The All-Canadian eco-friendly giveaway!

By / Par: Isabelle Remy - Dorval, Quebec

Category / Catégorie: Contests

Each year, in Canada and around the world, April 22nd is dedicated to honouring our planet and focussing on ways we can lessen our environmental impact.

I’ve never considered myself a tree-hugger, in any sense of the word. But we do recycle (at home and at the office) and use our city’s composting program. We also have a small (organic) vegetable patch in the backyard where we grow mainly tomatoes and fresh basil (yum!). But as I was preparing to write this post, I’ve been thinking that maybe I am kinder to Mother Earth that I originally thought...How, you ask? By buying Canadian!

1) Every time I purchase a product made in Canada, I do my part to lower my carbon footprint. 9 times out of 10, a product made here will travel a much shorter distance to reach me than one made overseas. Less pollution is created by using less fossil fuel to bring the product to market.

2) I know that Canadian manufacturing facilities are highly regulated in terms of allowable emissions and waste management. Not so in many other countries.

3) A product made in Canada will not contain harmful components such as BPA, lead, melamine, etc. It keeps me, my family and my environment safe!

So buying Canadian is good for the environment! That calls for a celebration, no? Absolutely! Join us in celebrating Earth Day and you could win an awesome prize pack chock-full of healthy & eco-friendly products made in Canada! Included are:

1) Natural memory foam Comfort Pillow made in Quebec, from Essentia. (value: $129)

2) Organic wild rice products from Manitoba (rice, rice flour, rice flour linguine), from Naosap Harvest (value: $ 24.50)

3) Natural liquid laundry detergent, shampoo & conditioner made in Ontario, from NatureClean (value: $30)

4) Arm-bag made from recycled store banners in Quebec, from Eco-Handbags (value: $45.99)

5) Eco-friendly "Green Earth" garden products made in Ontario, from Premier Tech (value: $80)

6) Natural lip balms made in Ontario, from Fitlips (value:$24)

7) Vouchers for organic non-dairy SoNice products made in B.C., from Earth’s Own (value: $30)

8) Natural health products to reduce joint pain made in Ontario, from St.Francis Herb Farm (value: $60)

9) Biodegradable garden waste bags made in Quebec, from Cascades (value: $16.50)

10) Natural skin care products made in P.E.I., from The Great Canadian Soap Company (value: $30)

11) Sustainable canned fish products processed in B.C., from Raincoast Trading (value:

12) Natural mascara and lipstick made in Manitoba, from Pure Anada (value: $26)

13) Gardener’s Dream Lotion made in B.C., from Aroma Crystal (value: $39.99)

14) Majesta paper products made in N.B., from Majesta (value: $20.00)

15) Reusable produce bags made in Quebec, from Credo Bags (value: $25)

Total value: over $ 550.00 !!!

To enter the giveaway, do as many of the 3 following things as possible, as they each count for one entry. The more the merrier (and luckier)!

• Leave us a comment below telling us what you do to help protect Mother Earth (Comments are moderated, so don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away!);

• Follow us on Twitter and mention the following: @BuyCndianFirst loves @EarthDayCanada #madeincanada;

• Like us on Facebook.

The giveaway ends on Friday, April 20th at 5:00 PM ET. We will pick one name at random from all entries and the winner will be announced on Sunday, April 22nd.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER: ANNE, FROM VICTORIA, B.C.

Good luck!

Images courtesy of BuyCanadian First members

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Tags / Balises: Buy Canadian, Carbon Footprint, Contest giveaway, Earth Day, Environment, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Healthy living, Made in Canada, Manufacturer, Natural, Organic, Recycling, Sustainability

By TimLobzun April 15, 2012

I read labels for food and products - I am also known to complain to the produce dept. when a buy Ontario sign is placed over imported produce - Sadly our new Federal labelling requirements for product of Canada statements makes it even more difficult to find Canadian Food even if it was packaged here

By UnitaESAU April 15, 2012

I recycle everything! Not just bottles and cans, cardboard and plastic, but clothes go to the thrift stores, electronics go to the recycle depot, computer parts to recycle, eyeglasses donated to optometrist offices for reuse, household items to shelters , and more!

By JennyStewart April 15, 2012

I always use reusable lunch bags and containers for my kids school lunches, plus we use our own re-usable water bottles! Currently I am working to get a composting program up and running in our apartment Co-Op.

By joymills April 15, 2012

we try to reduce, reuse and recycle, and minimize our waste as much as we can. We use the green bin for collecting food scraps. we do not litter. we conserve energy as we are able to.

