Part of my mission in life has always been to be as sustainable as possible. 

Not zero waste, or anything like that, but I do my part, and encourage/enable others to as well.

A perk of owning Baked By Wray is I can make an entire page on my website dedicated to local sustainability initiatives!

That's what this is. 


Here, you'll find how to recycle textiles, cosmetics, writing utensils, ink and toner, medications, and more! 

You'll also find ways to earn points/instore credit from different retailers for participating.

There's a lot of interesting, and EASY information on this page.

I've quoted direct quotes from the websites, and linked them in the title of each intiative. Any comments from me are in pink. I have no affiliations with any of these companies, except I've worked for Atlantic Superstore for 6 years. I have emailed, called, or visited in person to use most of these services myself.


Please note: 

There is really no way for me to definitively verify that all of these companies sustainability initiatives are as ethical as they state. Participate on your own accord.

All of this information is correct to the best of my knowledge as of 08/28/2023

Baked By Wray's Sustainablilty:

Easily Recyclable/Compostable Packaging:

I use packaging that may not be the highest end, but it is just going in the garbage anyway. My goal, is to make it as easy as possible for my clients to toss it into the compost or recycling, without having to fiddle with removing a window. A lot of people don't recycle, so I also like to ensure my packaging is as biodegradable as possible in case of those clients who unfortunately don't recylce, or are having my goods at an event without proper recycling. I also try to use as little packaging as possible. Ribbons, and things like that look really nice, but just aren't environmentally friendly. Sometimes I use twine, which is a more biodegradable material.


It's the little things:

Conserving water, and electricity. 

Preventing waste by buying as needed, freezing or donating ingredients I won't use before expiring, and buying in bulk.

Preventing Environmental Impacts by making larger orders as opposed to many smaller orders. Making fewer, more efficient trips to the store, as opposed to frequent, smaller trips. I try not to make individual trips for BBW.

Recycling and composting to the highest extent.

Choosing sustainable brands and/or brands with minimal packaging when possible.

Using re-usable scrubbies, cloths instead of paper towel when reasonable, using the dishwasher on turbo.

Sustainablitiy Tips:

Use Parchement Instead of, or With Tinfoil:

For example: When making lasagna, I grease parchement and put that on top, then cover with tin foil to prevent burning. This way, the tin foil is clean, and ready to be recycled, and the parchement can be composted.


Water Conservation:

I don't know about you, but my family drinks a lot of water. But sometimes it goes warm and we want to refresh it. Instead of dumping it down the sink, we pour it into a 2L jug we keep on the counter, and use it to water our plants!

I also use water from double boilers, from thawing food that didn't leak into the water, and from my dog's dish (if it hasn't been touched) for this purpose. Any clean water that isn't consumable, but safe for my plants.

HRM - Proper Waste Disposal

Not sure what goes where?

Is there something you think goes in the garbage, but aren't sure?

Stop adding to our landfills, and divert waste to where it can be best recycled.

All you do is type in the item, and it tells you how to dispose of it.

For example: Did you know frying pans can be recycled?

And remember, most plastic and metal can be rinsed and recycled.


Hazardous Waste disposal (hair dye, nail polish, things like that) need to go to the HW Facility, or be dropped off during one of their events.

Here is a great resource for an overall list of what does and doesn't go where



Electronics, Paint, Bottles, Metal

Many local Bottle Deposit locations accept these items.

Textile Recycling

"Once received, donated items are sorted and reviewed by our production teams to give them the best chance of a second life through retail and recycling. Items deemed saleable make their way on to the sales floor to be sold as Fab Finds at affordable prices to raise funds for local Salvation Army programs and services. Items not sold in store are transformed by local recyclers into industrial rags, insulation material, scrap metal to be used for cars, computers and other limitless possibilities."


Through emailing with The Salvation Army, they instructed me to label the bag with items to be recycled, before tossing it in their donation bin.

1. Take any unwanted clothes or textiles, by any brand and in any condition, to one of our stores.

2. Hand in your bag of old clothes at the cash register and receive a thank-you voucher to use toward your next purchase. Easy!

Once you’ve dropped off your previously loved fashion in one of our garment collecting boxes, our business partner takes over. It empties the boxes and sorts the contents into three categories:

Rewear: Wearable clothes are marketed as secondhand clothing.

Reuse: If the clothes or textiles are not suitable for rewear, they’re turned into other products, such as remake collections or cleaning cloths. 

Recycle: All other clothes and textiles are shredded into textile fibers and used to make, for example, insulation materials."

Always keep in mind your local SPCA/Animal Shelters, Human Shelters, Food Banks, etc

Staples Recycling

"Recycle all used writing instruments

Enjoy the convenience of recycling a wide variety of writing instruments at dedicated collection bins located inside Staples.


We’ve made getting started with the Staples Free Recycling Program easy! TerraCycle and Staples have partnered to create a FREE recycling program for all brands of writing instruments.


Search for a participating Staples location near you

Collect writing instruments

Drop off your empties to recycle at dedicated collection bins in-store"


I have used this many times, there is a bin at the Woodlawn Staples. However, they do move the bins around, and usually only managers will know what you're talking about if you ask. In my experience.

"Staples is one of the world’s largest ink recyclers, recycling millions of ink and toner cartridges each year. We’re committed to providing sustainable solutions to our customers and offer ink and toner collection along with our regular deliveries. The cartridges we collect are either reused or recycled, with end-of-life cartridges used to make other products, including items like office trays, pen and paper holders, and even Sustainable Earth by Staples™ calculator casings."


