Fast forward to 2020 when the doors to Chickpeace opened. One of my greatest visions for this business was to make a positive impact in as many areas as I could. Being evaluated by B Corp was my way of being and doing better. Where could we improve? How could we serve our community in a more meaningful way?
This certification wasn't just one person filling out an assessment but it was full team effort that took many months of reporting, analyzing and levelling up our opoerations. I couldn't have done it without the amazing humans that make Chickpeace what it is both present and in the past.
It is an incredible honour to be amongst leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. We are transforming the world to benefit all people, communities and the planet.
This certification is our way of holding ourselves accountable and transparent to all of you so that we create a safe, inclusive and healthy environment both inside and outside our doors.
Thank you for being on this journey with us.
Allisha + The Chickpeace Team
]]>We have two words for you. Endocrine disrupters.
There's so many reason to choose non toxic cleaning products. Our main motivation is the health of our internal and external environment. If the products you are using are toxic for the planet they will be just as bad for your body. Consitently using cleaning products with toxic agents in them can wreak havoc on your health and have been correlated to pathogens that are linked to hormonal issues, allergies and even cancer. Because we care about YOU and the PLANET, we've made it our mission to bring in only the cleanest and greenest cleaning products to Chickpeace.
Let us introduce you to the three brands that we carry. You might be wondering why we dont carry more? Well these three brands are founded in British Colombia, offer bulk refills and they are made with ingredients we can stand behind.
Straight out of Ucluelet and founded by two incredible boss babes, Mint Cleaning products are equally as incredible as their founders. They have a top shelf arsenal of cleaning products that really work. The reason they started their business was because they were fed up with the toxic products that were on the market and they decided to take it upon themselves to create some change. And that they did. All of their products should be in your cupboards but if we could suggest just one it would be the Cleaning Scrub. This product does it all. From removing stains, cleaning your bathroom and sanitizing your dishwasher. This is the product that everyone needs in their homes.
This brand is a fan favourite for so many of our customers. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC we continue to be inspired by the sustainability improvements Nellies continues to make. From glass spray bottles, removing plastic in their tins and offering bulk options on so many of their products we can't help but fangirl over a brand that creating some real social change. Their ingredients are simple and we find that families with young children especially love the Baby Soda for a more gentle wash and Oxygen Brightener to find those nasty stains. Oh and did we mention the stain remover? Now this stick is pure magic and worth every penny.
One of our favourite cleaning brands that's known for its concentrated solutions and the dreamiest scents. This Canadian born brand has exploded over the years and provides bulk refills for all of its products. Aside from being made with great ingredients this brand is sold at a fantastic price point that will align with any budget. For example, their All Purpose solution is heavily concentrated and you only need 1tbsp per 4L of water. When we say a little goes a long way we mean it.
You can find all of these amazing brands in store at our refillery or online as well!
]]>Whenever I see new growth during springtime it reminds me of fresh starts and new beginnings. Over the last couple years weaving sustainable habits into daily life has definitely been more challenging. That is why I wanted to share with you five easy tips to help you green up your lifestyle. Speaking from the experiences in my sustainability journey, I have found success with incorporating new practices when they are easy and slip into my daily life with ease. So that is my goal for you. Set the easy factor high so that you can be successful.
Here we go!
1. 5 Minute showers. The energy used to heat up water coupled with extensive water use is not the best for our dear Mother Earth depleting natural resources. Limiting the time you spend in the shower is easy, free ( actually it will save you money) and it can make a sizeable impact over time.
2. Save your veggies scraps. Make a broth or blend and bake with them. See how creative you can be with limiting your household's organic waste.
3. Drive less, walk more. We all need to get our body moving so how about choosing some no emission errands that you can complete while walking or riding your bike. Ditching your car results in less emissions, less pollution and is so great for your mental and physical health.
4. Invest in reusables. This might cost you some money up front but the long term savings will make up for it. Every time you cover food wth saran wrap or pack a sandwich in a ziplock bag you are essentially throwing money down the drain. Invest in tupperware, silicone storage bags or beeswax wrap. Hot Tip: You can cover a bowl with a plate.
5. Refill. My favourite tip obviously. Stop paying for expensive single use packaging and start paying only for the contents of what you purchased. Refilling and shopping in bulk is cheaper, better for the planet and in my personal opion so fun.