By LisaNorth April 15, 2012

Hi, is it bad luck to be first? oh well, I have literally protected Mother Earth, by protesting logging old growth 1000 year old tree's in B.C. I also clean with baking soda, and salt, no chemicals needed to clean! I also have never driven a car, just ridden my old bike! also, sorry for going on and on, I eat local veggies, and compost, it feels good to not send food scraps to the landfill, anyhoo, Thanks for readin' Lisa North

By DeniseEshom April 15, 2012

To help protect Mother Earth ... we recycle as much as possible, reuse, buy eco friendly products, use reuseable shopping bags and teach our 4 children to do the same :)

By TrishaYarascavitch April 15, 2012

In my house we recycle, compost, and use eco friendly products to clean with. I pack lunches with reusable containers and try to buy my produce from locally grown sources when I can. :)

By AndreaBird April 16, 2012

We recycle, we get homegrown, local, organic produce, we buy second-hand for nearly everything we can, and we buy Canadian!!! We also trade skills and items with friends and neighbors!

By AnyaJackman April 16, 2012

I guess that I could continue to use coldwater to wash my clothes in and the accompanying cold water detergent. I can also start recyclng, too! :) Thanks for the giveaway!

By JenniferChomiak April 16, 2012

To protect Mother Earth, I recycle as much as I can (primarily cardboard and bottles/cans). I also plant as many drought-resistant plants in my garden as I can (so I use less water).

By MargaretHirst April 16, 2012

We kept our baseboard electric heaters off last winter using only ceramic room heaters and only when needed(not every day). Living in an apartment we take our recycling down to the garage twice a week. Last year we even had a grandson born on Earth day what a great way to remember the date....

By CynthiaZullo April 16, 2012

So easy to do. First off, looking for locally made(grown or raised) in the grocery stores. And recycle, recycle, recycle.... Lights out unless needed. Look for the maple leaf!

By MandiClark April 16, 2012

To help protect Mother Earth, I plan all of my car trips, so that I take the most efficient route to get my errands done, and I car-pool when possible. For shorter trips, I cycle or walk, and leave my car at home.

By DebbieBashford April 16, 2012

I recycle like a mad woman, I compost, I hang my clothes outside to dry, I have cut our home electricity use to under $30 a month, and I only do one errand every 2 weeks using the car I do all the running around on one day. PS I tweeted and liked you on FB too.

By LoraThompson April 16, 2012

I recycle ALL products that can be recycled (I even go through things at my kids' homes to see what can be put in the recycle box!!), we have a composter for all our kitchen scraps and a green cone for things that don't go in the composter (bones, fats, etc). I buy "made in Canada when I can but I find a lot of the stores just don't carry it - not sure why that is, but the big ticket items are all made in Canada - the car and the home (naturally!!).

By StaceyFriesen April 16, 2012

I don't do anything to honor "Mother Earth", but I do a lot to thank my Creator for this amazing place to live. Recycling, using reusable bags, I've used cloth diapers for years, reusable menstrual products, making my own laundry detergent, etc.

By MelanieNielsen April 16, 2012

We have cloth diapered two kids and will do #3 when he/she arrives shortly. We recycle everything possible and use reusable products made by Norwex to clean our home!

By IrisNixon April 16, 2012

I recycle and compost waste. I buy local as much as possible. I have backyard chickens to provide healthy eggs for the family. I combine car trips to multitask. I put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat.

By EVaRiley April 16, 2012

We recycle everything, compost what we can, grow what we can, we make the majority of our own body care products and cloth diaper our daughter. Oh, and I don't drive around to visit my friends, they all live on Facebook :) lol

By JaniceJohnstone April 16, 2012

Living out in the sticks really limits both what I buy and how I dispose of it. We reuse all that we can, grow what I can and compost what I can. It limits my trip to the dump to once every couple of months. Only purchase things that we really need as opposed to wants.

By lepet April 16, 2012

I walk rather than drive, take public transit when I need to go further than I can walk. I recycle anything I can, have started composting. I turn off all lights I don't need and remind friends and family to do the same.

By AmberDreger April 16, 2012

Lately I have been stepping up my game to be more earth friendly- I've made old teeshirts into reuseable shopping bags, and made homemade cleaners that are chemical free! I've also started looking into how to make my own personal beauty products without chemicals as well! Living in a small town where ameninities are not close by does pose a challenge to trying to live eco-friendly (I drive 37 km to work!) so I just downsides purhased a vehicle that gets me twice the gas mileage my old one did!

