Blog | BOHO & HOBO

October 16, 2018October 16, 2018

Let’s Celebrate – With A Gift To You!

It’s BOHO & HOBO’s First Birthday, Waste Reduction Week, and Small Business Week!

Birthday Celebration

We have a lot to celebrate this week and we want to include you in all the excitement. It was one year ago today that we launched our first product, our handmade signature BOHO Beeswax Wraps. It is hard to believe how we have grown and evolved our business in just one year. We are exceptionally grateful to all of our customers, friends and family who have supported us on our mission to help eliminate single use plastics. Without conscious consumers such as yourselves, we wouldn’t be able to continue to grow and expand our product line and extend our reach across Canada. We hope that you will continue to spread the word about BOHO & HOBO so that more people can access our quality line of products online, and in retail stores near you.

As a thank you for your support in using sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives, we are offering a free gift with every online purchase over $25 for the remainder of October. SHOP NOW!

We have some exciting things in the works for 2019, but that news will have to wait for now.

Waste Reduction Week Oct 15-21st

This week is about celebrating all of the environmental efforts and achievements over the past year, while encouraging innovative ideas and solutions to foster a more sustainable earth. Let’s empower the people around us to make eco friendly choices and challenge them to consider the impact that their everyday products have on the environment. Start the conversation.

How will live directly affects; climate change, water and air pollution, and we can choose to preserve our natural resources by making educated buying and consumption choices. It is our responsibility to do our part, share our knowledge, and lead by example. The time is now! Visit the Waste Reduction Week In Canada website for some great information on what your next steps could be.

Small Business Week

For almost 40 year the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC ) has been celebrating Canadian entrepreneurship. Small and medium sized businesses make up 99.7% of Canadian businesses. This year’s theme is digitalizing your business. We are excited to be a progressive small business that is dedicated to sustainability with a great digital presence. We recognize the importance of supporting other small local businesses in order to promote a healthy local economy.

We would like to challenge you to try and do all of your holiday shopping this year through small businesses, artisans and makers in your own communities. The money generated for these small businesses typically stay in your community. Your purchases help pay for; dance lessons, dentist appointments, birthday parties, gym memberships and so much more. It helps real people thrive.

Let’s celebrate our freedom to make earth conscious choices, that support small business and waste reduction.

October 3, 2018October 4, 2018

5 Affordable Eco-friendly Gift Ideas For Conscious Consumers

Why Buying Sustainable Gifts Are Important

We are living in a disposable world, where fast fashion, bottled water, excessive packing, and single use items have become the norm. Somewhere between box retailers & corporate greed, a keeping up with the Jones’s mindset, and the assumption that our natural resources are infinite, we have lost our way and continue to accelerate global warming. We can no longer afford not to make better buying decisions on how, and what we consume, and to better understand the impacts that our everyday choices have on the environment.

Mindful Gifts That Make A Difference

Some of our most commonly used day to day items are contaminating our landfills and oceans at alarming rates. With simple switches to more sustainable options these environmental impacts can be greatly offset. We have a few simple suggestions for your next gift gifting exchange.

1.) Sustainable Straw Sets $12

Why we love these: Both glass and stainless steel straws are sold in sets of 2 with a cleaning wand, they are durable, dishwasher safe and wide enough to enjoy smoothies, milkshakes and thicker drinks along with your favourite iced teas, and other beverages of choice. Bonus: They come with a super cute fabric wrap to allow easy and clean transportation and protection to the straws while in a purse, bag, or sustainable lunch kit.

How they help: Most plastic straws can not be recycled and a large majority of them end up in our oceans, causing marine animals to die by ingesting plastics. By switching to a sustainable options for your love of straws, the staggering 500+ million straws floating around out there can be drastically reduced.

2.) Cotton Produce & Bulk Food Bags $15

Why we love these: These organic cotton muslin drawstring bags are the perfect alternative to using plastic produce bags at the grocery store. They are light weight, machine washable, and reusable. They are sold in sets of two, one large bag for potatoes and larger items, and a smaller bag for ginger, garlic or almonds etc. Bonus: They pack nicely and easily to fit into a purse, backpack or grocery totes.

How they help: It is estimated that 4 trillion plastic bags are used annually world wide and only about 1-2% are actually properly recycled. On average 300 plastic bags are consumed per person each year. BYOB….Bring Your Own Bag. Let’s keep the movement going.