Now that you're armed with some easy to tackle sustainability tips consider putting up reminder notes in places so that you can remember your tips when you need them like a 5 minute shower post it note on your bathroom mirror.
You've got this!
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The perfect gift for the busy bee on your shopping list. This cutlery set is easy to pack up to use for on the go meals and is made from wheat straw (the left over grains and shaft that are removed from a wheat stalk). Made from wheat straw. Wheat straw is what is left after the grains and shaft are removed from a wheat stalk. It is highly renewable and at this time is labeled as “agricultural waste”.
We use these bags for everything! From snacks to leftover food, you can store all sorts of goodies in these reuseable bags. Once you're done with them, just pop them into the dishwasher for a good clean. They're food grade, freezer safe and BPA-free! One ReZip replaces up to 300 disposable bags. Dishwasher safe, food grade, freezer safe and BPA-free.
You'll go nuts for these easy (and yummy!) snacks! We carry a wide selection of bulk nuts that are the perfect treat when you're on the go. From cashews to beer nut almonds, there's something for everyone!
Speaking of snacks, what better way to pack up your beer nut almonds than with a cute handmade, up-cycled, reuseable snack bag? The Market Bags are perfect for dry snacks, and when you're done with them, just pop them into the washing machine! Handmade, lightweight, up-cycled cotton, drawstring bags. 4"x6" - material does not stretch. Machine washer and dryer friendly but recommend laying flat to dry. Perfect for dry snacks.
What makes these chopsticks so special? Not only are they 100% natural, but they're made from the palm wood of old coconut trees that are unable to produce fruit anymore. Each pair of chopsticks is also hand carved by a local artist. Talk about a unique gift! Did you know that these coconut chopsticks are 100% natural and made from palm wood of old coconut trees! Harvested from old coconut trees that are unable to produce fruit anymore, local artists carve these one of a kind chopsticks.
The perfect addition to a holiday beverage! Accent your drinks and cocktails with compostable, bamboo straws. They're super sturdy and won't collapse on you. Cheers! Accent your drinks and cocktails with our compostable bamboo straws. You'll be surprised at how sturdy and strong these straws actually are. And they won't collapse on you either. These are sure to outlast the drink they are served with.
Who doesn't love a tote bag? Especially one as cute as this! Store all the things in one of The Market Bags totes and say buh-bye to single use plastic bags for good! The perfect tote for all your things.
It's a spoon, it's a fork...it's a spork! This bamboo spork is perfect for being on the go or for your camping trips. It's perfectly compact, lightweight and eco-friendly. Just toss it in your bag and go! Compact, lightweight and eco-friendly. This naturally anti-microbial organic bamboo spork is perfect for camping or on-the-go
Getting in 8 cups of water when you're on the go has never been easier! These double-walled, stainless steel water bottles will keep your liquids cold for 24 hours. The wide mouth with bamboo lid makes them easy to fill, while the steel handle makes this canteen-style vessel perfect for all your adventures! This double-walled stainless steel water bottle keeps liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. A wide mouth with a bamboo lid makes it easy to fill, while a steel handle makes this canteen-style vessel perfect for outdoor adventures.
Sometimes being on the go is the pits! That's why we recommend Routine deodorant. These deodorants sticks are made with cardboard exterior and 100% post-consumer recycled plastic that twist up on the inside. 50% less plastic than conventional deodorant tubes and its sure to keep you feeling and smelling fresh all day long.
]]>Holiday Gift Guide # 2 has officially dropped and this one is all about self care and wellness. Each item in this guide is intentionally curated because of their body loving properties that are designed to help you glow from the inside and outside. And did we mention they are sustainably produced by a small business that cares about the planet just as much as we do!
Clean your routine! By making the switch to shampoo bars, you're diverting up to three plastic bottles from the landfill. Plus, you'll be treating your hair to all-natural, certified organic ingredients that will leave your hair feeling healthy, shiny and nourished. Formulated with all-natural & certified-organic ingredients and backed by science, these concentrated solid shampoo & conditioner bars leave hair feeling healthy, shiny, and nourished. One bar of solid shampoo or conditioner can take the place of as many as three plastic bottles, diverting unnecessary plastic waste from our landfills.
