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February 5, 2008

Solvent-free Dry Cleaning in Ottawa

Posted by greenlivingottawa under clothing, health, household, waste reduction
[3] Comments 

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My general policy is to buy clothes that can be washed in a regular washing machine with cold water and biodegradable detergent. I include in that category many clothes that are labeled “dry-clean only”. In particular most wool, synthetic or mixed-fibre fabrics can survive a cold water wash on the delicate cycle in a front-loading machine. That said, I have destroyed a couple of items that way, so experiment at your own risk.

The big problem with dry-cleaners is the solvents, perchloroethylene (perc) in particular. Perc is a solvent known to be acutely toxic to wildlife (particularly of the aquatic variety), and which is classified as a possible carcinogen in humans. Perc is what makes dry-cleaned clothes smell like dry-cleaned clothes.

Fortunately a very very very few cleaners offer something called “wet cleaning” or “solvent free cleaning.” These processes use soaps and bleaches instead of solvents. However, the processes are not perfect, and the soaps and bleaches may not be as biodegradable as claimed. However, solvent-free is about as good as it gets for those delicates that cannot stand up to washing machines or bathroom sinks.

The family owned and operated Modern Dry Cleaners in Ottawa offers customers solvent-free cleaning. However, they don’t offer the service, you have to know to ask for it, and it will cost you an extra $3.00 per item. That said, they’ve done a consistently excellent job cleaning the items I’ve brought to them. Plus these wet-cleaned clothes come home smelling like nothing, which is exactly what I like my clothes to smell like.

Modern Dry Cleaners, 571 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1R 6K2, (613) 235-1497

 

November 4, 2007

Local Eco-Shopping: Soul Matters

Posted by greenlivingottawa under Ottawa, arts and culture, clothing, fair trade, food, organic
[6] Comments 

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A new store has opened up on Bank Street near Sunnyside in Old Ottawa South: Soul Matters. I had a few minutes to spare so I dropped in to see what they had to offer to the environmentally-conscious consumer.

They have an eclectic mix of books, tapes, dvds, yoga clothes, tea and spiritual accessories (for lack of a better term). They carry a wide variety of caffeine-based and herbal Numi teas, one of my favourite organic and fairtrade tea companies. They also carry Respecterre bamboo yoga clothes, which are designed and made in Canada.

Bamboo is not only easier on the earth to produce than most other clothing fibres but also is reputed to be anti-bacterial, which is always handy in workout wear. Soul Matters also carries gift bags made out of bamboo paper (in case you need anti-microbial gift-bags, just kidding).

Soul Matters, 1093 Bank St. Ottawa 613-730-SOUL (7685)

 

October 31, 2007

Eco-Friendly Simple Shoes Available at Roots Stores

Posted by greenlivingottawa under Ottawa, clothing, organic, recycled, vegan, waste reduction
[5] Comments 

This evening I stepped into the Roots store in the Rideau Centre and confirmed that it does indeed sell environmentally-friendly shoes made by Simple Shoes.  I posted a few days ago about my saga of buying Simple Shoes from an on-line U.S. store.  Well, now I know I can buy them right here in Ottawa.  However, they do not carry the particular style that I bought on-line (and which is shown in the photograph for that blog post).  Instead they carry the ecoSNEAKS for men and for women.

I assume that other Roots stores across Canada also carry Simple Shoes, but if you’re making a special trip I suggest you call ahead, just in case.

Roots, Rideau Centre, 50 Rideau Street, Suite 247, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 9J7, (613) 236-7760

 

October 30, 2007

Local Eco-Shopping: Ten Thousand Villages Stores

Posted by greenlivingottawa under clothing, fair trade, food, household, organic, recycled, volunteering
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Tis the season, already, for shopping at Ten Thousand Villages.

There are currently two Ten Thousand Villages Stores in Ottawa. One in Westboro, across from the Mountain Equipment Co-op. And the other in Old Ottawa South near Patty’s Pub. However, starting this Friday (Nov. 2nd), a third temporary “festival” location of Ten Thousand Villages will open at the Mennonite Church on Kilborn in Alta Vista. This is an annual event and is always good news for conscientious consumers.

