So I’ve clearly got a love/hate thing going on with Ikea. You’ll remember that I commended the Swedish giant for offering one of the original ‘classy’ food court experiences with real cutlery, glasses and dishes instead of disposables. Then I changed face and accused Ikea of facilitating unnecessary consumption with its shoddy furniture that values style over quality and durability. After … Continue reading
Just like 80% of Toronto’s population I’ve got an Ikea Malm dresser. It has that stylish minimalist design that was perfectly hip and an irresistible price tag that made it affordable to own a grown-up matching bedroom set. Unfortunately, the love affair with my dresser hasn’t lasted long. The drawers fall off the runners all the time, it wobbles … Continue reading
Yesterday’s Landfill Lunch post about disposable packaging in the take-away food industry reminded me of this clever poster which articulates the backwards thinking of our throw-away society. When you think about all the resources and effort that goes into creating our ‘disposable’ goods it becomes clear that zero waste really is just common sense with a … Continue reading
Lunch today was delicious – chicken pesto sandwich with pasta salad and a big fat pickle. But there was lots of other stuff that came with my lunch today that wasn’t delicious – or even edible. Since I took my lunch ‘to go’ it came with a paper bag, wax paper for the sandwich, two … Continue reading
The United Nations recently declared a Zero Hunger challenge, inviting “all countries to work towards a future where every individual has adequate nutrition and where all food systems are resilient.” Being hungry – truly hungry – is something that I’ve never experienced. The same is likely also true for most people reading this post. Sure there are several instances … Continue reading
As I rolled out of bed this morning, I opened my window to find quite a surprise – there had been an explosion of fashion on my front lawn! While I talked about some of the environmental pitfalls of the fashion industry in an earlier post, there’s no denying that a new outfit can make … Continue reading
As I speed my way down death alley (aka University Ave.) on my bicycle each day I think about how wonderful it would be to not fear for my life each time I leave the house on two wheels. I am green with envy (ha!) hearing about Denmark’s bike superhighway and efforts to encourage cycling when bikers in my … Continue reading
When I was in school completing my thesis research there were many days when I barely left the house, let alone the desk in my bedroom. One of my good friends who saw me regularly throughout my year long slum would ask, “So is this the outfit you’re wearing for the week?” I was known … Continue reading
As a ‘waste expert’ my friends often ask me to solve their various personal waste dilemmas. This morning’s question from one of my roomates was “What am I supposed to do with all these mismatched socks?” My response, “Umm, wear them and not care that they are mismatched?” After all, socks are a clothing item … Continue reading
In November 2011, I presented my zero waste research at a Philosophy and Waste conference at the University of Southern Illinois. Although much philosophical thinking is beyond my comprehension, considering waste within this discipline reveals some interesting points. Using the ever so trusty Wikipedia, philosophy is defined as, “the study of general and fundamental problems, such as … Continue reading
urban bandit 