Sink into a relaxing mixture of epsom salts, omgrown roses, lavender and essential oils. No need to worry about wasteful packaging, as it's 100% compostable and plastic-free. Ingredients: Epsom Salt, Omgrown Wildcrafted St. John's Wort Oil, Omgrown Roses, Lavender, Calendula & Red Clover combine with Essential oils of; Rose Geranium, Ylang, Ylang, Cinnamon and Vanilla to create this one-of-a-kind relaxing experience. Packaging is 100% compostable and plastic free. Made from sustainable wood pulp.
Breathe deep as you let the cleansing vapors of eucalyptus and peppermint soothe you. Pop one or two melts into the shower and enjoy your spa-like experience! The cleansing vapors of eucalyptus are well known for deep support of respiratory health. No Tox Life combine it with concentrated cooling peppermint for an awakening and refreshing shower. Place one or two rounds in the shower in the direct stream of water. As the round(s) get wet, they begin to dissolve and release potent essential oils into the hot shower steam.
Ditch the tube for the jar! Gaia Smiles' tooth powder works like magic - just wet your brush, dip into your jar, brush as normal and watch your pearly whites sparkle! Use tooth powder instead of toothpaste. One jar lasts one person 3-4 months.
This oh-so luxurious body butter is perfect for winter skin. It's a rich combination of organic, fair trade shea butter and Omgrown, wildcrafted comfrey oil. The perfect stocking stuffer OR gift for yourself! A whole body moisturizer for extra dry skin. A rich combination of Organic Fair Trade Shea Butter and Omgrown Wildcrafted Comfrey oil whipped to perfection.
Speaking of winter skin, this scrub is a must for removing dry, dead skin. It's infused with creamy, whipped butters and silky humectants to leave your skin silky and smooth. We love a good gritty scrub - something that feels like it’s actually removing dry, dead skin. But with deep exfoliation, you need to ensure you’re leaving a good amount of moisture behind, which is why this formula is infused with creamy whipped butters and silky humectants. Your post-shower skin will look absolutely radiant. Use weekly for best results.
Grab your favourite mug and enjoy one of Tease delicious blends! Tease uses whole leaf, all natural ingredients and materials that are free from chemicals or micro-plastics. We highly recommend a cup of the Self Care Elixir to help wind down at the end of a busy day! Not all tea bags are created equal. Tease uses whole leaf, all natural ingredients and materials that are free from chemicals or micro-plastics. The pyramid shape allows for water to pass through ingredients more freely, creating a higher quality and flavourful infusion.
The perfect companion to the Gaia Smiles Tooth Powder is the Brush Naked Toothbrush. The brushes are naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial and the handles are made of 100% bamboo. Now that's something to smile about!
Approximately 2 billion plastic razor blades end up in the landfill each year. With the Albatross razor, you can kiss waste goodbye and say hello to a super close shave that leaves your skin silky and smooth. These razors are made for any gender and any shaving need!
One of our favourite products is the Miiko Gua Sha. We love using it after applying facial oils to help lift and brighten skin. It's also great for reducing fine lines and promoting healthy skin tissue. Added bonus: you can use it to ease tension in your facial muscles...hello mini-massage!
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Whether you need to wrap up leftover cheese, fruit or herbs, these wraps are a must! They're made of 100% cotton and Canadian beeswax and seal with the pressure and heat of your hands. Plus, they come in a variety of fun patterns! The best part is that they keep your food fresh for so long. No food waste on our watch! 100% Cotton, Canadian Beeswax, Tree Rosin and Jojoba oil. The pressure & heat of your hands will cause the wrap to stick. Use to wrap cheese, fruits, veggies, herbs, sandwiches, snacks, cover leftovers & more!
"We put this sh*t on everything"- said every customer who has ever tried this dressing. Made right here in the beautiful Okanagan by two powerhouse women, this dressing is the perfect finishing sauce for all your salads, veggies and pretty much every and any dish you make up. Enjoy Umami as a dip, dressing or finishing sauce with virtually anything; greens, grains, any protein, roasted veggies, stir fry... and savour the flavour that pours from the bottle. Gluten free & vegan. Made in Kelowna.