Ten Thousand Villages stores are committed to fair trade and are run as non-profits by volunteers. Ten Thousand Villages operates on the principle that “trade should have a conscience.” The Ten Thousand Villages organization purchases high quality products made by artisans and agriculturalists in low-income countries for a fair price and sells these products to consumers in wealthier countries, such as Canada. They also aim to educate consumers about the importance of fair trade and about cultures in other parts of the world. For example, their web-site provides lots of information about the various groups of artisans whose goods are for sale at their stores.

Everything sold by Ten Thousand Villages is produced by hand, often through cooperative or aid organizations. While it is all produced in a manner way more sustainable than anything you could buy at the mall, there are a few products in this year’s line that stood out for me:

  • Colourful plates and bowls made out of magazine pages
  • Decadent hats and scarves made out of recycled sari silk
  • Elegant journals made out of banana fibre, cornhusks, water hyacinths, jute and recycled cotton and paper
  • Baskets made variously from grass, bamboo, and banana leaves
  • Bowls carved from salvaged teak wood
  • Bags from jute, or hemp, or recycled saris
  • Organic coffee
  • Organic chocolates and cocoa powder

To purchase any of these products (or some of the countless others I didn’t list) or to volunteer your time contact your local Ten Thousand Villages store…

Ten Thousand Villages, West 371 Richmond Road, Ottawa, 613-759-4701

Ten Thousand Villages, Old Ottawa South 1174 Bank Street, 613-736-0401

Ten Thousand Villages Christmas Festival, the first four Fridays (3pm-8pm) and Saturdays (10am-4pm) in November (for 2007 that’s Nov. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24) at the Ottawa Mennonite Church, 1830 Kilborn Avenue, 613-238-2774

 

October 28, 2007

The Temptation to Eco-Shop Virtually Across the Border

Posted by greenlivingottawa under Ottawa, clothing, organic, recycled, vegan, waste reduction
[7] Comments 

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With the Canadian dollar stronger than the American at the moment, the temptation to shop on-line for environmentally-friendly products from companies south of the border has never been harder to resist. I succumbed to temptation the other week and ordered myself the pair of Simple Shoes in the photo above. The experience of ordering from the U.S. was not entirely a happy one.

Simple Shoes recently got a massive eco-makeover. Their product-line now features pedbeds made from recycle popbottles, 100% post-consumer recycled paper footforms, organic cotton and organic linen uppers, natural rubber or recycled tire soles, and water-based cements. Moreover, Simple shoes are minimally packaged in shoeboxes made from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard and/or in biodegradeable bags. I needed office-type shoes for my new desk-job, so how could I resist buying such a stylish pair with such an environmental pedigree?

My first choice would have been to buy Simple Shoes locally. Glebe Trotters used to sell the brand. However, they don’t anymore. I’m not sure why. I emailed the Simple Shoes distribution person to find out if there were any Ottawa retailers I didn’t know about, but she replied in the negative. The closest place I could go to buy Simple Shoes in person would be Ciara’s Casual Chic in Toronto. They also offer shopping on-line. It can be a little chancy buying something like shoes from a catalogue, but I’d had a pair of Simple Shoes before, so I knew what size was likely to fit. Unfortunately Ciara’s online store didn’t have the shoes I wanted in my size.

By this time irrational impulses took over. I simply was not going to be denied Simple Shoes. The dollar was doing well, so I thought why not order them from the U.S. Bad decision.

Ordering went smoothly. Despite being so eco-conscious, the shoes were only $85 USD. Not bad for shoes. Shipping was $18 to Canada, again a cost I could swallow. Unfortunately, when UPS showed up at my door they threatened to hold my lovely environmentally-friendly shoes for ransom unless I shelled out another $42.44 to them for brokerage and duty.

I don’t mind paying the government the taxes they would be getting if I had bought the shoes from a Canadian retailer. I do mind paying UPS $30.00 on top of the $18 they were already paid for shipping, for the supposed effort it takes to take a pair of shoes across the border. I had no choice, however. If I wanted those shoes I had to hand over another $42.44. So I did. And the shoes fit. And I love them even if they cost $145.44 instead of $85. But there is no way I would purchase another pair from across the border. So if anyone knows of anywhere in Canada that sells Simple Shoes and would be willing to ship to Ottawa, please comment!

 

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