I may be a dedicated zero waste advocate, but just like everyone else I have guilty pleasures and moments of weakness. Currently I’m suffering from a serious case of iGuilt. Although I have a perfectly good mobile phone, I wasn’t strong enough to resist the offer of a brand new free iphone from a service … Continue reading
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
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
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
urban bandit 