This Little Changes Day, we're inviting you to reduce, reuse, recycle, and reimagine your everyday sustainability habits
There is a popular Chinese proverb that says: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." The next best day to start thinking about the little changes we can make in our lives is today.
Today, Maple Leaf Foods marks its 4th Annual Little Changes Day. This day was established to celebrate Maple Leaf Foods' carbon neutral anniversary and encourage everyone to partake in their own sustainability journey, by integrating eco-friendly habits into everyday routines.
This year we are going back to the basics. Remember those three Rs - reduce, reuse, recycle? The three Rs are the pillars for everyday recycling and help us to make Little Changes in our lives.
We’re continuing to make Little Changes based on the three Rs like re-launching our line of Maple Leaf Prime® Raised Without Antibiotics frozen chicken offerings, including chicken nuggets and strips, with a new resealable bag. This change provides enhanced convenience for consumers and resulted in a 75% reduction in packaging – overall helping everyone reduce.
We also recycle by having all of our products made at our London fresh poultry facility come in a 100% recyclable, clear tray made with 96% post-consumer recycled content.
Here are some ways to make today the first day to incorporate little changes that can have long term positive impact:
1. Reduce
Focus on minimizing waste and consumption.
- Buy less, choose well: Opt for quality over quantity to reduce frequent replacements.
- Go digital: Reduce paper use by switching to digital documents and receipts.
- Avoid single-use items: Carry reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
- Meal planning: Helps reduce food waste and unnecessary packaging.
2. Reuse
Extend the life of items by finding new uses for them.
- Donate or sell: Give clothes, electronics, and furniture a second life.
- Repair instead of replace: Fix broken items when possible.
- Use cloth instead of paper: Cloth napkins, towels, and cleaning rags are reusable.
In fact, Maple Leaf Food’s vey own Chef Sam has shared some excellent “up-cooking” tips to get the most our of leftovers here.
3. Recycle
Properly sort and dispose of recyclable materials.
- Know your local rules: Recycling guidelines vary by municipality.
- Clean recyclables: Rinse containers to avoid contamination.
- Recycle electronics: Use e-waste programs for phones, batteries, and computers.
- Compost organic waste: Food scraps and yard waste can be composted.
What about that fourth R?
The three Rs are a great way to think about waste reduction, but there is opportunity for a fourth R as well.
It all depends on who you’re talking to, but that fourth R can have different meanings and all of them are important.
Here are just a few of the Rs we see people adding to the mix:
- Repurpose
- Refuse
- Rethink
- Repair
- Recover
- Respond
What’s great about that list is that it provides flexibility for people to think about the little changes they could make and the fourth R that fits best into their life to help them successfully take on change.
Refuse is interesting as it challenges all of us to pause and ask ourselves if we need the item or want it, and would it be good to refuse it so that we are not adding waste later.
Repurpose can be fun and call on imagination to give items a second life – how many people can recall making a bird feeder out of a bottle, and how many of us use old jars to store small items such as nails, screws, or thumb tacks? Congratulations, you are already on your way.