These jams are rad! Okanagan made and the perfect low-sugar sweetness to your favourite scones, muffins, yogurt and pancakes. Made with sustainable ingredients that support our local farmers so that you get a taste seasonal goodness with every bite.
There's nothing better than a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter evening. Except a cup of hot chocolate made in-house that's deliciously vegan and exceptionally delicious (we recommend topping with a Dandie's marshmallow or two!). Made in house, this vegan hot chocolate mix is made with organic coconut milk powder, organic cane sugar, sea salt, organic non-alkalized cocoa powder and organic vegan chocolate chips.
What toppings should you put on your bagel? EVERYTHING! Made with organic chia seeds, sesame seeds, garlic and onion flakes and sea salt, our housemade Everything Bagel Mix is the perfect addition to your homemade bagels.
Ingredients: organic chia seeds, organic sesame seeds, organic garlic flakes, organic onion flakes, sea salt.
These bowls are nuts...coconuts, that is! They're vegan, BPA and chemical-free and 100% organic. Use them to create Instagram-worthy breakfast, smoothie and poke bowls. Vegan friendly, natural and 100% organic. Hand crafted from real coconuts! BPA and chemical-free! Hand crafted from real coconuts! BPA and chemical-free! Perfect for making creative breakfast bowls, smoothie bowls and poke bowls. Each set comes complete with a matching reclaimed wooden spoon!
Ditch the plastic and cool your cubes in these 100% pure food grade stainless steel ice cube trays. We love that this tray is made with materials that will last a lifetime of ice making for all your favourite drinks and cocktails.
Every Culinary Wizard know that after cooking comes the (much less fun!) cleaning.The No Tox Life dishblock creates a rich, sudsy lather to devour tough grime and grease on dishes, pots and pans. It may be a cleaning powerhouse, but with added aloe vera, it's oh-so-gentle on your hands.
The perfect addition to the No Tox Life dishblock! This dishwashing brush comes with a removable head, stiff agave fibre plant brisles and lasts 1-3 months. Removable head, stiff agave fibre plant bristles. Wire loop for hang drying. 1-3 month use. Do not soak handle. Compost the removable head after use.
Level-up your kernals with this delicious popcorn topper! This in-house blend is made with organic dill, garlic powder, sea salt and nutritional yeast. We recommend adding melted butter or coconut oil to your popcorn first, then adding the topper to taste. Vegan popcorn topper. Made with love in-house with organic dill, organic garlic powder, sea salt and nutritional yeast. Directions: Add melted butter or coconut oil to popcorn. Shake up topper and spread over popcorn as desired.
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Allow us to introduce you to Elate Cosmetics. We started carrying this brand at Chickpeace Zero Waste Refillery because this business, the founder and all of their products completely aligned with everything we are passionate about. We believe that we can achieve the greatest change for our planet when we collaborate with other like minded humans. So this partnership was a no brainer.
Here are our Top 5 reason that we think you should consider brining Elate into your world too!
Elate's ingredients are either 75% organic or fair trade. They value not only the quality of ingredients but also want to ensure the workers are treated fairly and ethically. Did we mentioned that all Elate products are vegan, cruelty free and made with kindness?
Sustainable packaging for all of our brands is a must. Elate's products check off all the boxes. Their bamboo packaging is FSC certified and fair trade.
The lids on their lip and eye pencils is actually referred to as a 'sustainable bio cap' and can be commercial composted. They also offer refill options on many products that come wrapped in seed paper. Did we mentioned they take back all of their packaging so that they can recycle it properly too?
The Founder/CEO of Elate Cosmetics is Melodie Reynolds. She is a champion for women owned business, passionate about sustainable beauty and climate action. A social impact entrepreneur after our own hearts.
Yup, we sure are swooning over here.
One of the reasons our community loves Elate so much is the multi use aspect of so many of their products.
What do we mean by that? Let us explain.
Elate's Better Balm and lip pencils make an amazing blush and their mascara is perfect for sprucing up your eye brows. Their pressed cheek powers could double as eye color too.
You could purchase just a few items and find yourself with a complete skin care ritual. We love the minimalist mindset to these products. You can achieve a subtle daily look or evening glam with essentially the same products.
Are you as elated as us? (see what we did there?)
Last and certainly not least we are over the moon in love with Elate's commitment to social impact. As a B Corporation certified business this means Elate has met the highest standards of certified social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. Basically this means they are using their business as a force of good.
