Caudalie to be zero waste - that is to say that all of our packaging is recycled, recyclable or refillable - by 2022." The glass used for the bottles will therefore be transparent, and metallic or laminated impressions on the plastic tubes will be eliminated. For parts that are more difficult to recycle, such as serum pumps, made from several materials, the brand teams up with the recycling company TerraCycle .   This increased awareness, the founder had in Hong Kong, where she lived to conquer the Asian market. “When you live in Asia, the pollution problem becomes extremely concrete. We visited paradisiacal beaches overgrown with waste, and when we surfed, each wave was strewn with plastic residue, ”laments Mathilde. As soon as he returned to France in 2018, tight measures were taken to reduce Caudalie's environmental impact. "Since I go to the lab every week, it makes the process easier!"  

The impact of COVID-19

I was supposed to meet Mathilde Thomas in person, at the end of April, during her planned visit to the Queen City for the inauguration of Caudalie's new head office in Canada, which will house both her offices and her boutique-spa. Crisis Covid-19obliges, its opening was delayed. The brand's boutiques and spas around the world have also temporarily shut down. “The business is badly affected. We have unemployed staff, on temporary layoff… it's a crisis that we have never experienced, ”confides Mathilde, saddened, during our interview with Zoom. When I ask her about the consequences of this event on our consumption habits in the future, the business woman tells me that the hope lies in the next generation. “Young people are very sensitive to the environmental cause and they will only go to work for companies they believe in. They see the product as a whole. This is what will change customs! ” she said, enthusiastic. Anyway,   Théo Dupuis-CarbonneauDiscussion with Mathilde Thomas, confounder of Caudalie   © Supplied by ELLE Québec   "In the evening, I mix my Make-up Remover Oil ($ 34) and my Vine Flower Cleansing Foam ($ 34) to remove all traces of makeup!"   Buy © Supplied by ELLE Québec   Buy © Supplied by ELLE Québec   “The whipped texture of the new Lift & Firmness Body Balm ($ 53) penetrates like a charm. And its delicate smell of orange blossom is divine!”   Buy © Supplied by ELLE Québec   "After having melted a little mineral tinted cream ($ 32) with my Premier Cru cream ($ 169), I complete my makeup with a touch of red and a bit of Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara ($ 36)."

Credit Valley Conservation is not just asking citizens to be environmentally conscious, it seeks to lead them by example.   The CVC can proudly boast it has achieved that goal after the announcement on June 16 that it has been named as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2020.   “For us, I think it demonstrates there is recognition that we’re not just asking other people to do the right thing, but that we are also walking the talk and doing the right thing,” said CVC chief administrative officer Deborah Martin-Downs.   “It’s one thing to be admonishing people for not doing enough for the environment or not watching their own footprint, but this affirms we are also involved in doing the right thing within our organization.”   The designation is awarded to winners of an annual editorial competition run by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. It identifies organizations focused on sustainability initiatives and environmental leadership.   “We were not doing everything we could have been a few years ago, so we’ve made huge strides in identifying things we could do and gradually working them into our processes,” said Martin-Downs.   “We’re a public organization, so it takes time to do those things, but I’m really proud of how people embraced the opportunity to change and to showcase that we can do exactly what we’ve asked others to do.”   The CVC does a variety of things within the Dufferin Community, from helping run and maintain Island Lake Conservation Area, to assisting with floodplain management, applications for changes to urban and agricultural properties, helping towns and businesses manage their storm runoffs, and more.   According to Canada’s Top 100 Employers, two major initiatives the CVC has put into practice are included in some of the reasons why the organization was selected.   The first is its TerraCycle collection program that captures additional recyclables such as pens and pencils, setting up its own organic composting, and establishing an employee uniform recycle and reuse program.   The second has to do with its LEED Gold-certified building containing the CVC offices in Mississauga, which features LED motion-controlled lighting, in-floor radiant heating, louvred window coverings, and more.   Implementing “smart blue roof” technology to help manage stormwater systems is also planned but the project is still in early stages. For the CVC, being named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers is a reinforcement that it is leading by example.   “We still have a ways to go with recycling in the parks, for example. There are many other activities we have found we can do with the office as well,” Martin-Downs said.   “There were a lot of big firms on that list, and I feel like we’re this piddly, little firm, so it was nice to be recognized.”

Happy World Giraffe Day! Today we celebrate our favorite long-necked creatures. Here at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, we have five giraffes in our herd: adult females Tessa, Cece, and Zoey, and young males Fennessy and Theo. Fennessy (Fenn) had his first birthday this week, and Theo is 7 months old.   Because he was born the week of World Giraffe Day, Fennessy was actually named after Julien Fennessy, the founder of World Giraffe Day and avid giraffe conservationist. Fenn is now about 10 feet tall and weighs nearly 800 pounds! Giraffes are usually about 6 feet tall and 150 pounds when they are born, so Fenn has grown quite a bit in his first year! We love celebrating our giraffes and their own milestones! However, their wild counterparts are struggling with habitat loss and fragmentation, and giraffes are now listed as endangered. Thankfully, there are several things we can do to help protect giraffes and their habitat.   One easy thing we can do to help protect giraffes is recycle our old gift cards! Gift cards are made with petroleum, which is mined in Africa in giraffe habitat. By recycling our old gift cards instead of throwing them away, we reduce the amount of mining that needs to be done. Although we can't throw gift cards in our Rumpke recycling bin, we can take them to places like Best Buy for recycling, or we can use a TerraCycle service. Once giraffe feedings resume at the Zoo, we can give gift cards to the staff running the feeding for recycling as well.   We can also help giraffes by going on a behind the scenes giraffe tour at the Zoo. These tours allow us to meet the giraffes up close and personal, and a portion of the ticket sale goes to the Wild Nature Institute, a conservation organization working to protect giraffes and their habitat.