3.) Bamboo Travel Cutlery Sets $15

Why we love these: These travel bamboo cutlery sets are lightweight and made from sustainable bamboo fibre. The knife will actually cut your food, unlike some of the butter knife styles that we have encountered. They come in a washable, reusable carrying case to keep mess at bay, and to allow for easy transportation in a purse, murse, or backpack. They are dishwasher safe. Bonus: They are a wonderful option for eco traveler looking for travel cutlery sets.

How they help: 40+ billion plastic utensils are estimated to be circulating each year with the majority of them ending up in our oceans and landfills. Recycling is on the rise, but not quick enough. Making the switch to a Bamboo Cutlery Set is an easy way to stop the trend of single use utensils while out and about.

4.) Wool Dryer Balls $14

Why we love these: Wool dryer balls offer great energy cost savings by reducing the overall drying time of each load. As the balls bounce around in the drum they separate clothing and speed up drying, mitigate wrinkling, and naturally reduce static cling. Dryer balls are scent free making them a great option for individuals that are sensitive to scents or have severe allergies. The typical lifespan of a set of wool dryer balls is up to 750 loads. Bonus: You can add your favourite essential oils to the wool to achieve a natural scent that is chemical free.

How they help: Commercial dryer sheets contribute to excessive volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) emissions that increase air pollution on a daily basis. Not only are dryer sheets polluting the air by the toxic chemicals found within them, but they also end up in our landfills. Choosing a reusable option eliminates the need for single use dryer sheets.

5.) Beeswax Food Wrap $24

Why we love these: These Beeswax Food Wraps are a great replacement for plastic cling wrap, they are made from 100% cotton that is baked in a blend of sustainably harvested beeswax, tree resin and organic oil. We specifically love these ones due to how sticky and malleable they are, making them easy to use and very long lasting. The heat from your hands will self adhere the wrap in a similar ( but better ) fashion as a traditional cling wrap making food storage a safe, washable, reusable and sustainable option. Bonus: Beeswax has natural antibacterial properties and the wraps are great for keeping avocado green, and fresh herbs crispy. They are handmade in Ontario Canada.

How they help: It takes 500-1000 years for plastic to degrade and it is estimated that only 1/5 of plastics are actually recycled. Sadly most cling wraps also contain a hormone disrupting chemical called BPA. Using a washable, natural alternative will keep your food fresh longer and offset unnecessary plastic consumption.

BOHO & HOBO is a Canadian based eco company that cares deeply about the environment, and we have a mission to educate and motivate as many people as possible to make mindful choices that will reduce the consumption of single use plastics.

Each of the products highlighted in the blog, and many other sustainable products are available in our online Eco-Boutique.

August 7, 2018August 7, 2018

Queen’s University – Society for Conservation Biology

Back To School – The Zero Waste Generation

There is great momentum building with this generation of young adults taking an active interest in sustainability. Coming into a time when, as a society we are further recognizing the harmful effects that our previous generations have had on the environment, these wise young people are stepping up and becoming the positive change makers we so desperately need.

Students at Queen’s University are actively working to raise the accountability bar within the campus of Queen’s with their recently launched petition, ‘A Plastic-Free Queen’s Campus’ asking the university to transition into a plastic-free campus.

https://www.change.org/p/queen-s-university-a-plastic-free-queen-s-campus

For far too long we have been living as disposable generations, where single use plastics, mass packaging, and fast fashion have been so widely accepted that we haven’t collectively taken accountability for it because it’s just been considered the “norm” for decades. YUK!

Time is up! We are waking up, speaking up, stepping up and cleaning up this terrible mess we have made of our precious natural resources. One conscious decision at a time has a mass cumulative effect in how much we contribute each year to landfills, how manufacturing impacts CO2 emissions, and how alternative power sources have the ability to adjust our overall taxation of our earth’s resources.

Take a moment to show your support and sign their petition. Share it among your peer networks, and let’s get Queen’s to lead by example and have other institutions follow suit.

For students looking to live more sustainably on campus this year, we carry a zero waste starter package called THE CAMPUS KIT. It contains eco-friendly products ( many made locally ) that cover all the basics from food storage, meals on the go, and shopping for produce and bulk foods to laundry savings, cleaning supplies, and reusable coffee and tea cups. We firmly believe that having the tools to reduce waste is a great first step towards sustainability. Visit the online Boutique for details and to purchase a kit here:

https://www.bohoandhobo.ca/shop

August 1, 2018July 31, 2018

Straws! We Can Still Love Them!

For the month of August we have partnered up with our friends at Juniper Cafe to get some sustainable straws in circulation. We love using our eco-friendly, stainless and glass straws with cold drinks but we LOVE using our reusable straws with all of the Juniper’s cold drinks. Have you tried their Iced Lemon Ginger drink yet? YUM!