Last time we checked we need more businesses following in Elate's footsteps.
]]>Written in collaboration with Green Okanagan.
If you're anything like me, you’ve been dreaming of beach days all winter long! And, now they're finally here! Hooray!!
In addition to getting in as many fun-filled beach day as I can this summer, my main goals are to (1) avoid buying unnecessary new items and (2) staying far away from single use packaging! There are lots of ways to make sure your visits to the beach are more eco-friendly, all you need is a little planning and creativity.
Here are some of my tried and true tips that’ll help you reduce your waste while still soaking up all the goodness summer beach days have in store.
Remember, small steps towards being more sustainable are steps in the right direction never underestimate the positive impact you can have.
For more tips on reducing waste, check out GO's Zero Waste Page and blogs like 6 Sustainable Swaps for On-the-Go and Garden Greener.
GO Blog link: https://www.greenokanagan.org/post/4-tips-for-a-zero-waste-beach-day]]>At Chickpeace we recognize the importance of addressing our environmental impact. We are excited to announce we’re taking a big step to reduce the carbon emissions footprint of our business by choosing green natural gas for our company with Bullfrog Power, a Spark Power company.
Chickpeace is proud to be supporting clean, renewable energy with Bullfrog Power. By bullfrogpowering our zero waste refillery with green natural gas, Chickpeace is helping transition Canada to a renewably powered future.”
Bullfrog Power’s producers put renewable green natural gas into the pipeline to match the amount of conventional natural gas used by our refillery. Bullfrog’s green natural gas is sourced from methane-capture projects situated at various Canadian landfills, wastewater treatment facilities and anaerobic digestion sites. Through innovative technology, biogas is captured, cleaned up, and injected onto the national natural gas pipeline, displacing fossil fuel-based gas while reducing emissions of CO2 and, more importantly, CH4 into the atmosphere. Watch this How It Works video to learn more about Bullfrog’s renewable energy sources.
In addition to greening Canada’s energy systems, we’ll also be supporting community green energy projectsthrough our partnership with Bullfrog Power. These projects include renewable initiatives with Indigenous Peoples, solar projects on schools and hockey rinks, and installations with renewable energy co-ops.
We are proud to be choosing green energy with Bullfrog Power! To learn more about Bullfrog Power, visit their website at bullfrogpower.com.
]]>Hi everyone, Kaitlyn Dickie here! This is my final gift guide that I am contributing to the Chickpeace Refillery blog. In my last post so I shared a little bit about myself but just incase you missed it I am a Kelowna local and I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life. One of my favourite things to do is travel. This past year I have been enjoying exploring and adventuring in my own backyard. I feel so fortunate to live in beautiful British Columbia where I can go hiking, camping and spend many of my summer nights in a tent on a mountain somewhere. When I am not in nature, I love being in the kitchen creating new recipes or “veganizing” recipes from my mom or my Grandma’s old cookbooks. With that passion and my love for good food, I started a blog and an Instagram account where I not only share my adventures, but also delicious plant-based recipes, cruelty-free favourites, zero-waste tips, and ethical products. All that said, Chickpeace encompasses so many of my values so it is an honour to be here.
If you are shopping for a special guy in your life, this guide has great ideas that are both awesome and great for the planet.
Miir’s vacuum insulated camp cup is perfect for taking to work, up to the ski hill, or camping. The Camp Cup has a BPA-free press lid to help prevent spills.
2. Coffee
Who doesn’t love some fresh local coffee beans? Chickpeace has a few different local brands to choose from and they will all make the man in your life happy.
If they’ve got a great beard, why not help them keep it that way? This product is recommended for medium to long beards or very coarse and dry beards. A blend of highly beneficial ingredients including beeswax, shea butter and argan oil will help keep their bears soft and smelling great.
Safety razors used to be a thing of the past, but now they’re back and for a good reason. Get a closer shave with a safety blade that will last you a lifetime. No more spending crazy amounts of money on blade refills. Albatross also has an amazing take-back program in place where they melt down used blades and create reusable cutlery.