By AmberDreger April 16, 2012

Living in a really small town, where ameninities are over an hour away, makes it really hard to be eco friendly sometimes! I just traded in my SUV for a car that gets twice the fuel mileage! Lately I've also been really into making my own homemade cleaning supplies, without chemicals. I also turn old teeshirts into reuseable shopping bags. I've been looking into making my own natural beauty products as well :)

By HannahLawrie April 16, 2012

We keep our heat off as much as possible, shop close to home, buy locally and second hand as much as possible. But my new favorite thing we've just started is sharing the duties and bounty of our backyard veggie garden with another family.

By JaimeTessier April 16, 2012

We feel the biggest thing we do to help the planet is eat vegan but we also recycle, compost, and use eco friendly products to clean with (and go to a small co op where they refill our eco cleaning product containers so we can reuse them for a long time to come). I pack lunches in our planet boxes and try to buy all my organic produce from locally grown sources and in the summer we have our our organic garden. We walk everywhere we can or ride our bikes instead of the car. :)

By WendyPaton April 16, 2012

We turn off lights, use electricity in off peak hours, don't let taps run, compost, recycle, reuse, repurpose, buy as locally as we can, try to buy Canadian, use natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda, and more.

By CAROLANNWESTBROOK April 16, 2012

Earth Day is another way to remind folks to recycle and reuse. No need to throw out clothing or household ite,s; there are many organizations that collect and sell these things to buy foord for the poor.

By TERRIMACKINNON April 16, 2012

I compost, use natural cleaning products, minimize water use, buy locally grown products, especially organic, whenever possible, hardly ever eat processed foods and very few meat products, support 2 kitties from the pound, and use natural fertilizers.

Love the prize!

By SUMMER April 16, 2012

we walk everywhere we can or ride our bikes to cut down on driving, we don't run water while brushing our teeth and we time our showers to ensure we are not using too much water.

By AshleyOsmachenko April 16, 2012

I teach my two young daughters everyday about the importance of keeping our planet healthy, from picking up litter on our walks to doing only full loads of laundry with COLD water.
Power in Numbers :) if we all Can do Our part it MAKES a BIG impact!

By TAlexander April 16, 2012

We reduce, reuse, and recycle wherever possible. Also, we installed a whole-house fan instead of air conditioning and we're very happy with it.

like you on facebook - Theresa A.

follow you on twitter - Teralex4

mentioned @BuyCndianFirst loves @EarthDayCanada #madeincanada in my tweet https://twitter.com/#!/Teralex4/status/192018829017223168

By MichelleMercier April 17, 2012

I do quite a few things. I am a nanny in a private home setting, and the children are at school when I arrive at their house, but, they always leave all of the lights on and fan vents in the bathrooms from taking their showers, they leave in the morning at 8 am and I start at 12 I turn all of the lights and fans off as soon as I arrive at work. I also clean my dads office on sunday afternoons at his shop. The staff put paper, cardboard and bottles, plastic, and cans in the garbage, I literally pick it out of the garbage and bring it home to put in my recycling box. I also told the owner that I only use environmetally products to clean the office.

By LisaNB April 17, 2012

carpool once a week,bring my own bags when I shop, recycle as much as possible,turn off the water when I brush my teeth, Use both sides of paper at work and at home, donate my clothes I no longer use, switching my cleaning products to enviromentally friendly one as I run out, and I keep looking for ways to add to my list daily :)

By CarolShank April 17, 2012

We compost. We grow a garden . I reuse produce bags and use cloth bags for shopping. I save the water that is needed to run in order to get hot water and use it for laundry and watering my plants

By RosemaryMacphaden April 17, 2012

I like to recycle and compost,its easy and wish everyone would do the same,also i like to re use plastic bags i get from shopping and i also use plastic bags to wrap my veggies or fruit in,instead of of buying baggies.The cloth bags are great to for re shopping with.

By JourneysofTheZoo April 17, 2012

What a great giveaway.

I try to vote with my wallet and purchase products that have less packaging. If I can't reduce, I try to reuse whatever I can; elastics, twist ties, plastic bags, my husband uses those horrible white trays in his workshop for sorting or I rinse and use to store food on in the freezer, all clear plastic containers are used for crafts, workshop or the kids. Where neither is possible, we recycle. We also have a garden so we compost (but only after one of the three animals has had a chance at it, my dogs eat most fruits and vegetables). i also get my neighbour (he's a super star) to save his milk bags (for cat litter) and cereal boxes for kids crafts. I'm sure that there is so much more I could do. I'm interested in reading the other comments.

By ValBostock April 17, 2012

We recycle and compost. We make very sure to always clean up any trash we drop outside - I teach my kids not to litter. We don't have a daily commute. We use as many eco-friendly cleaning products and body care products as we can afford. I try to buy "made in Canada" items whenever possible. I don't waste water and I turn off lights that aren't being used.

