The recent move by Sobeys to ban plastic bags will remove 225 million single use bags from circulation a year. But take a look at your next grocery haul and you’ll see that ditching the bags doesn’t get rid of single-use plastics altogether.
Cucumbers and lettuce come wrapped in a thin layer of plastic that can’t be reused and then there are those bags of rice or pasta that once opened, can’t be resealed.
Although Sobeys is the largest national retailer to remove unnecessary plastic, smaller shops in Toronto have gone even further to encourage waste reduction.
Unboxed Market in Little Portugal and bare market (its name is written in lowercase) on Danforth Avenue sell their goods unwrapped. They have some tips on how to reduce your plastic trail.
Ditch the produce bags
The co-owner of Unboxed Market, Michelle Genttner, wanted to open a grocery store that went back to her country roots. You won’t find any plastic produce bags at her shop. The fruits and vegetables are sold unpackaged.
“Apples have a peel, oranges have a peel, you don’t need the extra packaging,” said Genttner. “You’re going home, washing and peeling them anyway.”
Michelle Genttner, co-owner of Unboxed Market, sells everything without packaging. Customers can buy milk on tap and even a single egg. (Natalie Nanowski/CBC )
Head to the bulk bins
While most grocery stores offer nuts and grains package-free, Dayna Stein’s bare market has hundreds of home and beauty products sold by weight.
“How many eyeshadows do you have that you’ve only used once?,” said Stein. “This way you can buy the amount you need. There’s less waste and you can see if you like the product.”
Customers can purchase a small amount of a beauty product like dry shampoo to try it out. Stein says this reduces waste. (Natalie Nanowski/CBC)
Bring your own containers
Jars are great for bulk bins. Simply weigh them before they’re filled so you’re only paying for the weight of the food. Stein’s Danforth store also offers cleaning products. She encourages customers to hold on to “the old toilet cleaner container” and refill it. “You’re extending the life of the product and keeping it out of the landfill,” said Stein.
If it works, don’t replace it
Switching over to plastic-free is great, but Stein says don’t rush to buy all new household items if the plastic ones are still in good condition. “Buying all new stuff, even if it’s plastic-free, is consumerism at its base,” said Stein. If they’re working, don’t upgrade them.
Stein sells cleaning products made from natural elements like wood. (Natalie Nanowski/CBC )
Go in with a list
That will keep you from buying unnecessary items that often come wrapped in plastic, says Genttner. If you go in with a list and the containers you need, you’re unlikely to buy more items than necessary.
Pro tip: Start small
Minimizing your dependance on single-use items can be challenging, says Emily Charles-Donelson. Since her daughter was born six year ago, she’s been on a journey toward a zero-waste lifestyle.
“I opted to use cloth diapers for my daughter because they made more sense,” said Charles-Donelson. “Then, I started seeing the waste everywhere else … I just thought if I’m doing this thing with diapers then I need to extend it to other areas of my life as well.”
She started small by carrying around a reusable bag and coffee cup. Once she got used to that, she added more items to her arsenal. Now she has a full zero-waste kit with lightweight tin containers, cloth napkin and bamboo cutlery.
This is what Emily Charles-Donelson carries in her zero waste kit. (Emily Charles-Donelson)
Every time she orders takeout or gets popcorn at the movies, she tells servers to use her containers instead of their disposable ones.
“I’ve never been turned down,” said Charles-Donelson.
Big stores, next steps
Allowing people to fill their own containers at the hot or cold food table is something more grocery stores should start doing, says Genttner.
“If you bring in a container and it’s clean and it closes we have no problem at all putting whatever you want in it,” said Genttner.
Michelle Genttner holds the reusable containers Unboxed Market will start using as takeout options. Once people are done eating, they are supposed to return the containers. (Natalie Nanowski/CBC )
Unboxed Market is also moving toward a reusable container program for those who don’t come equipped with a takeaway box. Once you order what you want, you eat it and eventually bring the container back.
Genttner believes manufacturers will eventually realize this and start catering to consumers’ environmental demands.
TORONTO – Cineplex Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter compared with a profit a year ago as it was hit by a fine for deceptive marketing practices imposed by the Competition Tribunal.
The movie theatre company says it lost $24.7 million or 39 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a profit of $29.7 million or 40 cents per diluted share a year earlier.
The results in the most recent quarter included a $39.2-million provision related to the Competition Tribunal decision, which Cineplex is appealing.
The Competition Bureau accused the company of misleading theatregoers by not immediately presenting them with the full price of a movie ticket when they purchased seats online, a view the company has rejected.
Revenue for the quarter totalled $395.6 million, down from $414.5 million in the same quarter last year, while theatre attendance totalled 13.3 million for the quarter compared with nearly 15.7 million a year earlier.
Box office revenue per patron in the quarter climbed to $13.19 compared with $12 in the same quarter last year, while concession revenue per patron amounted to $9.85, up from $8.44 a year ago.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
TORONTO – Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported net income of US$357 million for its third quarter, down from US$364 million in the same quarter last year.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says its profit amounted to 79 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with 79 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, totalled US$2.29 billion, up from US$1.84 billion in the same quarter last year.
Consolidated comparable sales were up 0.3 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands says it earned 93 cents US per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 90 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 95 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Fortis Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $420 million, up from $394 million in the same quarter last year.
The electric and gas utility says the profit amounted to 85 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from 81 cents per share a year earlier.
Fortis says the increase was driven by rate base growth across its utilities, and strong earnings in Arizona largely reflecting new customer rates at Tucson Electric Power.
Revenue in the quarter totalled $2.77 billion, up from $2.72 billion in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Fortis says it earned 85 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 84 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 82 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