5. Born to Shake Cocktail Mixes
Treat yourself to the highest quality and greatest tasting "do it yourself" cocktail kit on the internet. Make incredible cocktails with full recipe cheat-sheets and instructions included in each kit. Skip the expensive prices you pay at bars and impress friends and family alike from the comfort of your home. Born to Shake's crafted yet easy to follow cocktail recipes allow you to skip the planning or cocktail training and impress your friends and unleash your inner mixologist. In store only, come visit :)
Made with hydrating mango, shea and coconut. These bars are vegan and palm-oil free. The charcoal bar is a simple bar that typically lasts 4-9 months. That’s a lot of washes and not a lot of plastic. Win-win!
7. Routine – Superstar Deodorant
Routine Cream's effectiveness and commitment to maintaining a deep connection to the local community have resulted in a sought after destination product with a loyal fan following. Ethically crafted with the health of the planet as a priority, Routine Cream was created by sisters Neige and Pippa at the base of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful Calgary, Canada. Cardboard on the outside, 100% post-consumer recycled plastic on the inside. The charcoal detoxifies, magnesium relaxes the pits to reduce stress sweats and the prebiotics keep your skin healthy. There is a touch of baking soda for added deodorizing- just enough to keep most sensitive skinned people from getting irritation.
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Hi everyone, Kaitlyn Dickie here! This is my second gift guide that I am contributing to the Chickpeace Refillery blog. In my last post so I shared a little bit about myself but just incase you missed it I am a Kelowna local and I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life. One of my favourite things to do is travel. This past year I have been enjoying exploring and adventuring in my own backyard. I feel so fortunate to live in beautiful British Columbia where I can go hiking, camping and spend many of my summer nights in a tent on a mountain somewhere. When I am not in nature, I love being in the kitchen creating new recipes or “veganizing” recipes from my mom or my Grandma’s old cookbooks. With that passion and my love for good food, I started a blog and an Instagram account where I not only share my adventures, but also delicious plant-based recipes, cruelty-free favourites, zero-waste tips, and ethical products. All that said, Chickpeace encompasses so many of my values so it is an honour to be here.
If you are shopping for little ones this year, this guide will help you minimize your impact while maximizing the fun.
Non-toxic, virtually odourless, water-based formula, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, vegan, and safe to use during pregnancy. What more can you ask for? With so many fun colours to choose from, your kids will have a blast giving themselves a spa day.
A planet-friendly alternative to plastic play food. This little kit includes fifteen felt strawberries that come in a reusable fruit basket. These soft toys make them safer for all ages and are sure to boost creativity and imaginative play. Check out Chickpeace for more play food options.
With a few different formats, these hand-poured crayons have sized that a perfect for all ages. Since the crayons are hand-made and hand-poured colours and shapes may vary slightly. Natural waxes make for softer, blendable crayons, more like a pastel.
4. Kids Herbaland Vitamin Gummies
This might be the simplest way to get your kid to stay healthy. Herbaland gummies are made in Canada and they have many different options depending on your specific health needs. They have immune gummies, multi-vitamin gummies, and there are tons of options for adults too. These gummies are sugar-free, non-GMO, and gelatin-free making them safe for vegan and vegetarian diets as well.
An extra gentle and tear free baby shampoo & body wash formulated with certified organic plant, vegetable, flower and tree extracts and scented with organic sweet pea essence.
It’s not Christmas without a little treat. Chickpeace has many bulk candy options including many vegan options that will be sure to put a smile on their face.
1. Backcountry Wok – Dehydrated Meals These Dehydrated Asian-inspired meals are packaged in 100% compostable and heat-resistant materials, perfect for any outdoor adventure. All of their dehydrated meals are Vegan. They have bibimbap, Thai green curry, and fried rice so, you really can’t go wrong. Pro tip: bring some chilli flakes to spice it up!
These bandages are hypoallergenic, made from sustainable bamboo, and they are 100% compostable. If you’re an avid hiker then you know the importance of packing out everything you bring in, and that includes first aid items. With Patch, you don’t have to stress about a bandage falling off on the trail or in the lake because not only are they quite adhesive, but they will also just biodegrade back into the earth. They have a few different options including bandages for burns or blisters that contain aloe vera.
