20 - Friday, June 14, 1991 - North Shore News

All dressed up in ‘green’, but nowhere to go

THE INFRODUCTION of guiding principles for the use of environmental clams in labelling and advertising was recently announced by the federal Minister of Consumer

and Corporate Affairs.

The guiding prinaipigs and speech made ty Minister Pierre Blais provide us with sume good tools with which fo make eritical choices when filling our shopping carts.

“We have seen during the past few years @ strong “prise de con- science’ by Canadians towards their environment.’ stated Bkais, “And industry, to its credit, has responded to Utose cancerns,

“tintortunately, same people have uried to take advantage of this new tend and the result is that today we are surrounded with environmental claims of all kinds. Some are true and useful. But others are meaningless and even tend to discredit those substan- tiated by fact.”

This is not news to those of you who have been changing your shopping habits to emphasize more environmentally friendly products.

Many products dress themselves in *‘green’’ when they have little, if any, right to do so.

An article in last month's Fi- nancial Post magazine, titled **Eco-Hype,”’ covered some of my own pet peeves, such as disposable diaper manufacturers claiming

Peggy Trendell-Whittaker

|

that their diapers are compostable ~-- maybe in a very few test mar- kets, but certainly not in the vast

ECOINFO

majority of areas where the diapers are sold. Another misleading label that

gcts my goat is one 1 mentioned in this column almost a year ago after 'd done a survey of local supermarket shelves.

It's Loblaws’ ‘*Green’’ All- Purpose Cleaner. We could be ex-

INTERLOCK PAVING STONE INSTALLERS

Specialists in interlocking paving stones for sidewalxs, driveways, pools and patios. We offer the widest variety of shapes and colors. Free estimates. fully experienced staff, professional results. Call the

° SAA ga ‘in cocking area

© Removable glass Side troys

e Timerana thermometer”

e Glass cP king Window B © (2 quick connect hose : He No Messy Lava Rocks f HAEKO GAS Appliances B (@40 LONSDALE AVE. NVANCOUVER |

Adinision ot AERO PembinatGs OBP?- 2022

cused tor thinkine that ‘tpreer” would refer to tne NoM-toxiiy of The ingredivnts used oi the pro- dhe.

in tae. Gere as tne indigatian on tio bagel tbat tiie substances is HEIN TROOPS alin ft thar

aint

aomaitheter’s maginggoan, relers fo the ff that oonmthdren ate discouraged fron: investing the cleaner because of the inclusion of Bitres, supposedis the most bitter substance Known £0 us.

And so it goes. Buver pewaure. The following statement, excerp- redo trom Consumer and Cor- porate Affairs Canada’s labelling wiugdehnes wilh hein Sou read oan adbveriisement or Line. more oie igual.

Ambiguaus Carns

Natgue stutements su seranmentaliv saie.* “ozone Trienddy 7 ar ve are mean: thiless without further product in- formato:

Po make Utesc meaninghuk thes

As "ene

SULIT should be quati-

fied by» widine specific produc: vharucteristigs stich as bare vironmentlly Friendly — contains 20% post-consumer recycled ma- terials" Claims must be bitsed: ori adequaie and proper test restulis.

In the absence of adequate and proven tests demonstrating that the product either heips the en Vironment OF causes no damage to ay the unqualified use of terms thar imply environmental benefit should not be used.

See Degradation pare 24

Instore Paving Stone Demonstration June 15th - liam. - 12 noon

SOLID

M\AA NCE TEN DAYS ONLY! cL 191 SS

ripranada << SHOWROOM CLEARA 2,

“7 ie

Sale ends June 23 yw N Lv?

NOES

Soa JAY

PINE &

7 Ay SALE.

PLP

V Perea * . ¢ Dining room tables & chairs

e Living Room Furniture

-e Entertainment Centres

¢ Bookcases ® Bunkbeds

«Bedroom Suites * Roll Top Desks

* Large selection of

® CUSTOM MADE FURNITURE

SOLID PINE BUNK BEDS | BLOWOUT *359 (reg. $449)

futon beds

located at

oa ae

Entertainment Ctre $499

OAK FURNITURE

Dress Table/Mirror S279 Corner Cupboard $399

Pine Pantry $599

1142 Boundary Rd.

(across 2nd Narrows. left on Hastings. right on Boundary)

= PHONE 291-1488 “=

Open Momrrn 7am:

“i. Sat. 9am-3pm, §

iz Si PIE WB AD ENE