Just give your recyclables to your driver at your next delivery. We accept ink and toner cartridges, computers and monitors, *desktop printers, batteries, computer peripherals and office machines." 


You can also mail it in using a prepaid shipping label, or have large amounts picked up via pallet. There are also in-store drop off bins. So much info on this site!

Ikea Recycling

"What sorts of waste can you leave with us?


Low-energy bulbs

Striplighting

Batteries

Packaging

Small electrical appliances

Allen keys"


We always recycle our batteries and light bulbs here, so easy! Drop off is between the main entrance and the registers, in the wall.

"Every year, millions of pieces of secondhand furniture go to waste. That’s why we’re buying back your used IKEA furniture, to give chairs, shelves or chests of drawers as many lives as possible.


With the IKEA Sell-back program, IKEA Family members can receive in-store credit and give unwanted furniture a second life. This way you allow someone else to enjoy your second-hand IKEA furniture instead of having to buy something brand new.


What your used furniture is worth will vary, but you’ll get more in-store credit for pieces that are in better condition or like-new."

Other Recycling

Next time you're at an Atlantic Superstore, look at the in-store baked/"made" packaging.


All Bakery Boxes with the Loblaw logo are fully paper recyclable. There is a black circle on the top that says "this window is recyclable, repulpable, and plastic free."


The HMR/Deli section has similar packaging, but the window and paper part need to be separated, as with any other similar package.


"We overhauled the coffee aisle by replacing unrecyclable packaging made with a minimum of 80% paper content from renewable, recyclable and sustainable Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) sourced tree fibres.

100% of our President’s Choice®, no name® and PC® Organics whole bean and ground coffee products are in recyclable packaging."

"The Medication Disposal Program


NEVER flush or throw out your medications!


This program allows patients to return ANY medications they no longer need or “dead drugs” to their local community pharmacies for safe disposal at absolutely no cost! Simply empty expired/left-over medications into a bag (plastic or otherwise!) and return to your local pharmacy for destruction. 


Items Not Accepted for Destruction:

Empty medication vials/boxes*

Medication packaging*

Sharps, needles or syringes

Cosmetics

*These items can be disgarded with regular household waste - please black-out any personal informaton before doing so*"

Cosmetics Recycling

"What is Pact?

Pact is a nonprofit collective on a mission to close the loop on hard-to-recycle packaging waste in the beauty and wellness industries.


What can I drop off?

Must be 2x2 inches or smaller.


PLASTIC

-Small Tubes, Bottles, Jars, Caps

-Lipstick, Lip Gloss, and Mascara Tubes, Wands, and Applicators

-Eyeliner, Brow, and Lip Pencils -Pumps, Dispensers


COLOURED GLASS

-Small Bottles, Jars


MIXED MATERIALS

-Palettes, Compacts, Pumps

-Dental Floss Containers

-Toothpaste Tubes


FYI: Beauty empties don’t have to be from products purchased at Sephora!


What NOT to drop off:

Items accepted through your local curbside recycling program, which may include: plastic packaging larger than 2x2 inches, clear or frosted glass bottles and jars, and more. View Pact’s complete collection guidelines here.


What happens to my empties after drop-off?

Depending on volumes/contamination of empties collected for each eligible material, they may be:


MECHANICALLY RECYCLED

-into packaging, carpet, pallets, and more


DOWNCYCLED

-into asphalt or other useful products


MOLECULARLY RECYCYLED

-into material used to build something else


CONVERTED TO ENERGY

-could be turned into fuel


Which Sephora locations have drop-off bins?

All US and Canada stores now have dedicated collection bins.

"What's accepted

Skin care:

Lip balm tubes

Face soap dispensers and tubes

Lotion bottles, tubes, dispensers, and plastic jars

Non-pressurized shaving foam tubes

Hand lotion bottles and tubes

Body wash containers

Soap tubes


Makeup:

Mascara tubes

Eyeliner pencils and cases

Eye shadow tubes

Concealer tubes

Lipsticks, lip gloss, and lip liner tubes

Foundation packaging and bottles

Powder cases


What's not accepted

Perfume

Nail polish bottles and nail polish remover bottles

Aerosol cans and pressurized canisters

Organic waste, broken glass, bio-medical waste, soiled diapers, expired medication, and sharps"

"Return your clean, empty products to a participating M·A·C counter* in-store [or ONLINE] If they can be recycled, they’ll be shredded, washed, re-pelletized and recycled into the production of new materials – or, in some places, they’ll become a new M·A·C product!** The packaging that cannot be recycled will be converted into energy."


***This program is very vague, and I have not tried it.

"Empty, rinse and dry your products. They must be less than 60 mL (think: the size of a yogurt cup)., Bring them to your nearest Hudson’s Bay location and look for the bins in our beauty department. Confirm you are a Hudson’s Bay Rewards member and get $5 back in Rewards points for every five containers you recycle.*


What We Take • Mascara tubes • Lip product tubes • Makeup pencils, sticks & caps • Foundation/concealer tubes, bottles & jars • Foundation pumps & caps • Compacts & palettes • Bottles, tubes, dispensers & plastic jars less than 60 mL • Dropper tops • Extruded glass, like small sample vials • Body wash & lotion dispenser pumps • Shampoo & conditioner caps & pumps • Travel-size hair styling bottles, tubes & caps • Fragrance bottles


What We Don't Take • Aluminum tubes • Toothpaste tubes & toothbrushes • Nail polish & nail polish remover • Beauty sponges • Aerosol cans • Hair & skin care tools