If you’re wondering why a reusable Ziplock bag is included in a gift guide for outdoorsy people, let me explain. These bags are perfect for bringing along snacks like dried mango, trail mix, granola, pancake mix, protein powder, oatmeal, etc. Once you’re done with your snacks, they are great for storing little pieces of garbage and they fold up nice and small so they won’t take up room in your packs. Not to mention, one ReZip replaces up to 300 disposable bags. They are also dishwasher safe, food-grade, freezer safe and BPA-free.
4 Zero Waste Movement - Reusable Cutlery
The Zero Waste Movement utensil set comes with one canvas wrap, bamboo fork, bamboo spoon, bamboo knife, straw and straw brush and chopsticks. Water-resistant lining, washable wrap. One thing that is great about this set is that they are airplane friendly.
5 Republic West - Enamel Camping Mug These cute little mugs were made for the outdoors. Not only are they impact resistant and made using high-quality ink that is printed on to reduce scratching, but they were also designed, and hand-printed in Kelowna, BC. I love sitting around the campfire and seeing everyone’s different enamel camp mugs.
The perfect little jar to add to your hiking backpack. Hand lotion is considered a luxury in the outdoors but when you’re braving the elements, it’s always nice to have something to make that a little more bearable. This product is worth adding because it can be used for many different things. This product contains edible ingredients such as raw extra-virgin organic coconut oil, extra-virgin blood orange olive oil, and raw organic cocoa butter so it can even be used on your lips. Miiko has zinc sun-protectant cream too which is worth checking out.
7 Pela Case
Chickpeace carries many different Pela cases for many different sizes of phone cases. If you haven’t heard of Pela cases before, then you need to check them out. They are the world’s first compostable phone case, and their head office is right here in Kelowna, BC. Their goal is to prevent 1 billion pounds of plastic from ever being made. (Come visit, available in store only)
Dried mangos are such a classic hiking snack. Whenever you need a little energy boost or want a little treat, dried mangos always do the trick. Make sure you bring extras for your hiking buddies because I have never been able to keep them to myself.
Organic Mountain Munchie Mix is another one of those must-have snacks for when you're on the trail. Trail mix usually has some great sources of protein that will keep you going on long hikes. Available at Chickpeace in bulk which means get as much or as little as your heart desires.
Photo credit Emma Tassie Photography
As we enter the season of giving, how does conscious consumption play into the purchasing choices we make? We have teamed up with The Purposeful You in Victoria to talk Black Friday for a moment.... 7 things to think about.
It is in our culture to consume. We “need” things to survive or tools to help us live a better life for ourselves and the planet. We tend to seek opportunities to spend money through sales. We also seem to purchase large quantities when these sales occur. Black Friday is the epitome of this dynamic.
Photo credit Kristen Elise Photography
So what do we do?
Do we miss the opportunity to save money as we enter the holiday season? Are their items you have wanted for ever that are sustainably made that you can finally get a deal on? How about finding some balance between the purchases we make and businesses we choose to support?
In our humble opinion, no one is perfect, and we honestly believe that we are all trying our best. Often we just need a little bit of support. So here’s The Purposeful You & Chickpeace Zero Waste collaborating to help you out:
Photo credit Kristen Elise Photography
We want to remind everyone that perfection doesn't amount to sustainability. And that is ok. Every small action adds up. Its easier and more effective to take consistent little steps towards a big goal then to leap once or twice.
This Black Friday, shop with purpose, create new habits and feel good about it all!
Tasha & Allisha
Hello! I’m Brie – I’m a Zero Waste Educator at Chickpeace.
My journey started slowly about 4 years ago when my travels took me to countries that aren’t very good at hiding their waste, which led me to dig deeper into what we do differently or better to keep our country so clean. To my shock it was exactly that, we are good at hiding it. In reality due to our toxic consumption culture, countries have a more negative impact on the planet than developing countries.
Ever since then I have made it a personal mission to reduce my own environmental impact as affordably and reasonably as possible and to educate others on how to make better decisions for their health and the planet. Please remember this is a journey, be kind to yourself and others, no matter how far along you are on your personal journey you should always leave space for ‘slips’ – no one is perfect.
Below I have listed 4 tips that were fundamental in manifesting my own healthy, planet friendly lifestyle.