By MaryLloyd April 17, 2012

I use reusable grocery bags. I keep a coffee mug and a large water glass in my locker at work to decrease the garbage we produce. I always do laundry in cold water. Every little bit helps!

By VesperMeikle April 17, 2012

We recycle all that we can, always turn off the electronics in the house and always turn off the lights when leaving a room for awhile. We only take the car when we have to ,and we always mend and repair before replacing.

By williamtroughton April 17, 2012

our family recycles everything , we use our own bags for groceries, I plant a vegetable garden with my last years seeds, we wait to use the vehicle when needed and is tuned up for minimum carbon footprint. I make my own wine, we make our own bread and car pool when we can. we also use the sky train. I wear a sweater to keep the heat down and we use flourescent bulbs. I also make a Bumble Bee box for the Bombus to make a hive and Mason bee blocks to pollinate my garden. It's very hard to buy Canadian, but we do when we can. I HAVE THE TATTOO TO PROVE IT!

By JeanettePeters April 17, 2012

We're very careful in our home to always look for a reusable option - glass containers instead of ziplocs and saran wrap, cloth bags instead of plastic, cloth napkins instead of paper, rags instead of paper towel, etc.

By ANNEHAAPANEN April 17, 2012

I recycle, buy second-hand clothes, try to buy organic, donate clothes and household goods to charities/shelters, walk when possible, take public transit...hopefully, I am making some kind of difference. I'd hate to think that the choices I and others make would negatively impact my daughter's life in the future.

By LoriProvenzano April 17, 2012

We've really changed our shopping habits to reduce packaging in the first place, and recycle and compost absolutely everything we can. Also, heat, water and car gas use are kept low, and we're working on reducing our electricity consumption.

By AndreLaprade April 18, 2012

I walk 2 kms (each way) to work every day. Since I walk through a trail system in a park it's shorter than driving (6 kms). There's a short part of the walk that takes me along the Trans Canada highway. I frequently pick up garbage along this stretch.

By CarolCline April 18, 2012

I dry laundry outdoors during the warm weather. We recycle whatever we can in our community. Also try to buy "made in Canada" or products made locally in our own province.

By KarenMcCluskey April 18, 2012

Our family recycles as much as possible, composts and buys local fish and organic produce - directly from the farmers or fishermen when we can. It usually costs more but supporting healthy food production and small business is worth it - and it's healthier for us.

By AnneTaylor April 18, 2012

We recycle every bit of paper, plastic, tin, glass and metal that we can. We use cloth bags for shopping and we compost! We use cold water for laundry and try to hand dry as many clothes as possible!

Thanks

By PattiMitchell April 18, 2012

I try to help Mother Earth by practicing the 3 R's as much as possible. I pack litterless lunches, I own a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastics, I wash my dishes by hand and turn off the faucet while brushing my teeth in an effort to conserve water, I ride my bike wherever possible to lower my emissions, I compost, and on Earth Day and most weekends I clean the local beach, picking up trash while combing for buried treasure and beach glass, which I then recycle into jewellery.

By JadeHignett April 18, 2012

I always turn off lights when I don;t need them, don't run water unnecessarily, participate in Earth Hour, don't idle my car at stop lights, buy recycled toilet paper and eco-products whenever possible, buy free-range and organic and I walk or bike whenever weather permits!

By MartinaLang April 18, 2012

I'm also an "accidental hippie". I buy as many natural cleaning products as possible, hang clothes to dry as often as possible, recycle everything possible and if I have a choice will buy the product with less packaging. I also try & buy local produce, it's great that more stores are listing where everything comes from!

By JulesA. April 18, 2012

I protect the earth by my food choices - I don't eat meat (meat production uses a lot of water and land and can pollute water too) and I try to buy local fruits and veggies as much as possible. I also recycle and try to reuse/repurpose items to keep them out of landfills (and me out of the store!).

By GinetteAnger April 18, 2012

My family tries to protect Mother Earth by recycling, composting and putting or scraps in the green bin, we went from filling 3 garbage cans weekly down to less than one..and it feels so good

By LaurieLewicki April 19, 2012

I know this isn't a great story but I always make sure my kids carry there garbage home even a Popsicle stick from the store. I can't stand littering and my kids are now the same way.

By JenniferLewis April 19, 2012

We try to reuse/recycle as much as possible. Also, we do our best to eat natural & organic whenever possible - and boycott the use of things such as BPA. And, more recently, we've been cloth diapering our new baby!

By JuneChoi April 19, 2012

Followed you ; and tweeted as AdorePinkii here: https://twitter.com/#!/AdorePinkii/status/192866745713823744
Liked you on facebook(same name).

I recycle everything that is recyclable. I take navy style showers and don't let the water run when I brush my teeth. I reuse plastic utensils I get from places. I don't buy water bottles, I drink from a glass bottle and refill it. I will try to get people around me to do the same thing.

By JoanneMcDonald April 19, 2012

We reduce our garbage by composting, eat 'real food' not pre-packaged food from the store, use travel coffee mugs (even during Roll Up the Rim days!), reusable bags, drive a hybrid, work from home (no commuting), hang our laundry on the line (or drying rack inside), and use cloth diapers for our baby.

By JoanneMcDonald April 19, 2012

We reduce our garbage by composting, eat 'real food' not pre-packaged food from the store, and recycle everything, use travel coffee mugs (even during Roll Up the Rim days!), reusable bags, drive a hybrid, work from home (no commuting), hang our laundry on the line (or drying rack inside), and use cloth diapers for our baby.

By ToothFairy April 19, 2012

I recycle, newspaper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and return bottles. I like to donate and buy recycled goods at garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores and online. One person's garbage is another ones treasure!

By AmandaHaenni April 19, 2012

I too love buying Canadian products. I love Nature Clean products "made by happy Canadians" in Markham, Ontario. We recycle everything we can, we compost, we reuse bags, I hang laundry out to dry, I make most of our food from scratch which cuts down on packaging to throw out and now we're trying to only buy things we need.

By LeahKasper April 19, 2012

In the kitchen, besides composting and recycling, we reuse glass jars for storage, leftovers, craft-projects or they get recycled. We purchase local and/or organic produce and do not eat boxed meals; everything fresh is our goal. I use reuseable bags when I grocery shop. I use all of the NatureClean products from shampoo and conditioner to laundry soap and floor cleaner. I'm big into unplugging anything that is not being used - even the coffeemaker :)
On our condo patio, we have a small garden of wildflowers, romaine, boston lettuce and spinach.
Our biggest, and most difficult, contribution to mother earth is that we do not have a car. Instead we use a stroller, wagon, or bus to do our daily activities and errands. I enjoy teaching my son about the earth through stories and having him help me with the recycling. It's fun to think outside-the-box when it comes to saving energy and helping the planet, one person at a time. Cheers and Happy Earth Day!

By KathyPomeroy April 20, 2012

I've encouraged our whole family to reduce their carbon footprint. It was fun watching the kids figure out the phrase and finally coming up with ideas. My young son tried to reason his way out of a bath (didn't work), but we compromised with a rinse under the shower instead, so that's a start!! We are now re-using fabric lunch bags - no more paper for us

By JennCase April 20, 2012

My family and I do not use any harsh chemical cleaners in our home. We stress the importance of recycling and composting and our children are becoming avid 'watchdogs' both at home and at school. We ride our bikes when possible and walk or bike the trails to town rather than drive when the trails permit. We also love to buy local and look for Ontario and Canadian products at the store with little to no packaging.

By DebbieWatson April 20, 2012

I protect and preserve mother earth by participating in water fall clean ups in our area. Did you know Hamilton, Ontario has over 132 waterfalls. We cherish the land and try to keep the trails natural and litter free.

By TracyWheeler-Anderson April 20, 2012

We live in a beautiful, pristine area and do NOT take it for granted. We eat organic, Non-GMO food, recycle, walk or bike when possible, and use sustainable practices when farming. Love Canada and am proud to be a part of such a great giveaway!

By arikajolley April 20, 2012

i am the recycling nah-tzee! (lol, misspelling on purpose...) i recycle every tiny bit and piece of plastic, paper, glass, etc. i can..... composting too! i think i may want to get involved in some kind of recycling business or invention as a side career sooner or later. woohoo recycling!

By paulsharpe April 20, 2012

i always buy canadian first but it is very difficult, most products are made in china, i use energy efficient lighting though the whole house, last year i fitted a low flush toilet and i always recycle everything i can

By ClaudiaShelton April 20, 2012

I try my best to be earth friendly. I use cloth diapers, which I sewed myself. We recycle everything we can, and use recycled goods also. I absolutely NEVER buy bottled water, although reuse 2 liter bottles for crafts and storage of a emergency water supply.

By WandaPerrier April 20, 2012

We use our Apartment buildings recycling bins, cleaning out any cans or bottles and flatten out cardboard
I like you on facebook as Wanda Jean
and follow you on twitter as @WJP1564
thank you

By ValRollheiser April 20, 2012

We plant a garden, make our own green cleaning solutions use the clothes line when we can and support our local farmers market, preserve some of our own food so many more to mention