Wakefield, 9 June 2009 -- A little addition to this issue - the ocean trash problem is so serious it is hampering search and rescue efforts for Air France Flight 447, which crashed in the Southern Atlantic Ocean last week:  Search for downed plane highlights ocean trash problem.

Wakefield, 8 June 2009 -- Today on World Oceans Day we're highlighting one of the most important ocean organizations on Earth, and its visionary Founder and Research Coordinator.  The organization is the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and the person is the incredible Captain Charles Moore.  Together they have opened the eyes of the world to the utterly important plight of the world's oceans, especially through their ongoing, cutting-edge research in the Pacific Ocean. Why is this issue so important? Here's one reason:  Ocean plankton are at the base of the global food chain, and Algalita research indicates that plastic particles now outnumber plankton 6 to 1 in the Central North Pacific Gyre.  Fish eat the plastic, thinking it's plankton, and it makes it's way up the food chain, wreaking havoc with wildlife along the way, that is killing the wildlife, and more slowly killing those of us who eat fish.  To get a great overview of the issue from many angles and learn a lot more about the incredible Captain Moore, read the article Our Oceans Are Turning Into Plastic... Are We?

Hear and see Captain Moore eloquently describe the issue with words and pictures at the 2009 TED Conference.  In the above photo, he is holding a sample of plastic debris from the Pacific.

How can you help?  Tell others about the plastic in the oceans and wildlife.  Live sustainably - decrease your consumption of plastic now.

(Photos courtesy of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation)

Everywhere, 5 June 2009 -- Today is World Environment Day.  Did you know that?  It took us by surprise, and we thought we were on top of stuff like this.  But really, every day is World Environment Day.  On this day a special film has been released globally on the Internet for all to see for free until June 14, 2009.  This film is what we call a 'must-see'.  The brainchild of talented French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand in collaboration with the French film director Luc Besson, HOME tells the story of Mother Earth from beginning to now, coursing through 54 countries.  And where we go from here is up to us.  As the film states, ''it's too late to be a pessimist,'' now is the time to ''cultivate the sun,'' using ''moderation, intelligence, sharing.''  Wondering what these words mean?

Learn about the people and organization behind it:  http://www.goodplanet.org/en/

Ottawa, 13 May 2009 -- There's a new book out there that will help you decipher the toxins surrounding you in everyday life, and the effects they could be having on you.

Slow Death by Rubber Duck documents a two-year project in which the authors - Rick Smith & Bruce Lourie, respectively the Executive Director and Chair of the Board of the NGO Environmental Defence, which helped get bisphenol A banned in children's products in Canada - subjected themselves to an array of everyday toxins in real life ways, and had their bodies monitored through blood and urine samples taken before and after everyday activities.  In their words, 'The results will surprise and horrify you. You'll never look at a rubber duck the same way again!'

Wakefield, 30 April 2009 -- It's one of the coolest, most laid back websites around, and we're featured in their 'daily tip' today.  Their editorial policy:  'The people, companies, and products we are writing about should in some way contribute to the world being a more peaceful place.'  What an honour.  Have a peaceful day.

Wakefield, 22 April 2009, EARTH DAY! -- Today the world celebrates Mother Earth and all she is - i.e., life itself.  We like to celebrate the Earth every day, but it is nice to have a single day that pulls us together to focus as a global community on what the Earth means to us all.  These are difficult times for the Earth; she needs our help in so many ways.  We can all help her simply by informing ourselves more about the issues that touch her.  Here's an example...  The New York Times has pulled together a life cycle assessment comparison of the environmental impacts of a stainless steel water and a typical single use plastic water bottle.  It's called How Green Is My Bottle? and highlights the environmental costs associated with each bottle - there are many - and concludes that:  '...if your stainless steel bottle takes the place of 50 plastic bottles, the climate is better off, and if it gets used 500 times, it beats plastic in all the environment-impact categories studied in a life cycle assessment.'  Stainless steel bottles are certainly not perfect from an environmental standpoint, but as a multi-use replacement for single use plastic bottles they are leagues ahead.  So let's raise a stainless steel bottle to our dear Mother Earth!

Wakefield, 21 April 2009 -- What is bento-ing?  Imagine an elegant, colourful, and of course, tasty boxed lunch.  'Bento-ing' is the art of creating a single portion takeout or home-packed meal.  It is especially common in Japan, often involving sushi, but the trend is growing worldwide and the artistry out there in creating these aesthetic masterpieces is phenomenal.  We've teamed up with Pikko, a delightful, Hawaii-based bentomaster who has reviewed our handy stainless steel oval container and our gorgeous urushi bento box.  Her reviews are insightful, and the stunning bento works she has created will leave you breathless:

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Bento

Miso Chicken in a Gorgeous Bento Box

Our hats go off to Pikko for her fun creations and informative reviews!

Wakefield, 21 April 2009 - Check out the fantastic review of our products on a very special website for children's products:  Bellaziza's Favorites

Bellaziza's Favorites is a site run by some funky, dynamic mom's who actively seek out 'the best of the best'.  And they are well known for their wonderful contests - aka Swag Alerts - for which they team up with companies to give away lots of fun product samples.  We're thrilled to be featured this week as they focus on Earth friendly products.  Congratulations to Peggy H., who entered the contest and won $200 worth of some of the best of Life Without Plastic's products!  Hear about what she won, and check out the enthusiastic reader comments at this unique website with its wonderful weekly product giveaway contests.

Wakefield, 16 March 2009 - We've slipped on a comfy new outfit that we hope you'll like. It may be a new look, but the same solid substance and easy navigation remain. There are new product displays with more detailed specifications and new information about plastics and plastic alternatives to come. Of course, some things never change -- you can be sure that our commitment to the highest quality products and the best possible customer service are the same as ever!

Having problems finding something or placing an order?  Please let us know and we'll help you out.  We'd also love to hear from you if you have comments on the new site -- love it? hate it? why? We're good listeners.   info (at) lifewithoutplastic (dot) com  or  by phone at +1.819.459.1459 ext.203.

Wakefield, 8 January 2009 - Plastic Additives Leach into and Skew Medical Experiments -- Medical researchers from the University of Alberta have found that disposable plasticware commonly used in scientific experiments leach two types of chemicals that affect and can even ruin the results of experiments. Oleamide (a lubricating agent added to the plasticware) and quaternary ammonium biocides (anti-bacterial agents also added to the plastic) were found to leach from the plastic. Certain of the compounds were also found to biologically interact with, and change the behaviour of, human enzymes and brain receptors in different experiments.

According to the lead researcher, Andrew Holt, 'Because oleamide is a molecule found in the human body that contributes to normal physiological functioning, ingesting molecules that are structurally similar to oleamide may either over-stimulate or-more likely-inhibit the body processes regulated by oleamide.' Oleamide is found in, and known to leach from, certain plastic food and drink containers, especially those made of polypropylene, but the potential health effects of oleamide are not known.

Article citation in the journal Science: Bioactive Contaminants Leach from Disposable Laboratory Plasticware, McDonald et al., Science, 7 November 2008: 917.

See the abstract of the article here: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;322/5903/917

And an overview of the article here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081119173218.htm.

Wakefield, 18 October 2008 - Canadian Government Declares Bisphenol A Toxic! - Canada has become the first country in the world to designate bisphenol A (BPA) toxic to human health and the environment. By adding BPA to the Toxic Substances List (Schedule 1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Government can now take concrete action against BPA, and has announced that it ''will immediately proceed with drafting regulations to prohibit the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA).