Tag: Zero Waste

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Sustainability Tips

20+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day 2024

Love is in the air. It inspires us to do a world of good and does us a world of good, too. And so we look to celebrate the people who have brought so much joy to our lives by giving them a gift that will bring them joy.

Unfortunately, gift-giving can have consequences that aren’t so lovely, as it can generate waste or negatively impact the environment. But there are ways to give that are both heartwarming and sustainable.

Experiences make for excellent (zero-waste) gifts. After all, who doesn’t love spending time with their special someone? Rather than purchasing something new, consider creating memories your Valentine will always cherish by planning eco-friendly activities. For example, you could…

  • Enjoy Nature: Go for a walk or (tandem) bike ride and explore together. You may discover new paths and places to visit, interesting wildlife, and beautiful scenery.
  • Volunteer: Team up and take action like a true power couple by cleaning up local parks, beaches, or shorelines; helping at soup kitchens and shelters; or finding another way to volunteer. 
  • Have a Sustainable Dinner Date: Enjoy a sustainable dinner date with your beloved by ordering a zero-waste surprise bag with the Too Good To Go app, using waste-prevention recipes from Love Food Hate Waste Canada, or find an eco-friendly restaurant in the Vancouver area with EcoMeter. Want to try making dessert together? Check out Susgrainable’s upcycled barley flour baking mixes or visit EMKAO Foods to get the ethical and sustainably sourced ingredients you need to make your own chocolate treats.
  • Go Thrifting: Visit thrift shops, flea markets, and secondhand stores together to enjoy browsing through unique previously-loved items. You never know what treasures you’ll uncover — you may even find a one-of-a-kind gift!

However, if you want to buy a gift for your beloved, have no fear! We’ve compiled several eco-friendly gift suggestions that will help express your love while supporting the environment and other wonderful causes. Because nothing says heartfelt like a gift with real impact.

Just a reminder: be sure to package your gifts responsibly! Gift wrap tends to produce a lot of waste. Go reusable wherever possible (reusable bags, furoshiki wraps, scarves, newspapers, etc.) or present your gift wrap-free. 

Books & Stationery

Mimi & August Valentine’s Day Cards – These eco-friendly Valentine’s Day Cards made from recycled paper are perfect for sending a heartfelt message to your beloved.

Raoul & Simone Bouquet Notebooks – Give a lasting bouquet with these floral-themed notebooks made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, produced using renewable energy, and have a recyclable velvet finish.

SproutWorld Pencils Spread the Love Edition – Let your love blossom with these regenerative plantable pencils, which are engraved with heartwarming quotes and contain various wildflower and herb seeds.

Sustainable Home by Christine Liu – Is your Valentine devoted to circular economy initiatives? Support their love with this practical guide to sustainable living so they can strengthen their commitment to the cause. Ebook options are available, and consider tracking down a previously loved copy and/or sharing with a friend for an extra eco-conscious touch!

Clothing & Apparel

Anne Mulaire Zero Waste Collection and Carbon Neutral Clothing Collection – Pick something unique, sustainable, and practical for your Valentine from these zero waste and carbon neutral collections by women-led, Indigenous-owned brand Anne Mulaire.

The Ocean Cleanup Recycled Sweatshirt – Show them your love is as deep as the ocean with this circular economy recycled sweatshirt. Or check out this page to donate to the Ocean Cleanup on behalf of your loved one and gift them a personalized donor certificate.

Province of Canada Recycled Socks – Help the homeless and give your Valentine a thoughtful gift that will have them walking on a cloud with these recycled cotton socks.

Sheppards Hook X Serena Wilson Stubson Collaboration necklaces – These collaboratively made eco-friendly, zero-waste necklaces are a unique and striking gift that will remain close to your beloved’s heart.

Food & Drink

Pluck Tea Valentine’s Day Teas – Find the perfect tea for your sweetie with Pluck Tea’s sustainably sourced and packaged Valentine’s collection.

Raven Rising Valentine’s Day Collection – Explore the Valentine’s Day collection and choose a beautiful and sustainable confection for your beloved from Indigenous women-owned and -operated brand Raven Rising.

Salt Spring Coffee French Roast Coffee – With caramel and chocolate notes, serving up this ethical, sustainable, 100% shade-grown French Roast coffee will be a real treat for your Valentine. Pair it with a Salt Spring Coffee CARE cup to really express yourself!

Southbrook Vineyards Valentine’s Day Bundle – Impress your Valentine with this romantic bundle, featuring organic and local Canadian-made wines and goods from Southbrook Vineyards, which has several sustainability certifications.

Home & Decor

Anián Recycled Wool Throw Blanket – Warm their heart with this warm and cozy recycled wool throw blanket made by Canadian circular fashion company Anián.

Goodee Mia Mini Vase Trio – Each vase in this beautiful set, available through Certified B Corp Goodee, is individually mouth-blown by expert artisans using 100% recycled glass.

Mala the Brand xoxo | mini candle gift set – Plant a tree with this trio of sweet-smelling sustainably made candles for your sweetie, hand-poured with love in Canada.

Nature Bee Valentine’s Day Swedish Dishcloth – Hearts and Stripes – These lovely dishcloths, made by an inclusive, woman-owned Canadian company, will add a sustainable touch to your beloved’s home.

Personal Care

Bottle None Travel Sets – Want to plan an adventure with your beloved? Help them prepare with these zero-waste soap and hair travel sets made from 100% recycled Canadian plastic.

Cheekbone Beauty Refillable Collection – Find the perfect sustainable gift for pampering your beloved with this refillable collection from Indigenous-owned and -operated B Corp Cheekbone Beauty.

Sisters Sage Pink Sugar Bath Bomb – From Indigenous brand Sisters Sage, these handmade, sustainable pink sugar bath bombs are a sweet-smelling gift for your sweetie.

The Yukon Soaps Company Essential Oil Blend Gift Set – Support Indigenous communities and delight your beloved with this soothing set of four natural, sustainable essential oil blends from Indigenous brand The Yukon Soaps Company.

Will You Be Our Valentine?

Are you engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? We (not-so-secretly) admire that. Contact us for a free consultation. We would love to spread the love (and impact) to your audience.

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Events Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Father’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 20+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Fathers make the world better. With Father’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to express your love and appreciation for the father figure in your life. Purpose-driven gifts are a great way to show your care for your dad or the dad in your life and the causes that matter to you both.

Sparx has compiled a list of sustainable and zero-waste gift ideas that will bring dad joy while also benefiting people and planet.

Food & Drink

Treat the dad in your life to something deliciously purpose-driven with these sustainable gifts.

Image: Cococo

Cococo Chocolatiers Father’s Day Collection – These gift boxes are filled with premium chocolate confections, which are handcrafted in Alberta with Rainforest Alliance Certified™ sustainable and fair trade cocoa and cocoa butter. Plus, Cococo supports community initiatives, following their values of “cocoa, communities, and confections.”

East Van Bees Neighborhood Honey – Locally made in Vancouver using sustainably-extracted, chemical-free, raw, urban, multi-floral honey from bees kept ethically and in a sustainable setting. Each of these two jars is hand poured. Check out their Instagram for conservation tips.

Kozlik’s Canadian Mustard – Find a mustard that perfectly suits your father figure’s tastes with this Canadian-made, locally sourced, all-natural condiment that is handmade in small batches and comes in a variety of spicy, sweet, and savoury flavours.

Image: Salt Spring Coffee

Salt Spring Coffee – Give the dad in your life a cup of goodness with Salt Spring Coffee’s 100% certified organic, shade-grown, fair trade coffee. With their Coffee Bag Recycling Program and goal of becoming zero waste by 2026, dad’s sure to get a boost of both energy and purpose with every sip.

Sriracha Revolver – Indigenous- and woman-owned, these sauces come in a range of unique flavour combinations, are handmade in small batches in Vancouver, and use all-natural ingredients with no added colour or preservatives. The purpose-driven father in your life may especially enjoy the Habanero Hot Sauce, as a donation is given to organizations supporting the Indigenous community for every batch made.

Personal Care

Help your father figure get some much needed rest, relaxation, and recovery with these eco-friendly gift ideas.

Attitude Mineral Face Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 – This unscented, reef-friendly, vegan sunscreen stick comes in plastic-free, biodegradable packaging. Plus, Attitude is on a mission to decrease their energy footprint and has planted over 1.5 million trees since 2020.

Bamboo Switch Safety Razor – Made from sustainable and ethically-sourced bamboo, this razor comes in plastic-free and recyclable packaging. Plus, all shipping materials are biodegradable and 5% of the company’s profits go to Sea Shepherd. Now that’s a clean shave.

Marseille’s Remedy Thieves Balm – Look out for dad’s health with this all-natural balm that’s made with a Canadian beeswax base, good for reducing inflammation, treating bug bites, easing bruises, and even cleaning hands. Handmade in small-batches and chemical-free.

Old Soul Soap Company Muscle Rub – This all-natural, ethical, and sustainable muscle rub is a great way to show you care both about your father figure’s health and the planet.

Image: Rocky Mountain Soap Co

Peregrine Supply Co. Beard Box Care Package – These all-natural and safe beard care sets come with face and beard soap, beard oil, and a tin of beard balm. Peregrine Supply follows the Guardian Model and has strict sustainability and responsibility standards, so it’s a great sustainable gift idea for any eco-minded father figure.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Foot Butter – Keep dad on his feet with this GMO-free, Canadian-made, cruelty-free, 100% natural and 71% organic foot butter.

Yukon Soaps Yukon Man Trio – These soaps, handcrafted by Indigenous-owned and -operated company Yukon Soaps, are sustainably sourced, all-natural, and come in eco-friendly packaging, making this collection of three scents a great choice for the father figure in your life.

Home & Decor 

Enhance dad’s purpose-driven routine with these zero-waste gift ideas that will make any home greener.

ChopValue Zero Waste Kit – ChopValue transforms chopsticks into eco-friendly items. Their Zero Waste Chopstick Kit is made from 500 recycled chopsticks and is loaded with zero waste goodies. Plus, the shipping is carbon neutral. The kit contains a cheese board, two coasters, two keychains, two bamboo chopsticks, two bamboo toothbrushes, two stainless steel straws, and two straw cleaners.

Coffee Sock Reusable Coffee Filter – Coffee is delicious, but unfortunately coffee filters generate a lot of waste. The coffee sock helps solve this problem. Handmade from 100% USDA Certified organic cotton, this two pack of filters is made to last and will enhance the flavour of dad’s coffee. Each sock is expected to last around a year and replaces 4–12 boxes of paper filters per year.

Image: Flowerink

Deer Dad Plantable Card – Express your appreciation for the father in your life with this meaningful, plantable card, embedded with wildflower seeds. It even comes in an envelope made from sugarcane residue.

Eighteen Hundreds Candle Co. Candles – These eco-friendly candles have a lot of personality. Handcrafted in Gastown, Vancouver, each candle is made of North American grown soy wax, natural cotton wicks, phthalate-free fragrances, pure essential oils, and comes in reusable vessels. Plus, every candle sold online helps benefit a local charity.

WallyGrow Eco Wall Planters – These 100% leak-proof wall planters are durable and made in North America from 100% recycled plastic. Thanks to these planters, WallyGrow has diverted 10+ million plastic bottles from landfills since their inception in 2007.

Clothing & Apparel

Weave more purpose into dad’s wardrobe with these eco-friendly gifts.

Goodee x KOTN The Goodee Hoodie – From Black-owned B-Corp Goodee, in partnership with Kotn, comes this cozy hoodie made from sustainably sourced Egyptian cotton. This hoodie also supports a number of causes, including community engagement, corporate reporting, natural materials, and water conservancy. 

Kotn Spring/Summer 2023 Collection – Kotn is a certified B Corp with the fourth-highest B Impact Score of apparel brands in North America. Not only is the spring/summer collection made from sustainable Egyptian cotton and biodegradable fibres, each order helps with job creation, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth for the communities they source from and are a part of.

Image: Province of Canada

Province of Canada Sweatpants – Forget fast fashion. Find your father figure the perfect pair of comfortable sweatpants, socks, and hats curated for dads, made in Canada and shipped in certified compostable packaging. Plus, the majority of their cotton is knitted locally and sustainably grown and organic.

Vessi Waterproof Shoes – These waterproof shoes from Vancouver-based, Asian-owned brand Vessi are made from vegan materials. The brand also partners with factories that share their sustainability values and goals to reduce waste and energy. Plus, their packaging is 100% recyclable.

Bonding Time

One of the greatest gifts you can give this Father’s Day is spending time with the dad in your life. There are a lot of zero-waste ways to spend time together, such as having a sustainable barbeque using fresh, organic, and locally-sourced foods; making a dessert together that uses ethically-sourced and sustainable ingredients, like EMKAO cocoa beans; going on an eco-friendly trip; or engaging directly in a planet-saving activity, such as litter clean up in the park or at the beach. 

Giftwrap Your Messaging with Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

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Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Mother’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 25+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Moms and mom figures make the world better. With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to celebrate everything they do, and there’s no better way to thank them than to give them purpose-driven gifts that support causes you both care about.

Sparx has compiled a list of sustainable Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make the mom(s) in your life happy while also benefiting people and planet.

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Food & Drink

Image: Bangin’ Bannock

Make the mom in your life a sweet and eco-friendly treat with these delicious sustainable gift ideas. You can even try making them together.

Bangin’ Bannock Mixes – These Indigenous frybread mixes, made by Indigenous women duo, Bangin’ Bannock, are easy to make and come in eco-friendly packaging. 

Bush Berry Mother’s Helper Tea – This tea is made specially for postpartum but is a beneficial and soothing blend for anyone who needs a little energy and well-being boost. Plus, it comes in 100% backyard compostable packaging from a plastic-free, farm-to-cup, BC-based brand.

Image: Susgrainable

Susgrainable Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix – Moms’ cookies may be famous, but we’ve found a purpose-driven rival. Make mom a delicious batch of Susgrainable’s sustainable cookies, made from upcycled barley flour, to help save the planet and give a gut-friendly gift, loaded with dark-chocolate chips.

MUMGRY Chocolate Peanut Butter – Made by Black-owned and -operated brand, Mumgry, this protein-, vitamin-, and fibre-rich, all-natural chocolate peanut butter is made with moms, at all stages of motherhood, in mind. Delicious, healthy, and packed in sustainable glass jars.

Blume Latte Mixes – These organic and inventive superfood latte mixes are like a garden in a cup. They’ll keep both the mom in your life and the environment healthy, as Blume has partnered with CleanHub and Green Worms Waste Management to divert plastic from the ocean — with 7,000 lbs diverted in 2022 alone.

Personal Care

Moms and mom figures do so much for us. This Mother’s Day is the perfect time to pamper them with the gift of relaxation, sustainability-style.

Sealuxe Beach Glass Soap – Transport mom to the beach with this unique moisturizing hand soap. Each soap looks like a piece of beach glass and is made from sustainable and natural ingredients. Packaged in a glass jar, it’s both beautiful and environmentally-friendly.

Rebels Refinery Mother’s Day Gift Set – This gift set is loaded with Canadian-made, all-natural, sulfate- and paraben-free personal care items that will help mom feel pampered and healthy. Plus, each item comes in either refillable, recyclable, or reusable packaging. Contains: cotton bag, teal heart and pink stick natural lip balms, moisturizer, refillable hand sanitizer, face cleansing oil with reusable cotton pads, strawberry tinted lip balm, non-greasy hand lotion, and salt soap.

Image: Little Fox Apothecary

Little Fox Apothecary Milk Baths – Help mom relax with these 100% all-natural milk baths, made with Canadian and organic ingredients, essential oils, and Himalayan salt, and packaged in reusable/recyclable glass jars. A biodegradable bag is included to collect the petals.

Image: Epic Blend

Epic Blend Salted Chocolate Caramel Lip Scrub – Vegan, Canadian-made, and in recyclable packaging, this lip scrub is packed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vitamin-rich ingredients, meaning it’s good for mom’s skin and tastes like dessert. 

Loa Skin Botanical Recovery Mask – Formulated for all skin types, this vegan, non-toxic recovery mask is packed with microbiome-friendly ingredients and contains no palm-derivatives. And it’s a beautiful shade of purple. Plus, Loa Skin uses recyclable glass bottles and paper, custom-shape shipping materials, are partnered with Ecologi to help with reforestation and carbon dioxide reduction projects, and they measure their impact.

Bottle None Shampoo and Conditioner Bars – Canadian from the roots down, these haircare products are plastic-free, hand-made by the sister duo that owns the company, and made with clean ingredients — no phthalates or parabens here. Even the travel cases are made from 100% recycled Canadian plastic, making this a great zero-waste gift for the mom in your life.

Bare Skin Bar Garden Party Bath Bombs – With no fake colours, glitters, or foaming agents; a blend of ten different botanicals, herbs, fruits, and vegetables; and natural and reinvigorating ingredients like Rooibos tea, these Vancouver-made vegan bath bombs are an ideal choice for a sustainable soak.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Belly Butter – This Canadian-made, GMO-free, all-natural belly butter is a sustainable and soothing helper for the pregnant friend or relative in your life or any mom figure that wants smooth, itch-free skin.

Home & Decor 

Compliment the aesthetic of the mom in your life with these eco-friendly home and decoration gift ideas.

ZOETSTUDIO candles – These container and tealight candles are a terrarium in a (food-grade, heat-resistant) glass. Handcrafted in small batches in Vancouver, these candles, made with lead-free wicks, phthalate-free fragrance oils, and soy wax make for a beautiful and fragrant gift for any mom that loves nature. Also available at Local Boom.

Fair Trade Winds Felt Flowers – These flowers never wither and are made using natural felted wool by women artists in Nepal. You can either choose a bouquet for the mom in your life or select individual flowers. Fair Trade Federation and Green America certified.

Image: Goodee

Goodee Made in Africa Set – Black-owned B Corp-certified brand, Goodee, has a Made in Africa Set that’s a unique gift for your purpose-driven mom figure. With a Kazuri necklace made in Nairobi, a Banasco Basket from Ghana-based brand Baba Tree, and tumblers made out of recycled glass by Kenyan brand Siafu Home, this gift set is made of natural materials, helps build positive change in a number of marginalized communities, and supports community engagement and gender advocacy.

Image: Goodee

Haws The Rowley Ripple Watering Can – Crafted to water with pinpoint accuracy to help even the most delicate of seedlings, these unique watering cans are a great gift for any eco-friendly mom who loves growing plants. Best of all, these cans support both gender advocacy and nature and wildlife conservancy.

Pure Living Lucia Room Sprays – With 12 beautiful scents, bundled into two different gift sets, Pure Living’s Lucia room spray line will fill any room or scent any fabrics in mom’s home with all-natural fragrances made with 100% essential oils. Pure Living is a Montréal-based brand that uses recycled and 100% recyclable materials for all of its packaging.

Clothing & Apparel

Give mom’s wardrobe a purpose-driven boost with these sustainable gift ideas.

Laura Elizabeth Kid-Friendly Jewellery – Moms with little ones won’t have to worry about accessorizing — they can safely wear this non-toxic, durable jewellery that’s safe for tiny mouths and too sturdy to break off the chain. Best of all, this jewellery is sustainable and ethical, locally-made, and uses recycled materials and recycled and biodegradable packaging.

Image: Encircled

Encircled Dresses – Give your mom or mom figure the gift of sustainable, ethically-made fashion with these dresses by Encircled, a Toronto-based, Certified B Corp brand that uses eco-friendly fabrics and offers Canadian-made fashion. They use 100% recyclable packaging, host team park clean-ups, use eco-friendly paper and products at their office, embrace diversity, and believe in standing up for human rights as well as protecting the planet.

Image: TAMGA

TAMGA Designs Scarves and Hair Accessories – Made from sustainable beechwood fibres and GOTS eco-certified dyes, these light-weight scarves, headbands, and scrunchies are a great way to add a burst of colour to your mom’s wardrobe. TAMGA Designs is also a member of 1% For the Planet and partnered with Canopy Style and the Sumatran Orangutan Society to help protect Indonesia’s endangered rainforests.

Free Label Maternity Friendly Collection – Locally made in Toronto and Vancouver using sustainable materials and placed in 100% home-compostable packaging, these maternity-friendly garments are perfect for expecting or nursing moms and all mom figures looking for something comfy to wear.

Tentree Sustainable Activewear – For health- and sustainability-minded moms on the go, Tentree’s circular InMotion collection transforms old textiles and discarded water bottles into brand-new activewear. Great for movement and comfortable lounging.

Bonding Time

Want to give the mom in your life a Mother’s Day gift that will create lasting memories? Find sustainable activities you can do together. Go for a walk or even go out shopping for the day using your bikes to get around — taking along hand-woven Baba Tree Bicycle Baskets to carry your sustainable shopping finds. 

Picnics and meals make for great bonding moments as well, and you can use Nature Bee Beeswax Wraps to safely travel to the park with your food. Or you can make your own board game together using alternative art supplies and upcycled, recycled, and recyclable materials — then test it out together!

Giftwrap Your Messaging with Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing consultation.

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Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Valentine’s Day Gift-Giving Guide: 25 Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2023

Whether it’s romantic love for your partner, love for family and friends, or your devotion to a cause, love makes the world better. It motivates us to do better, to work harder, to grow in understanding, to act with compassion, and to share ourselves and what we have with others.

In celebration of love and its ability to amplify good, Sparx has created another sustainable gift-giving guide, this time for Valentine’s Day gifts that will help express your love while supporting the environment and other wonderful causes. Because nothing says heartfelt like a gift with real impact.

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1. Treat Them to Something Sweet 

Sustainable alternatives to decadent delights. 

Image: Drizzle

Drizzle Cacao Luxe Raw Honey: This all-natural, sustainably sourced, bee-friendly, allergen-free, Canadian-made honey has a chocolatey twist and a delicious chocolate-covered strawberry recipe. Plus, it’s made by a women-owned, certified B Corporation.

Pukka Love Tea: This soothing and fragrant tea will touch the heart of your beloved in more ways than one. Pukka is part of 1% for the Planet, Fair for Life certified, Soil Association organic certified, and B Corp certified.

Raaka Chocolate Valentine’s Day Collection: Choose from a variety of ethical and unique non-GMO, vegan, certified organic, and kosher treats to share with your beloved. Raaka crafts its single-source chocolate in small batches and practices transparent trade – its supply chain process is even integrated into its packaging. 

Ritual Chocolate Après Chocolate Bar: This 70% dark chocolate bar is infused with sparkling white wine and topped with raspberries. Best of all, the chocolate is vegan and ethically sourced, the packaging is fully recyclable, and the company is working toward net-zero and fully solar-powered goals. Also purchasable from impact-driven Canadian vendor The Better Good. 

Southbrook Wine Valentine’s Day Bundle: Canadian-made, this romantic bundle of organic wines and condiments is made by Southbrook Organic Vineyards, a company with numerous certifications, including Demeter, Ecocert Canada, LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario, and VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) for grape wines.

T.Kettle Loose Leaf Teas: Make your loved one a (heart)warming cup of certified kosher, vegan, organic, and 100% Fair Trade Strawberry Fondue Tea from T.Kettle, a values-driven company.

2. Pamper Them 

Gifts that feel good and do good.

Encircled Renew Sleep Mask: Help your loved one relax with this eco-friendly Tencel™ Lyocell and recycled polyester fleece sleep mask, made by a Toronto-based, certified B Corporation. 

Harlow Salty Soak Bath Salts: These vegan bath salts are made from Saskatchewan Red Salt, smell intoxicatingly of flowers, and come in a compostable pouch. Plus, Vancouver-based company Harlow sources from social enterprises like Hives for Humanity.

Image: Old Soul Soap Company

Old Soul Company Sweetheart Collection: Pamper your soulmate with this ethical and sustainable, all-natural collection, which includes its Be Mine soap, Be Mine heart-shaped bath bomb, Be Mine massage & body oil, tea light candles, and lip balm. 

Sequoia Soap Sets: Made by 100% Indigenous women-owned and -operated brand Sequoia, the Sweet Blends and Night Sky Four Soap Gift Sets are beautiful, sustainable, and ethically sourced.

Yukon Soap Wild Side Shave Soap: This sustainable, handcrafted shave soap is made by Indigenous-owned and -operated brand Yukon Soap, which is on a mission to make the world better by supporting economic diversification and empowering, nurturing, and elevating Northern Indigenous cultures, communities, and people.

3. Bring Them “Flowers”

Lasting gifts that serve as wonderful alternatives to classic perfumes and bouquets.

Image: Goodee

All Things Being Eco Organic Rose Geranium Bulk Essential Oil: This fragrant oil is Natural Organic Program (NOP) certified and sold by a purpose-driven BC-Based company that’s on a mission to make the world better through offering organic, ethically-produced, and locally-sourced products.

Goodee The Floral Kits: With this sustainable kit from B Corp certified Goodee, your valentine has everything they need to grow and shape their own bouquets. Plus, this kit supports multiple causes, including marginalized communities, gender advocacy, and community engagement.

Flowerink Plantable Tandem Love Greeting Card: You and your valentine can watch your love blossom with this plantable seed paper card, made from 100% recycled content. Plus, these cards are Canadian-made by a company that donates to health and environmental organizations.

Le Comptoir Aroma Love Pebble Essential Oil Diffuser Stones: These 100% natural heart and rose-shaped diffuser stones are made by a Canadian family-run business that uses recyclable and recycled materials, along with other eco-friendly practices.

Mala the Brand Candles: Check the classic romance boxes with bouquet or rosebud candles that are sustainably packaged and hand-poured in small batches by a Vancouver-based brand. Plus, a tree is planted for every candle purchased.

Recycled Ideas Pink Seed Paper Flowers Valentines Day Gift Box Set: These flowers are made from plantable seed paper and packaged in a box that can be used as a personal greenhouse. You can also find them on etsy.

Wild Coast Perfumes Floral Collection: Made with pure, all-natural, sustainably-harvested ingredients from Vancouver island, these perfumes smell beautifully of flowers and come in recyclable bottles with no plastic overwraps. Plus, $1 per every 50ml bottle sold in the perfumery goes to the Ancient Forest Alliance.

4. Get Them Ready for Date Night

Beautiful gifts that protect the beauty of the environment.

Image: Cheekbone Beauty

Cheekbone Beauty Sustain Lip Kit (Red): This gorgeous, low-waste, consciously-sourced lip kit is made by Cheekbone Beauty, a values-driven, Indigenous-owned and -operated, Certified B Corporation that’s part of 1% for the Planet and donates to multiple causes. Check out this guide for recycling its lipstick. 

Elate Refillable Cosmetic Cases: These fully customizable cosmetic cases are recyclable, made from bamboo, and sustainably packaged. Plus, Elate donates 2% of its profits to causes that share its values every year: 1% to social and 1% to environmental initiatives.

Luna & Rose Recycled Silver Heart Necklace: Ethically crafted, this heart-shaped necklace is made from recycled sterling silver by a company that is part of 1% for the Planet.

Treats Designs Tagua Valentine Heart Pendant: Made from sustainable tagua, with natural dyes and a tumble-until-they-shine method, these pendants are created by a BC-based artist. They are also available for purchase through sustainable, Vancouver-based Hemp & Company.

5. Spend Quality Time with Them

Want a truly zero waste alternative? Consider giving your valentine the gift of experience — because nothing takes the single out of single-use more than creating lasting memories. 

There are plenty of sustainable ways to engage in quality time with your beloved. For example, you could go for a picnic using sustainable items, such as beeswax food wraps, zero waste bamboo cutlery, and reusable storage bags, and have a beautiful, waste-free moment that has a truly positive impact.

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Would You Be Our Valentine?

Are you engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? We (not-so-secretly) admire that. Contact us for a free marketing consultation. We would love to gift wrap your message and help deliver it to your audience.

Categories
Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips

Sparx’s Sustainable Gift Giving Guide: 25 Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for 2022

‘Tis the season of giving, both to our loved ones and back to our communities. They say “it’s the thought that counts” when gifting, but for purpose-driven folks, seeing the 545,000 tonnes of annual waste generated in Canada during the holidays makes it hard to not feel like the Grinch.

Whether you’re looking for a zero-waste Secret Santa present or sustainable gifts for your family, we’ve researched a wide range of mostly Canadian eco-friendly products and other green gift ideas that will tie a ribbon on a year of circular efforts. Together, let’s go walking in a sustainable wonderland!

Candles 

Help make even the darkest evenings bright for your loved ones with these eco-friendly candles. 

EastVan Bees-Beeswax Candles: Crafted in Vancouver, these 100% beeswax candles are non-toxic and biodegradable. 

Mala the Brand Candles: Made of custom-blended coconut-soy wax, these paraben-free candles are biodegradable, toxin-free, come in recyclable packaging, and are hand-poured in Vancouver. Plus, for every candle purchased, a tree is planted. 

Siblings Candle Kits: Built on a “reuse, refill, relax” model, these candle kits enable you to repurpose and reuse containers by pouring candles yourself, again and again. Plus, these candle kits have 100% compostable packaging, are non-toxic and paraben-free, use coconut blend wax, and are carbon neutral.

Sequoia® Candles: Bring the outdoors in with these candles made from phthalate-free fragrance oils and essential oils in scents like sweetgrass and blackberry sage. Plus, they come in a reusable tin. Sequoia is a Proudly Indigenous brand that is 100% owned and operated by Indigenous women.

Stationery 

Rewrite traditional stationery gifts with these regenerative alternatives. 

Sprout Plantable Pens: Along with being sustainably made, sustainably sourced, non-toxic, and biodegradable, each of these pens contains seeds and can be directly planted in soil once the ink runs out. The seeds are drawn from an assortment of vegetable, flower, and herb seeds, making for a nice, zero-waste surprise.

Flowerink Greeting Cards and Paper: Illustrated and printed in Montréal, these unique greeting cards and paper products are made mostly from seed paper that is plantable/compostable, plus their packaging is zero-waste.  

Wisdom Supply Co. Weekly Planner: This zero-waste weekly planner is made from 100% recycled paper and plant-based inks and is shipped from a zero-waste, B Corp-certified fulfillment centre. 

Personal Care 

Gift these circular personal care products to make your loved ones feel pampered all season long.

Old Soul Soap Company Lip Balm: Canadian-made, these filler-free, all-natural lip balms are a zero-waste gift option that comes in plastic-free packaging. 

Etee Chewpaste Toothpaste: This chewable toothpaste ditches the plastic tube in favour of a reusable glass jar, providing a sustainable way to make smiles sparkle. 

The Yukon Soaps Company Soaps: Indigenous owned and operated, these handcrafted soaps are sustainably sourced and all-natural. With biodegradable plastic, reusable muslin, and other eco-friendly packaging, these soaps make for beautiful low-waste gifts. 

Nature’s Bodega Beard Care Box: Handmade in Vancouver, these beard care kits have all-natural ingredients, fully recyclable packaging, and no synthetic fragrances, making them a great eco-friendly gift option for the Movember participants in your life who opted not to shave come December.

Sisters Sage Bath Bombs: Made from all-natural ingredients, these delicious-smelling bath bombs from Sisters Sage, an Indigenous women-led company based in Vancouver, are vegan, palm oil/cruelty-free and come in reusable or recyclable packaging. 

Food & Drink 

These eco-friendly gifts are good for your body and good for the environment too.

Retea Sustainable Bubble Tea Kits with Reusable Cup: This Canadian company provides DIY bubble tea kits featuring a wide range of flavours, reusable bubble tea cups, straws and teaware, and recyclable and low-waste packaging. 

Susgrainable Banana Bread Mix: As seen in Make The World Better Magazine Issue 3, this banana bread mix is made from rescued spent grain produced by craft breweries, plus it’s low on sugar, full of protein and fibre, and loaded with flavour. 

Avanaa Vegan Chocolate: Canadian-made, this artisan chocolate is made from 100% natural and plant-based ingredients; supports farmers in Ecuador, Dominican Republic, and Colombia; and is packaged in recyclable paper. 

Salt Spring Coffee Holiday Bundle with Wooden Box: A featured company in Make The World Better Issue 1, Salt Spring Coffee is offering a holiday bundle that comes with sustainably shade-grown organic coffee, reusable mugs, and eco-friendly packaging, perfect for anyone who can’t live without their good cup of Joe. 

Pukka Teas: B Corp-certified and part of 1% For the Planet, Pukka teas are organically grown and fairly-sourced, come in sustainable packaging, and can be enjoyed in a plethora of flavours.

Stojo Cups: Portable, collapsible, and made with silicone that’s BPA-free and free of other toxic glues and chemicals, these reusable coffee cups and water bottles are safe and sustainable. 

Portable Collapsible Straw Kit: This metal straw kit is fully portable, reusable, and sustainable, keeping drinks plastic-free at home and on the go.

Apparel & Accessories 

Wrap someone you love in warmth with these sustainable clothing articles and accessories.

Hemp & Company Socks: Made from hemp, these socks are warm, sustainable, and produced by a BC-based brand. 

Anne Mulaire Fleece Clothing: Help the women in your life stay cozy with these fleece products from Anne Mulaire, a women-led, Indigenous business based in Winnipeg that puts sustainability and natural fibres at the forefront. 

GOGO Sweaters Zero-Waste Toques: This hand-knit, made-to-order toque is made from the scraps of sweaters in Canada. 

Kombi Balaclava: Have an avid ski or snowboarder on your list? This Canadian brand offers an adjustable balaclava made from 100% recycled polyester. 

rü Bags: Made from 100% recycled GRS certified fabric that’s OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, these lunch and tote bags are reusable, durable, and sustainable.

Rok Cork Leather Bags: Crafted from natural, sustainable, biodegradable cork, these bags are fashionable, functional, and good for the planet. 

While is great to buy eco-friendly gifts, it’s also important to think of the other parts of the gift-giving process. We recommend considering your environmental footprint while shopping — for example, walking or taking public transport to the store instead of driving — and wrapping your gifts in recycled, reusable, compostable, and/or upcycled materials.

Giftwrap Your Marketing with Sparx

Engaging in purpose-driven efforts to make the world better? The experts at Sparx can help package up your message and deliver it to your audience. Contact us for a free marketing consultation. 

Categories
Impact Inspiration & Initiatives Sustainability Tips Work Life & Culture

Sparx’s Reimagined Secret Santa

It’s not a holiday get together at this time of year without a time-honoured tradition: the Secret Santa Gift Exchange. While we enjoy the act of giving, we had to come to terms with an inconvenient truth about these kinds of exchanges: many of us seldom keep our Secret Santa gifts. We believe that something as wonderful as the act of giving a gift shouldn’t come at the expense of the planet, so we started thinking about how we could iterate and improve upon this classic activity so that it aligns with our mission to make the world better, and came up with a solution.

For this year’s Secret Santa, Sparx is going sustainable all the way! All the gifts we’re giving are good not just for bringing a smile to our co-workers faces, but better for the environment too. 

Here’s how we reimagined Secret Santa to be more sustainable. We hope our experience will inspire you to jingle bell rock the boat for your own exchange!

How We Made Secret Santa Better

This year, Sparx has been laser-focused on waste-reduction efforts, from publishing the Circular Economy edition of Make The World Better Magazine to attending the Zero Waste Conference 2022 and celebrating Waste Reduction week. Sustainability is a vital part of making the world better, so we wanted to ensure our gift exchange would align with zero waste goals.

We kicked off our process by setting some ground rules. First off,  participants must only choose gifts that will either produce minimal to zero waste or will enable recipients to live more sustainably. Secondly, the gifts must fall within a budget of $20.

To ensure everyone could be involved, we selected a date and provided ways for gifters to mail their gifts, if unable to attend in-person. Then we set up our exchange on Elfster, a platform that allowed us to randomly and anonymously select our gift recipients in a totally paperless way. The platform also has a feature for making wishlists – a great way to ensure we pick gifts that are not only good for the environment, but will bring real personal value to our recipients.

Finding Mission-Aligned Gifts

While it might sound difficult to track down sustainable gifts for $20 or less, our research revealed a whole workshop’s worth of options. 

Compiling a few categories of eco-friendly items, such as items that replace single-use products, gifts made from recycled materials, items using recycled or recyclable packaging, and non-perishable goods, we launched our search.

We checked what was available at Vancouver-based eco-friendly shops, as well as products from Canadian vendors operating in both online and offline formats, and came up with a plethora of great ideas.

Leveraging this research, wishlists took shape and gift planning gained focus.

Green Gifts for $20 or Less

Here are some of the sustainable gifts we found for under $20.

  • Imperial Earl Grey Tea: All-natural and packaged in fully compostable bags and a recyclable box. Price: $14.85
  • Stojo – Jr. Bottle: Collapsible and made from safe silicone, this reusable bottle can be carried anywhere for sustainable hydration on the go. Price: $17
  • Bamboo Bottle Brush: This zero-waste brush is a great companion for reusable cups and bottles. Price: $9 

Package it all up in a sustainable way – using a recyclable box or tin, recycled wrapping paper, or a wooden trinket box – and you have a perfect, low-waste, eco-friendly gift.

Sparx Can Help You Get on Santa’s “Eco-friendly” List

Donning a green santa hat this year? If your organization is working to make a positive difference throughout and beyond this holiday season, the experts at Sparx can help amplify your impact and share your purpose-driven initiatives. Contact us for a free consultation. 

Categories
Make The World Better Magazine

Too Good To Go: Satisfying Your Appetite for Sustainability

From Canada to Copenhagen, food waste is a pressing issue around the world. The need to improve how we minimize, dispose of, and reuse food is a key piece to sustainability and managing increasing food costs. So, together, let’s save some cheddar — literally and figuratively. 

Too Good To Go started to combat the global food waste problem and saw the opportunity for businesses and individuals to save money at the same time. We spoke with Sarah Soteroff, PR Manager, about how this Copenhagen-headquartered organization has expanded to 17 countries (and growing).

Friends enjoying the contents of their Too Good To Go Surprise Bag on a hot summer day.

Tell us about Too Good To Go’s mission.

Too Good To Go is a social impact company with a goal to end food waste globally.

What inspired you/your founders to start your organization?

Too Good To Go was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2016. Our Founders were dissatisfied with the amount of waste being thrown away at every level of the food industry — at home, grocery stores, and restaurants — and believed there must be a better way to save food, money, and the planet. 

What were some of the challenges you/your founders encountered?

Like any start-up, getting capital to fund the operation was the first big challenge. As well, it was initially challenging to spread the word to consumers to use our service — which started as a webpage and eventually evolved into an app — while simultaneously getting businesses on board to ensure consumers have a high selection of options when they use our service. 

What do you consider to be Too Good To Go‘s biggest success?

To date, globally, we have saved 144 million meals from going to waste in 17 countries, with more than 168,000 partners. These numbers are staggering; they tell us that food waste occurs at every level and in every country, and that there is an appetite (pun intended!) for this type of business to connect food sellers with consumers, as shown with 64 million users of our app and 163 million of our surprise bags sold to-date globally. It also tells us that people are actively concerned with lowering their personal footprints and that sustainability doesn’t have to mean a sacrifice.

In Canada, we have surpassed the 800,000 meals saved milestone in less than a year. We launched in seven markets and surrounding areas, and we have signed more than 3,000 partners — and we’re just getting started!

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What makes Too Good To Go unique?

We are a registered B Corp; our status has just been renewed, and this means we are held to the highest sustainability standards. However, we recognize that food waste isn’t just a sustainability issue — it’s also a monetary one. We provide a mechanism for businesses to make money off their surplus food while also doing something great for the environment. At the same time, we help consumers save money on necessities, the costs of which we know are always rising, and, yet, have to be purchased. We provide a win-win-win model for everyone along our journey.

How do you feel your organization makes the world better?

Whatever small impact we’re making we are tremendously proud of. By spreading the message of eliminating food waste, we hope to give people across the world the tools to make small changes at home, grocery shopping, and dining out that will have massive global impacts. Eliminating food waste starts at the local level and doesn’t require huge changes to your lifestyle or spending — in fact, you may even save money! We love the planet and want it to last longer, which is why we need to eliminate waste at every level.

Tell us about Too Good To Go’s goals.

Three simple words: end food waste!

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’d like to share?

We celebrated our one-year anniversary in Canada in July and are celebrating our one-year anniversary in Vancouver in September, which happens to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). We encourage everyone to make September 29 a day of zero food waste across Canada. It can be as simple as not throwing out a brown banana, and instead, freezing it for smoothies or making a baked good out of it!

The Too Good To Go app, available for download in the App or Google Play Store.

What do you most want people to know about your organization?

Ending food waste is possible; it’s achievable and necessary.

How can people help or contribute to Too Good To Go’s mission?

Download our app Too Good To Go in the App or Google Play store and start saving delicious food and money from local businesses today. If you’re a food business, sign up today and start making money off your surplus food waste!

This story was featured in the Make The World Better magazine:

Learn about more world-changing individuals and organizations:

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Purpose-Driven Marketing Tips

Why and How Circular Economy Companies in Canada Should Use Storytelling

In a world where consumption rules and waste is taking over, your organization is ready to help save the day.

As a circular economy organization, you already know the benefits of reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, repurposing, or recycling products. But the journey to rally others on your quest for impact may seem incredibly lonely.  

Bam! Suddenly, a conveniently-timed character has entered the scene to help guide your marketing and offer a beacon of clarity to your communications. Their name is storytelling. 

Setting and achieving your impact goals can be daunting given that the circular economy hasn’t entered the mainstream yet. And if getting attention is hard enough, imagine sustaining that attention to explain something that most people haven’t even really heard of. 

As an impact-led enterprise, connecting with your audience at a deeper level is crucial. Storytelling will help you better engage, inspire, and lead your audience on the long journey to the day when the circular economy just becomes “the economy.” 

To avoid getting lost in the plot and deliver compelling communications leading up to the Zero Waste Conference, here’s how to effectively use storytelling to reach your impact goals. (Cue the cliffhanger.) 

Know Your Target Market Audience(s)

Before you can begin using storytelling as a marketing tool, you first need to break down your audiences into primary and secondary groups through segmentation. 

According to Bizfluent, “the primary target market is the group of consumers a business covets the most or feels is most likely to be the purchaser of its product or service.” As you can imagine, secondary audiences are those that fall closely after primary in terms of desirability. 

It’s important that you get specific with your various audiences to understand who will have the most impact, and, therefore, who you should be reaching and creating resonance with. Depending on what sector you’re in within the circular economy/zero waste space, as well as your impact goals, there may be unique audiences you’ll want to target.

Here are a few sector-specific audiences:

Public/Government: Legislators, personnel, general public.

For-profit: Since the circular economy is new in the mainstream, audiences may need to get created; however, they may be cohorts of current “green” consumers. 

Non-profit: Employees (often unpaid volunteers), donors, board members, etc. 

Determine Your Current Challenges

Before you can devise a story to share through your marketing channels, ask yourself: What are the current challenges/problems your organization is facing that marketing/communications could help overcome? 

Knowing these challenges can help you focus on a story (or stories) that would appeal to your target audience and cause them to perform a desired action. 

For example, if you’re a non-profit in need of volunteers, perhaps you could highlight one of your current volunteers, including why they started volunteering, what they like about volunteering, and how volunteering at your organization makes an impact on the planet. Individuals who connect with the “characters” in the story are more likely to consider contributing to your organization, including possibly volunteering.

While most circular economy organizations may currently face the common issue of educating stakeholders about the zero waste space and the circular economy, there may be challenges specific to your organization and/or sector that are worth focusing on in more detail. 

Sector-specific challenges:

Public/Government: Getting funding and legislation passed and/or buy-in from stakeholders.

For-profit: Audience growth, lead generation, and/or sales. 

Non-profits: Appealing to board members, getting donations, finding volunteers, etc. 

There may also be challenges you’re facing with your marketing efforts. Luckily, we offer tips on how to identify and overcome them. 

Use Storytelling to Reach Your Impact Goals

Now that you know your audience and have identified your current challenges, you’re ready for the inciting incident: telling your story(ies). 

While it may seem daunting, humans have been telling stories for thousands of years; it’s sort of our thing. 

Storytelling allows you to activate the imagination of your audience, which can help you stand out from the noise, establish a deep connection, and ultimately get their buy-in.

Perhaps you didn’t realize that you were already doing it by leading with your values, but marketing relies heavily on telling stories — in this case, your story. 

In order to do this effectively, you need to take this “novel” concept of the circular economy — something, of course, Indigenous people have been doing for centuries — and package it in a way that is accessible and familiar.  

Here are some tips for effective storytelling:

  • Establish a brand voice if you don’t have one
  • Choose a clear, concise message
  • Have a clear structure; a beginning, middle, and end is a good place to start
  • Include personal anecdotes when appropriate
  • Use one of seven familiar story archetypes, such as Overcoming the Monster or The Quest 
  • Look to others for inspiration. For example, check out Warby Parker’s Our Story page 

By applying these tips, you can more effectively share your brand vision to achieve your impact goals, thus helping the circular economy at large — and the world, one story at a time. 

Get in Touch

At Sparx, our mission is to create content to make the world better.

If you’re in the business of making the world better too and need help creating great content, digitally delighting your customers, marketing your business, or you simply have marketing-related questions, the experts at Sparx Publishing Group are always available to chat. You can reach us here.

Categories
Make The World Better Magazine

A Full Circle Movement: Make The World Better Magazine Issue 3 Sneak Peek

You care about your organization’s waste footprint. Perhaps you’ve reduced packaging, offered transit passes to employees, or implemented initiatives to eliminate take-out coffee cups. But what’s even better than reducing waste? Having zero waste in the first place. 

Individuals and organizations are “circling” back on the circular economy, a game-changing model of production and consumption that is newly entering the mainstream – and Sparx has curated some of these incredible stories to spark inspiration.  

As a purpose-driven marketing agency, everything we do is driven by our mission to make the world better. That’s why we created Make The World Better Magazine: to start conversations and ignite positive change. 

Make the World Better Magazine: A Publication to Amplify Good

Make the World Better (MTWB) Magazine amplifies good by sharing the stories of individuals and organizations making impactful differences in their communities. 

In our first issue of MTWB Magazine, we showcased a wide range of amazing organizations dedicated to “better.” And in our second issue, we looked at how regenerative agriculture can improve the world. 

Now, in our third issue, we’ve set our focus on the circular economy and will be featuring circular economy organizations in Canada and worldwide who are running circles around those slow to adapt. 

Sneak Peek of the Circular Economy Issue of Make The World Better Magazine

In our upcoming issue of Make the World Better Magazine, we take a look at 10 circular economy organizations and share their incredible initiatives to help locals eat more sustainably, unite changemakers, cultivate the next generation of conservationists, reduce and reuse waste, and accelerate Canada’s transition to a circular economy:

Be the First to Access Make The World Better Magazine: the Circular Economy Issue

The third issue of Make the World Better Magazine is coming soon! We can hardly wait to share it with you. In the meantime, you can learn more about impact-driven efforts by reading our previous issues. And if the game-changing circular economy won’t stop circling your thoughts, you can subscribe to get notifications to be updated when the next MTWB magazine is published:

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Check out the previous issues of Make The World Better magazine: