Life Without Plastic Blog

Replacing your Polycarbonate 5 gallon Bottle with A Snazzy Italian Stainless Steel Water Dispenser

While there is more and more recognition of the toxicity of Bisphenol A ("BPA" found in polycarbonate plastic -- even the FDA agrees with this) to human health and the environment, it is still extremely difficult to find a healthy alternative to the widely used 5 gallon large polycarbonate water bottle. We used to sell a glass 5 gallon bottle as a replacement, but it is extremely heavy when filled with water and difficult to transport. Then last year we discovered stainless steel water dispensers made in Italy. They are high quality, light weight, watertight and they can be used with or without a spigot. Perfect for transporting and dispensing water.  We used to carry the Superfustinox but we have since changed to a different brand, Sansone, which is butt welded instead of being seam folded.

These dispensers are made of really high quality food grade stainless steel 18-10 and they are beautiful.  We currently carry the cute 3 litre (0.8 gallon) for the fridge or to bring in the car on a road trip. The 5 litre (1.3 gallon) which is a perfect counter companion. The 10 litre (2.6 gallon) for camping and the 30 litre (7.9 gallon) for serious water transportation and dispensing. Last summer we brought our large water dispenser when going to the beach for the day. It was perfect. Easy to carry and the kids could just dispense their own water whenever they were thirsty.

We continue to try, find and test the best alternatives to plastic products. Right now, the attention is focused on BPA, but we know that many other types of plastic pose dangers to the health and the environment. We prefer replacing plastic with materials that have passed the test of time for their durability, stability and safety, instead of new petroleum-based plastic that have not been properly tested over a long period of time.

Chantal Plamondon, Co-Owner
LifeWithoutPlastic.com

Featuring Sophie - The Creator of our Organic Cotton Dolls and Animals

My friend Sophie is convinced that the dolls she creates become alive after she gives them a hug. We had lunch the other day and she showed me her newest creation "Lapidou" which is a word created from merging the French words "Lapin" (rabbit) and "Doux" (soft). It is a very cute rabbit with long legs and arms designed to be cuddled and love bitten by small children. It is made by hand with organic cotton and stuffed with natural wool. She said to me, "Try hugging it and you will see it will smile even more. It is true.  Check it out!" So I did. Just seeing the face of Sophie with her smile of hope was priceless. I may have seen the doll smile a bit more... I think I did. I ordered many of these lapidoux hoping some children would be happy to hug them this holiday season. They are now in stock! Check here.

A little bit more about Sophie

She is a beautiful artisan mother of two young children. She makes her dolls with a little bit of help from a local seamstress and a workshop of handicapped workers. She is a total believer in the importance of giving back to her community. She gives a hug to each and everyone of her finished dolls or animals. Because she knows that so many toys sold in mainstream toy stores are bathed in flame retardant chemicals, toxic dyes and paints, she wants to offer healthy alternatives to children.

We also carry the babyluga (a baby beluga whale), and the elf dolls (vanilla and chocolate) from Sophie. All made with organic cotton and stuffed with natural wool.

Chantal Plamondon, Co-Owner
LifeWithoutPlastic.com

New Products Galore -- 10% off + free shipping on orders over $100

In recent weeks we've received a number of new products, and we'd like to offer them to you - our faithful readers - at a discount of 10% until 15 December 2009.  Each one is marked NEW! in the product title in our website boutique. To claim the 10% off, simply enter the following redemption code in the Discount Coupon section when checking out:  FUNNEWSTUFF (si vous commandez en français, le code est: NOUVEAUTES)

And as well, for orders over USD$100 (CAD$110) shipping is free until December 15th too!

FUN FUNKY FOOD CONTAINERS

Stainless Steel Hot Meal Container

Keep your food hot and plastic-free on the go with this stainless steel 304 (18-8) hot meal container. Try and find another thermal food container with a lid made of stainless steel instead of plastic!

Stainless Steel Airtight Watertight Food Storage Container

This practical, round, airtight and watertight 16cm/6.25" food storage container is the perfect container for bringing a large salad with its dressing to work. It also works great for storing and transporting baked goods, stews, soups, sauces. Fabulous for freezer storage!

BAGS, BAGS, BAGS and more BAGS!

Wool Insulated Natural Lunch Bag

This handy insulated canvas lunch bag is absolutely unique. It is made of heavy cotton and insulated  with wool. Even its metal zipper is non plastic. The bag features an inside lining that can be snapped out to wash. It's perfect for keeping meals fresh on the go.

Organic Cotton Cord Tie Lunch Bag

Can you believe it?! A lunch bag with no plastic whatsoever! It is made in Canada of 100% certified unbleached organic cotton and printed with environmentally-friendly, water-based pigments.

Organic Cotton Drawstring Lunch Bag

This handy flat bottom drawstring lunch bag is a great size for all ages. But don't feel limited to using it for your lunch - take it to the market or store and use it to carry your fruit and veggies home.

Organic Cotton Greens Bag

This handy drawstring bag is superb for storing washed garden greens in the fridge to keep them fresh and crisp.

Organic Cotton Portable Shopping Bag

This heavy duty bag has a built-in inner pouch that allows you to fold the whole bag into a portable little square. The pouch also serves as a handy inner pocket for a wallet or notebook.

Thanks for your support!

Wishing you a warm a joyous holiday season,

Jay Sinha & Chantal Plamondon, Co-Owners
Lifewithoutplastic.com

The First Lunch Bag Without Any Plastic

In trying to find a eco-friendly lunch bag for my son that is good for the Earth and good for his health too, I came across "neoprene". There are some beautiful snazzy bags made of neoprene, all claiming to be eco-friendly... but how? Neoprene is a petroleum-based product that is not biodegradable. Worst, when it degrades, it tends to break down into dust-like particles that float into the air and end up in your lungs. As far as I know, neoprene is not recyclable. In trying to understand where the eco-friendly claim comes from, I found this quote on a page describing neoprene lunch totes "(...) this safe, eco-friendly bag is free from lead and contains no PVC or vinyl."

Now I understand... neoprene is eco-friendly in what it is NOT. It does NOT contain lead. It does NOT contain PVC. It is NOT made of vinyl... I prefer products whose claim to eco-friendliness is about what they are... durable, natural, recyclable, biodegradable, healthy, rather than what they are NOT.

So, in order to get a truly eco-friendly plastic-free lunch bag for our son, we went to a women's co-op in Ottawa (Ontario), just south of Wakefield (Quebec) where we live and asked these wonderful women to develop a truly plastic free lunch bag. What they came up with is astounding. Finally a truly natural, durable, biodegradable, healthy and stylish lunch bag completely non-plastic made of cotton and insulated with wool. Even the buckles and zipper are metal... NO PLASTIC! And the best of all, it is NOT made in China. Check it out here: Insulated Completely Natural Lunch Bag.

- Chantal

Finally! A Thermal Lunch Box with a Stainless Steel Lid

We are very excited to introduce our new double wall vacuum hot meal lunch box with a lid that has a stainless steel interior, so no plastic is ever in touch with your hot food. The capacity is 2 cups (500 ml), so that's plenty of space for a hearty meal. As far as we know this is the only one of its kind in the market. The outside of the lid as well as the bottom of the container is made of polypropylene (#5). The rest is all high quality food grade stainless steel 304 (18-8).

We have been looking all over for a container that could allow our son to eat a hot meal at school. We did not like the idea of pouring hot food in a thermos container that has a plastic lid because heat increases leaching from the plastic considerably. We liked even less the idea of our son microwaving his food in a plastic container -- schools do not generally allow children to bring glass containers. At last, we found the perfect solution.

This container is made in Taiwan which is a democratic country now known for the high quality of its products. I remember when I was a child, the cheap toys were all "MADE IN TAIWAN", but in the past 15 years, most of the factories have moved from Taiwan to China, leaving only the higher quality manufacturers in the country. They are the only ones that could afford the higher wages that Taiwanese workers legitimately demand. We are very proud of this product and of where it comes from. I have met the owners and their work team and I was very impressed with their commitment to a good working environment for their employees as well as high quality products.

Please visit our website to take a look: http://lifewithoutplastic.com/boutique/stainless-steel-meal-container-p-333.html.

- Chantal