ALL STRAWS ARE $5 EACH. CASH ONLY!

You can also shop our Eco- Boutique for some other great reusable and sustainable products to help reduce your carbon footprint. Keep checking back as we will be launching some great back-to-school specials that you won’t want to miss.

July 29, 2018August 1, 2018

FEATURED: Eco-Friendly Canadian Companies

We are happy to share with our readers a feature written by Megan, of Hen Family who has added BOHO & HOBO to her ‘The Best Eco-Friendly Products’ in Canada list for our signature Beeswax Wraps. Beeswax Wrap is a reusable, washable alternative to using plastic cling wrap.

HEN Family is an online resource for healthy, eco-friendly and natural living, to help families embrace a greener lifestyle. You can find everything from tips on choosing the healthiest options and products for babies and kids, to everyday sustainable living, nutritious eats, and DIY projects and crafts.

We are always very grateful when we are recognized and featured by individuals, magazines and online resources for our work towards sustainable living made easy. We truly value every referral, ‘like’ on our social media posts, link shares, and every purchase made by customers who are working towards green living.

Check out the article here. Also, you could win everything in the picture above as she will be doing a giveaway for all the awesome goodies featured in her article.

Eco-Friendly Canadian Companies Part II

June 6, 2018June 6, 2018

BOHO & HOBO Featured On Chatelaine

On June 4th Rachel Chen wrote a great post for Chatelaine Magazine titled ‘A Green Alternative To Kitchen Wrap, And 9 Other Easy Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Waste’.

We were featured on the list at #10. Bring your own cutlery set.

” While you can always just bring a fork from home, bamboo cutlery is lightweight and easy to pack. A washable carrying case also lets you throw everything into your bag after lunch without making a mess.” says Chen.

We have already incorporated most of the other 9 easy solutions to help combat everyday waste into our lifestyle, and we hope that this article will provide you some guidance if you are just starting out on your journey to living more sustainably.

We also carry a few of the other suggested solution oriented products in our Boutique such as: Glass Travel Cups, Glass Straws, our handmade signature BOHO Beeswax Wax Wrap made in Kingston, Ontario and many other great plastic alternatives to consider.

Chatelaine Magazine was first published in March of 1928, and has been supplying Canadian women content covering food, home decor, health and relationships, politics and fashion for 90 years.

May 23, 2018June 6, 2018

Why Use Wool Dryer Balls?

Dryer Balls verses Static Cling Sheets

In our seemingly disposable world, single use disposable products are taking over our landfills and polluting our oceans. The good news is, many of these items we use in our day to day lifestyle can be switched over to more eco friendly and sustainable options. Let’s look at a simple shift in how we dry our clothing.

Downside To Cling Sheets

Commercial dryer sheets often contain chemicals and irritants to soften your clothes, reduce static and make them smell good. They are rough and can damage delicate fibres on clothing too. They are used once and then tossed into the garbage, contributing to unnecessary waste.

Benefits Of Wool Dryer Balls

Reusable with a lifespan up to 1000 loads of laundry,
Eliminates the waste of single use chemical dryer sheets.
Naturally hypoallergenic as the unscented wool doesn’t contain chemicals, dyes or other hidden irritants. Great for anyone with sensitivities.
Wool naturally reduces static cling.
Drying time is reduced as the balls allow more air circulation as they toss between clothing in the dryer. 2 balls are recommended in each load.
Reduced drying time and electricity consumption saves you money.
Option to add your favourite pure essential oils to the wool to make your linens smell fresh.
Wool does not leech chemical plastic compounds that some plastic dryer balls can.

As you can see there are far more benefits to using wool dryer balls verse cling sheet while helping to eliminate the waste created from doing laundry. We will be sharing more ways to reduce your carbon footprint by making conscious choices over the next few weeks.

Want to give them a try? We carry Hobo Dryer Balls sold in sets of two in our boutique.

April 21, 2018June 6, 2018

Celebrate Earth Day

eco friendly products At BOHO & HOBO we are celebrating Earth Day April 22nd, 2018 with a community garbage clean up, followed by a special Earth Day community celebration celebrating Mother Earth in Kingston Ontario.

We believe that everyday is a new day to make conscious choices in how we impact the environment with our consumption of everyday goods. We want to encourage people to make the transition from single use plastics to waste free living by offering quality, eco friendly products that we love. To help motivate our customers, we are offering a one day sale of 15% off of all of our products in our eco-boutique . Use the code EARTH15 at the checkout.

