In the July 16 issue, I had mentioned with delight my “discovery” of environment- friendly laundry detergent sheets. I really hope that more and more people will resort to using these instead of the detergents in plastic bottles. Think of how each of us can help in reducing plastic waste in our landfills and in our precious oceans and rivers. Not to mention its space saving benefits.
I trust that one day soon someone will also think of a way to reduce or eliminate the use of all these plastic bottles for shampoos, hand soaps, lotions. For a while, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope, when Body Shop started to test market a system wherein one could refill their shampoos and lotions sold in their shops. I bought one myself intending to return to have the container refilled eventually. Alas, due to the downturn in economy worldwide, the negative effects of which apparently did not spare the company, I noticed that it was discontinued. Sayang! (What a pity!)
Perhaps, someone else will step up and take up the cudgels for ecology (and be profitable too) by developing the idea of just having your own bottles refilled. This reminds me of the students’ cafeteria in the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines.
In the clean and orderly cafeteria, which, by the way, served delicious “home-cooked” food, one could take out food as well. You either bring your own container or one also had the option to make a minimal deposit of Phil Peso 20 for one container of theirs. One could then return the container any day and retrieve the deposit. In their own little way, they were doing their part in reducing plastic waste. I found this quite creative and responsible of the management. I wonder if the system is still in place. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll find out on my next trip to the Philippines. The maybe is because traffic is quite daunting along that road. Yikes!
MORE GOOD NEWS FOR EARTH LOVERS (AND THE COST CONSCIOUS)
In the July 14, 2025 issue of Toronto Star, I found an interesting article on ‘repair cafes’ in Toronto. This idea is close to my heart since I moved here to Canada.
Upon relocating here, I noticed that there were so many things that were thrown away. I grew up in a country where many things can be fixed, and at a reasonable cost. Here in Canada, what everyone says is that if it costs more to have it repaired than to buy a new one, just take the latter option. The thing is, what does one do with the old table, if it is a table. Usually, it is still serviceable. It just needs some repair or perhaps refinishing. What’s more, someone else can use it. I just keep thinking of all the things that are in the dump and landfills.
I now understand why the DIY mode of life is quite prevalent here, which is good. I am all for it.
Now back to the article on repair cafes written by Lora Grady, Toronto Star Personal Finance Reporter.
Repair Café Toronto puts up one day workshops where “volunteers are helping people save hundreds of dollars by giving used items new life, from clothing and jewelry to small appliances, furniture and toys”. Yes, for free.
According to Ms Grady, Repair Café Toronto is a grassroots community group founded by Wai Chu Cheng, Fern Mosoff and Paul Magder in 2013. Hooray for them! It was apparently “inspired by the Repair Café International Foundation in Amsterdam…to encourage sustainability at a local level”.
As per the website of Repair Café International Foundation, it was founded in 2010 and is based in Amsterdam, with the goal of wanting “to make repair a part of the local community once again. It aims to maintain and spread repair expertise, and to promote social cohesion by bringing together neighbours from all walks of life and sets of motivations in the form of inspiring and accessible meetings….It is a non-profit organization appointed by the Dutch authorities as a “Public Benefit Organisation” and is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.”
It is extremely good to know that we have our own group here in Toronto. Check out their website – repair-cafetoronto.ca. According the Repair Café Toronto website, the next big Repair Café Toronto event is on August 16, 2025 at the Port Union Community Center, 5450 Lawrence Ave. E, Scarborough. It looks like they also have “mini” and “midi” repair events. Am still looking into it. But I think it is exciting to see these kinds of events. More about them and their upcoming events in website. See you there!
A postscript though from me, Ms.Grady – aside from saving hundreds of dollars, I am also excited by the fact that this will help in reducing the gargantuan amount of throw-away stuff in our landfills and dumps. Another benefit is that we learn to be creative and useful with our hands, and I don’t mean using our computers and cellphones.
HAPPY LLAMAS DAY!
Or happy harvest day! In the olden days, lammas day was the midpoint between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox. Lammas is a festival to celebrate the coming harvest. Hopefully, what we planted or sowed is what we want to harvest. But I have faith in humanity, inspite and despite the craziness. There is always something to celebrate and be grateful for. For one thing, I am alive.
With this, I bid you all good wishes for the rest of the summer! Mabuhay!