Did you know that inhaled compounds have lightning fast action in the body? Over 1000 times faster than chewing, over 300 times faster than eating and drinking, and more than 3 times faster than intravenous injection… not to mention being less painful! Inhalation is by far the fastest mode of delivery of volatile aromatic compounds and is useful when time is a factor, or as … [Read more...]
Christmas windows: from waste to wow!
A local empowerment project hopes to raise awareness of the importance of re-using, re-purposing and recycling plastics. Woolworths will be giving a new spin on the concept of a ‘waste not, want not’ festive season this year as locally-made repurposed plastic flower artworks are the focal point of their Christmas windows in the top 15 stores. The show-stopping designs … [Read more...]
Popular food store trials recycling vending machine
Imagine an intelligent reverse vending machine for depositing your waste, which identifies it for you as recyclable or not. This is now a reality. In line with its recent announcement to achieve zero packaging waste to landfill by 2022, Woolworths has now launched a customer trial of an integrated reverse vending machine in its flagship green store in Claremont. “It might … [Read more...]
SA retailer to lead the way by ditching plastic packaging
A large retailer has announced that it plans to be the first in South Africa to contribute zero packaging waste. In a statement released on Tuesday, Woolworths said it aims to have none of its packaging end up in landfills, which will require the introduction of 100% recyclable materials and a supportive recycling infrastructure. This will include the phasing out of … [Read more...]
Women and babies thrive by ditching disposables
When my daughter was small I overheard a conversation between her and a friend, who asked her what karma was. “Well,” she said,” it’s like this. You know the planet is round? So if you do anything to anyone that badness or goodness goes right around the planet, then hits you from behind.” How true. And so it is with anything we try to toss. “Disposable” anything is not cool, … [Read more...]
Why bother with natural cleaning products?
Over the past few months we were creating more awareness about the great eco-friendly cleaners one can use in the home. We told the story of our friend who uses his grey water from his washing to water his lawn and garden plants. And why he uses the Better Earth laundry gel for his laundry. I wonder whether people realise just how toxic some of the normal chemical laundry … [Read more...]
The search for a toddler-friendly floor cleaner
Potty training… when will it end? Our toddler is two and half and we have a new baby on the way. Clearly we are not fans of sleep. We tried to time it so that we only have to change one set of nappies, but it seems that was more wishful thinking than anything based in reality. Which is worse - nappies or messes? I was really looking forward to our toddler being out of … [Read more...]
Zero-waste grocery store a ray of hope for food sustainability
Most of us go through the same process to get and keep food in our homes. Unless you are experiencing life in a non-industrialized society, this involves a lot of packaging. Plastic, cellophane, cardboard, plastic wrap, Styrofoam, glass…the list goes on. Then you get home and for a few days you have a refrigerator full of shiny appealing packaged foods, but then … [Read more...]
Creating a vibrant and viable future for all
Eco Atlas South Africa is conducting a promotional campaign for green products or places, and there are various prizes up for grabs. The world as we know it is changing fast now, with the use of instant messaging, live chats and all the information we constantly have at our fingertips with just one tap on a touch screen. There are also rapid and radical changes happening … [Read more...]
Buy local this festive season
This festive season is likely to be another 'big spender' for South African consumers – how you spend that money can make a positive impact on the country and its people. You can walk into any shop at the moment and get the message: this is the season when we spend it. In fact, South Africans spend almost twice as much money in December than during any other month of the … [Read more...]
Shopping to make a difference
Viva to the Capetownians who consider where their food comes from, who shop local, organic and seasonal, who support community empowering farming initiatives and who benefit themselves and the planet in the process. Watch this video made by UCT students and see some bright young faces who think, care and act … [Read more...]
Greyton aims to phase out plastic bags
From the 3rd of July 2014 (International plastic bag free day), Greyton aims to become South Africa’s first town to phase out single use plastic shopping bags. This is a drive initiated by Greyton Transition Town (GTT) and supported and assisted by Hayley McLellan from Rethink the Bag. This is just one of the many creative waste reduction programmes run in Greyton. Green … [Read more...]
Raising millions with reusable bags
Woolworths customers have helped raise close to R5 million to date by purchasing the cause related reusable bags sold in Woolworths stores. This includes over R2.2 million for rhinos, R2.1 million for other endangered species, almost R400 000 for marine life, and R200 000 for breast cancer awareness. Woolworths launched their first cause related bag in September 2010 - the … [Read more...]
