Wakefield, 19 November 2010 -- We have just released the latest issue of our newsletter. Our goal is to put a new issue out every month, but time has sped by so fast that this is our first newsletter in almost a year. We will try and be a bit more diligent in the coming months. You can check it out here. In this issue, you will find out about our new photo contest. You could win one of 4 prizes for submitting a photo showing how you have used our products. You will also learn about two new products we have added to our offerings in the last few months. And there are articles about TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch and about BPA... not in your soup, not in your water, but - yikes! - in the air you breathe. To subscribe to our newsletter, just click here.

Wakefield, 5 November 2010 -- Tomorrow - Saturday, November 6, 2010 - please tune in here or somewhere on-line to watch this once in a lifetime global live webcast on plastic pollution.  TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch is an all-day conference being filmed in Santa Monica, California between 8:30am and 6pm Pacific Standard Time (11:30am - 9pm Eastern Standard Time).  The array of dynamic speakers lined up is stunning - activists, artists, politicians, explorers, scientists, actors, musicians, entrepeneurs. A few of our favorites include the amazing Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish, Captain Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Anna Cummins and Marcus Ericsen of the 5Gyres Institute, and photographer Chris Jordan - all leaders in building awareness and creating change on the plastic pollution front.

You should be able to view the live stream of the conference by clicking on this link:

You can also embed the livestream on your own blog or website by getting code here:  http://www.livestream.com/tedxgp2 

Or follow the #TEDxGP2 twitter stream. 

And if you're in the Wakefield area, come by our local watch party and potluck by contacting us at info @ lifewithoutplastic.com.

This is an event not to be missed! 

Wakefield, 25 October, 2010 -- Plastic pollution in the oceans is a serious problem. It accumulates, degrades, absorbs and releases chemicals, and kills ocean wildlife. Did you know that approximately 80% of the garbage in the world's oceans comes from land-based sources? And about half of this consists of petroleum-based plastics that have not been properly disposed of by consumers. Life Without Plastic is honoured to be teaming up with the 5 Gyres Institute, a dynamic, cutting edge research and exploration non-profit organization that is tackling the problem of oceanic plastic pollution head on by undertaking research voyages in the world's oceans. In a few weeks, they embark on the first ever South Atlantic Ocean study of plastic pollution.

5 Gyres Co-Founders Anna Cummins and Markus Eriksen after a Bermuda Beach cleanup 

Photo credit:  5 Gyres  &  Algalita Marine Research Foundation

Wakefield, 13 October 2010 -- Over two years ago, Canada began the process of legally designating bisphenol A (BPA) a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.  Today, despite strong industry opposition, BPA was added to the Canadian Toxic Substances List.  This gives the Canadian government the legal ability to develop regulations or other instruments to manage human health and environmental risks posed by BPA.

BPA is the primary constituent of the plastic polycarbonate and has been show to mimic the hormone estrogen.  Peer-reviewed scientific studies have linked it to immune system dysfunction, early puberty in females, heart disease, diabetes, higher rates of miscarriage, and reproductive damage that could lead to prostate and breast cancer in adulthood.  For an overview of some of the history leading to this designation of BPA as toxic in Canada, see this press release issued by Environmental Defence, a leading Canadian NGO that has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the BPA problem.

Image credit: BabyBodyguard