The internet is a wonderful mystical place full of a wealth of knowledge... and misinformation. The best place to start is probably not by choosing the first link on google when you type in ‘how to be more environmentally friendly’. Although forums and blogs can be extremely helpful for ideas and motivation, you may overwhelm yourself (as I did) and you can become subject to ‘green washing’; when companies spend more time and effort in marketing that they are environmentally friendly than actively being friendly to the environment. Start small with informing yourself about what is happening in your own city or area. What items can you put in your recycling bin? What can’t you? What types of depots are there in your area/what do they recycle and what procedures do I have to follow so they accept my recyclables? Did you know your entire bin can be taken to a landfill if you don’t recycle properly. ☹
Do you really NEED that? Where does it come from? Where will it go when you’re finished with it?
This may come naturally after you educate yourself on the recycling strategies of your city. Many of you will find that A LOT of stuff isn’t recyclable and what IS recyclable is really annoying and time consuming to sort in order to do it properly (like washing every plastic bag, awkwardly trying to get all the residue off of your Styrofoam take-out containers, then draping them all over your apartment to dry so the depot can actually recycle it). In turn, this will hopefully make you more mindful when going to the grocery store and choosing the sizes/types of packaging your items come in. Bulk stores are a savior for this, just bring a container and fill it with however much you need! Nothing goes to the landfill. ☺
Secondly, shop at second hand stores and only when you NEED clothes. ‘Fast-fashion’ is so out of fashion and incredibly expensive (cheap fast fashion could have its own blog about ethics and environmental impact). Once you’re informed about where, how and what your favorite brands are made of, you might not be able to look at your favorite clothing store the same every again. Also, second-hand stores leave so much more room for creativity and uniqueness in your wardrobe not to mention it reduces the immense impact the fast-fashion industry has on the planet. I get it, sometimes buying new is rewarding and a treat – in these cases try to only choose local, ethically sourced clothing brands made out of fabrics that do not contain micro-plastics (e.g. Nylon & Polyester).
If there is a single thing you take from this post, let it be this: There is no such thing as single use! Be prepared when you go out, get into the habit of bringing an on-the-go bag every time you leave your house or if you have a car leave a kit in it. Include cutlery, a container, reusable water bottle, a coffee mug & anything else you tend to need on a daily basis on the go. When ordering online; food delivery or parcels, request no plastic bags, straws, cutlery, un needed sauces or containers and when you do end up getting these things or forget to ask (I totally still forget this when I’m hangry and ordering take-out) do not throw them out!! Wash those containers, bags, straws, cutlery etc. and use them again, and again, and again because they are not single use!
I just typed that out in a fury – this is by far the easiest way to consciously lower your waste without sacrificing your beloved take-out Friday nights and you would be so surprised and happy to know that most restaurants applaud you for it and are so accommodating.
I am SO aware of how heated and controversial the topic of vegan/vegetarianism is, but it’s where my personal journey began so it would be inauthentic if I left it out. In short, the loss of biodiversity due to the growth of conventional agriculture (produce and meat) is one of the largest culprits in the deterioration of natural resources and one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make a huge impact is to reduce your meat consumption. Grow your own food when possible and buy local, package-less and organic when you’re able to.
Lastly, for the purpose of this blog post anyways. Anyone who is conscious or becoming conscious of their environmental impact inherently becomes more and more aware every day of the items in their household that will eventually find their way into a landfill. Before those items start to run low or fall apart, proactively do your research on where you can find a low or zero waste replacement item. There are so many zero or low waste options now for items like soaps, cleaning utensils, re-usable coffee filters, compostable garbage bags & baking items, the list goes on and on and on. This would be an appropriate time to use the wonderful world of the internet or find your closest zero waste store. Please, don’t assume that in one day you have to completely replace all of these items. That puts way too much stress on you, the environment and your wallet! Start window shopping, as your budget allows it and when the time comes to replace one of these items, invest in alternatives that are better for your health and the health of our planet.
Start conversations! Find your closest zero waste store and have a chat with the passionate people who fuel the industry, just like us at Chickpeace. I’m sure they would love to show you around and help you make the best choices to suite your lifestyle. Get ready to learn a whole new way of life and potentially create a network of like-minded friends all at the same time. It’s a win-win situation - a win for you and a win for the Earth. :)
]]>Brieanne Fisette is taking Environmental Studies at Okanagan College, loves the planet, travelling the world and growing delicious food.