London Drugs as source of plastic-free living goods? Who knew!

I am such a sucker for sales.

I just went for a visit to London Drugs because I heard they had a sale on Wasa crackers, which have lately become more or less my bread replacement since the (amazing) plastic-free bread I've been enjoying is both too far away and too expensive to enjoy on as regular a basis as I might like. At half the price I usually buy them for, and given the rate I've been going through them lately, it seemed stocking up on the Wasas was a good idea.

Now, I can't wander into a store, particularly a store like London Drugs, without wandering down the aisles and admiring what's what.

Imagine my surprise, and indeed delight, to discover that today's little wander uncovered all manner of plastic-free living delights!

First, the chocolate.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a sucker for a good snack craving. Usually it's something salty, which I've so far been satisfying with popcorn and occasionally cheese (yes, still buying the plastic-wrapped variety). But every now and then it's for something sweet, and even something chocolate. I've been pretty distrustful of most chocolate bar-wrappers, even the foil ones can be deceptive, but I hadn't given much thought to it. I generally feel it's best to ignore such cravings and if living plastic free gives me another excuse to do so, mores the better! But today in London Drugs I was reminded of a perfectly good plastic-free chocolate alternative:

Glosettes!

Now, ok, I know, they aren't the Belgian Milk Chocolate, or the Swiss Dark, but hey, they come in a cardboard box. What could be more plastic-free than that?

Next up, thermos mugs.

After the styrafoam cup use referred to in my last post, I determined to do better. And indeed i did. The next time I went to that particular outdoor Olympic venue I came with a great little thermos mug. Unfortunately, it wasn't mine. See, I've never had a travel cup that I really liked. I find them mostly rather oddly shaped, or still containing plastic, or SOMETHING. Well, my roommate has this awesome little thermos mug which she apparently got at mec, and I've been planning on getting myself one soon. (I couldn't actually find what she has on their website, but it was something like this. Point is, it was compact, lightweight, and fit into my purse).

So today I wandered into the 'food containers' aisle at London Drugs, and what did I find?? Thermos mugs! ON SALE!

Well, ok, not quite thermos mugs, actually these dudes are intended for food storage. But they were regular 21.99 on for 9.99 so (sucker for sales, right?) I bought two. Plus another one a different size.

The best part? They were all completely packaging free.

Now, I suppose they probably originally came individually wrapped and London Drugs just unwrapped them to display them more attractively and take up less space... but I like to imagine perhaps they were plastic-free in the first place.

And then, right below the thermos mugs, MC2 by Innate, a Vancouver company that I feel I really should have known about by now. (Of course, these local company, plastic-free alternatives were displayed on the bottom shelf, well below the Glad and Tupperware options). Anyway, they produce a stainless steel with silione lid food container that will, I believe, also fit into my purse. Also on sale. I also bought two. So now I have something other than a plastic container to bring with me if ever I need to bring home leftovers or request take out in my own container. And something other than plastic in which to store my own home-cooked leftovers! In fact, between the five (five? Did I really need to buy five?) containers I purchased today (that was expensieve trip to buy crackers), I'm not even sure I'll need to use the plastic containers we have in the house anymore at all. And that really is an exciting idea.

In all this day was exciting because I am essentially a lazy person, and going out of my way to seek plastic free options is not always something I do. So when I find the plastic-free options withOUT going of my way, I feel relieved. And happy. And like I need to share these discoveries with the world!

Also, Innate is located pretty much down the street. Ok, a ways down the street. But still, I'm thinking of going for a walk to go check them out.

Oh happy, plastic-free day.

And yes, I did also buy the crackers. Six packages of them, in fact.