Thank you to being being a mindful consumer and helping us to reduce our carbon footprint one product at a time. Have a beautiful green day.

March 22, 2018June 6, 2018

Easy Solutions For Single Use Waste Items

We are consciencous about what products we use in our home and in our office on a daily basis. In a disposable world it is hard not to get upset with how much waste is created by single use products everyday.

The white cup phenomena has gotten out of control as the coffee and tea craze have amplified exponentially while people are rushing to and from their destinations. Do you actually save time by having to find parking, wait in line, or go off course to get your “quick” coffee on the go? Not likely. A simple solution is to make your own and bring it to go. Allow yourself an extra few minutes to take some deep breaths will your tea steeps before setting off, or pack a reusable cup for your daily fix.

Takeout containers are another area that create ridiculous amounts of consumer waste. Packaging has come a long way since the styrofoam era, but the energy and resources still required to create these single use containers, ship them, use them, and recycle them is crazy. I know people are busy and don’t always have time to make or pack lunches. We are two professionals raising a family too, we get it. But, with some conditioning it is easy to throw a reusable container and bamboo cutlery set into your purse, or to leave at the office, or in your vehicle for those days where eating on the run is your only option.

It is estimated that there are one billion non-recyclable plastic straws in use globally everyday. You read that right. 1 billion. Now imagine what that looks like in oceans and landfill sites. Gross right? Again, with a simple shift in consumer behaviour we can have a huge impact on our personal carbon footprint, while contributing to a more sustainable place for generations to come. There are many straw alternatives out there that are easy to carry with you. Glass cocktail straws, glass smoothie straws, metal straws and bamboo straws to name a few. If we all carry the mindset that “it’s just one straw” the sea of waste will continue to tax our eco systems.

I could go on and on about many other everyday single use waste products that are failing our sustainability but I will end here. I leave you with the challenge to consciously consider your own consumer behaviour in your home, in the workplace, and in your busy lifestyle.

At BOHO & HOBO we are solution oriented and want to help make your transition into a greener lifestyle easy. The products we carry or make in our eco boutique are all ones that we have incorporated into our lives. It feels good to save money and to play a small part in reducing single use products and the impact they have on our earth.

A few of our products include, beeswax wraps, wool dryer balls, reusable cotton produce bags and bulk food bags, glass travel cups, wheat straw bento lunch boxes, bamboo cutlery sets and many other products. Visit the eco boutique.

February 9, 2018June 6, 2018

Is your yoga mat off gassing?

I couldn’t help but notice how badly the yoga studio smelled the weeks following Christmas as many newly acquired mats were being rolled out for the first time post holiday season. The strong scent of plastics and resins crept into my practice like an obnoxious mosquito as I laid down to settle in for opening shavasana a.k.a. corpse pose.

I had been holding off purchasing a new yoga mat and retiring my well worn and faithfully serviced old mat for years. Not only had it been on a long and disciplined journey with me for over a decade, holding countless hours of strength and restoration, catching sweat and sometimes tears, but my old mat didn’t smell toxic anymore like it did in the early days. I had a hard time letting go of such a trustworthy mat that grew to be apart of me. The thought of having to go through the unpleasant breaking in process of another plastic infused mat kept me holding on to my old faithful.

Then after a long time searching for a mat that didn’t contain PVC’s, TPR’s and PER’s, all of which are polymers containing plastics and resins, I found the perfect eco conscious choice for a yoga mat that would propel me into this decade. A mat that is made from sustainably grown and harvested 100% natural rubber & jute, a mat that is so natural that it can literally be composted at the end of it’s lifecycle, a mat that didn’t require an off gassing period. I couldn’t believe it!

I knew as soon as I read about the ecoYoga mats that it was the beginning of a new relationship with a mat I had yet to purchase. These mats are made in the UK honouring the true nature of yoga and ecology for a healthy body and a healthy planet. I met with the Canadian distributor 2 weeks later, purchased a mat to try it out, and ordered a whole bunch for the Boho & Hobo Boutique a few days later.

After my first yoga practice I was 100% sold on these mats. The natural rubber provided amazing cushioning for a stable and balanced practice, and the jute was more than ideal for great traction and grip. I can not explain my new found love for my new yoga mat. Not only is it compatible with my eco conscious mind, it provides me a safe place to practice knowing that chemical byproducts are not leeching into my skin during hot yoga classes. I had a ceremonial letting go of my old faithful with a beautiful welcome to my new mat that has already become apart of the greener me that I have become.

I highly recommend these mats to everyone. Check them out here.