How we select products...

Selecting Products

P'lovers' Mission Statement includes the questions that P'lovers founders Ann Caverzan and Liz Crocker, along with Susan and JD,  use to guide their product selection. As a result, a vision-based or criteria-based rationale exists for every product in the store.

These criteria questions have led to some interesting developments in terms of product selection. For example, originally Ann and Liz sourced bat houses (a single bat can eat 1000 mosquitoes a night and so bats can replace the need for toxic insect repellents) from Maine. Because of P'lovers' commitment to try to find products regionally or locally, Ann and Liz approached a local carpenter to make bat houses for them. As a result, the transportation costs associated with this product, both in terms of money and pollution resulting from transportation, have been eliminated. As well, this initiative on the part of Anne and Liz has generated work locally and lowered the price of this product for P'lovers' customers.  Susan and JD have done this very same review and have changed from suppliers that were thousands of kilometres away in place of some that are now right in our backyard!

These selection criteria act as quality standards for the businesses that P'lovers' deals with and sometimes isolate good products that will not be carried. By way of example, P'lovers received an initial order for rechargeable flashlights, nightlights and light sensors. The products themselves were good but, in Ann and Liz's estimation, they were over packaged in non-recyclable materials. As a result, Ann and Liz wrote the company saying they would not be able to re-order these products unless the company changed its packaging.

Ann and Liz involve their staff in a number of product selection decisions and everyone at P'lovers is able to explain the selection basis and the environmental attributes and benefits of every product carried by P'lovers.  P'lovers strives to find natural, organic, recycled, reused, & non-toxic alternative products. Our selection process includes determining not only whether the products are useful and what they are made from, but also how and where they are made.

We are pleased to find items made in our own backyard but we also search the four corners of the globe. and we are proud to represent products made in a wide variety of countries in the developing world.  Many of the very small companies and communities we work with are creating livelihoods based, as one company says, on "dignity not charity". In every case, we do our best to determine that the working conditions are safe and that wages are fair.

Some companies have been certified as Fair Trade... with others, we try to assess whether the working conditions comply with Fair Trade principles.

And this brings us to China. When we consider importing products made in China, just as we do with products from every other country, we ask our usual questions to develop a level of confidence that the working conditions and wages are fair and reasonable.  We believe that supporting companies in all countries which produce environmentally appropriate products and provide fair working conditions is one of the ways we can make important changes in the world.  It could be argued that companies in China (and elsewhere) which are trying to do the right thing are 'environmental pioneers' and need support rather than abandonment.

At P'lovers, "due diligence" is always part of our business.

The wonderful world of towels provides many options so that P'lovers can offer customers a variety of alternatives. The core criteria, in addition to fabrication and dyes, is that the towels must be well made, absorbent, and reasonably priced.

When P'lovers first opened, it seemed the best it could do was offer natural, unbleached, cotton towels and a few, very expensive organic cotton towels. Now the range includes, without huge price discrepancies, towels made from organic cotton and bamboo.

Organic cotton towels have been grown without the use of any pesticides and no chemicals have been used in their manufacturing.

Viscose made from Bamboo towels are very soft and cozy and very popular with customers and it can be great fun to talk to customers about the many facets and wonderful properties of bamboo.

P'lovers' towels are of great quality and long lasting. It is important to note that most new towels appear to have low absorbency. This is true for all new towels and it takes a few washes and uses to make the towels fully absorbent.

In addition to bath towels, P'lovers also carries hand towels for either bathroom or kitchen use.

So much of our days are spent in the kitchen - preparing food, eating, cleaning up...and also socializing. As much truth as there is in the line "you are what you eat", it could also be said that you are what you eat with, from and on. P'lovers looks for dishes, cooking tools, and food storage items that are non-toxic, made from sustainable materials and processes, and that help one reduce and recycle.

For example, bamboo dishes and cooking tools are very durable, have a gentle appearance and soft feel, and are made from a material that grows quickly, without pesticides, and is harvested sustainably. As well, bamboo absorbs little water leading to very little warping. Bamboo can be simply cleaned with soap and water.

Natural loofah pot scrubbers and Mabu clothes made from wood fibres replace the need to use steel wool or plastic scrubbies. And squished wine bottles that have been turned into cutting boards or cheese platters remind people that even when the first use of an item is finished, recycling it may help it have another life.

As people become more fearful of health risks associated with use of plastic, they are looking for alternatives to plastic water bottles, plastic food storage dishes and travel coffee mugs with plastic liners. P'lovers has a wide assortment of all these items made from stainless steel as a safe alternative to plastic.

P'lovers believes that the more people find ways to connect to nature, through such things or activities as birds, plants, hiking, or gardening, the greater the chance will be that they will have respect for the natural environment. Consequently, P'lovers carries a wide range of products related to appreciating nature and being outdoors.

Product selections in this area could completely overwhelm the store, however, if we selected everything available…especially given that there are entire stores devoted wholly to birding, or hiking, or gardening.

P'lovers' aim is to have a selection of items that are unusual and affordable that relate to our overall mission...such as outdoor mats made from recycled plastic or rubber; gift cards that have wildflower seeds embedded into the handmade, recycled paper; and bird callers that people can carry in their pocket when they are out walking or hiking.

P'lovers also carries some products that help people be outdoors safely, such as non-toxic bug repellent, SPF lotion, natural fibre sun-hats, and dynamo or solar-charged flashlights.

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

There's a big world - actually a HUGE world - out there when it comes to personal care products. It can be overwhelming to know where to begin, what to choose, where to stop.

P'lovers looks for personal care products with the following characteristics:

organic ingredients, natural scent (using pure essential oils) or fragrance-free, non-toxic, biodegradable, refillable, handmade, cruelty-free (not tested on animals), locally produced,

effective

The products we carry may not meet every criteria but must meet the bulk of them.

We look for products which are simply formulated. No matter how diligent we are in our selection process, we have learned that what is 'natural' and safe for one person is harmful to another. For example, tea tree oil is a wonderful oil and has many helpful uses...however, some people are allergic to tea tree oil. P'lovers staff are familiar with the ingredients of the products we stock and we welcome customers' questions.

There are a lot of options out there…including some from companies that claim to make products that would meet our mission by calling them 'organic' or 'natural'; but when we carefully look through the ingredients list, we realize that the bulk of the ingredients are toxic and harmful to both human health and the environment.

A common challenge when choosing products is to know what the difference is between fragrances, scents and essential oils. 'Essential oils' are pure pressed or distilled oils straight from the plans with no additives and without being artificially made. 'Fragrances', on the other hand, contain up to 250 chemicals and can cause allergic reactions and sensitivities.

P'lovers also makes sure it carries personal care products which are 'unscented'. These are especially suited for those with chemical sensitivities.

BABY & PREGNANCY

It's been said that Babies are the best way to start people. That said, it is important that babies get the best possible, healthy start.

From P'lovers point of view, this means that babies are exposed to as few toxic chemicals as possible through their clothing and toys and shampoos, soaps, talcs, etc. (See 'Personal Care', 'Cleaning', and 'Clothing' for more details on various toxic nasties).

A baby's exposure to toxins is particularly dangerous because:
 

1. babies are small and so any toxic exposure that might be tolerable to an adult, can be extremely dangerous to a baby. As well some toxins bio-accumulate in babies as they grow…so a little amount becomes a large amount over time.
   
    

2. babies are still growing and developing and exposure to toxins can interfere with healthy development, sometimes with permanent results.
    

Over the years, P'lovers has been able to find more and more suppliers of organic baby clothing and personal care items for both babies and pregnant moms. Bamboo clothing for babies is a new sustainable option for little ones.

We are particularly excited about our new line of reusable diapers, made in Canada, called Applecheeks. Each baby needs between 5000-7000 diaper changes in its first two years...using reusable cloth diapers can reduce an enormous amount of waste from landfills and save you lots of money.

CLEANING PRODUCTS

"There's nothing like a cleanser that actually works as advertised, bulldozing through dirt and leaving a surface sparkling clean. But conventional cleaning products can actually leave indoor air polluted with a toxic smog of petrochemical volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the synthetic fragrances sued to mask them."

(Taken from E Magazine, January/February 2007)

Many of the cleaning products typically founds in people's homes are extremely toxic to the point that they are hazardous to one's health and also harmful to air, water supplies and septic systems. As well, many homes, rather than having one all-purpose cleaner, complicate the possibility of a 'toxic soup' by having a wide array of different cleaning products for different uses - from toilet bowl cleaners to window solutions.

P'lovers aims to provide alternatives that are simply formulated, effective, and safe for both the user and the environment. P'lovers looks for cleaning products which are phosphate-free, chlorine-free, vegetable based, biodegradable, and made with ingredients that are fully disclosed. As well, we have books that can guide people who want to make their own cleaning products using such basics such as borax, vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, toothpaste, lemons, and natural vegetable-based soaps.

Often without even knowing it, people are living amidst ever increasing amounts and numbers of chemical agents which have not been assessed for their impacts on human health. Estimates are that 80,000 different chemical compounds are now in use. It has been further estimated that 5 to 10% of these might be reasonably expected to cause cancer! In May, 2005, the Carcinogenic Potency Database, a global catalog of existing chemical carcinogenicity research at the University of California, listed 1,485 chemicals as known carcinogens.

What little we do know about daily contact with toxic household materials, including cleaners, strongly suggests that exposure to many of the common products that we take for granted can cause cancer, hormonal disruption, nerve and organ damage, asthma, allergies, and other health problems. In addition, many of these household chemicals can contaminate the water and the air. One study has suggested that by 2020, emissions for household products are projected to exceed tailpipe emissions as the Los Angles region's number one cause for smog.

The field is very complicated and one can often feel as though on needs a PhD. In biochemistry to make wise selections. It is helpful to refer to some books which describe (a) common ingredients to avoid and (b) alternatives ways of cleaning everything from tarnished silver to ordinary laundry. For example, "Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning" (New Society Press) is a good, albeit at times frightening, book to have. It covers the scary stuff and safe alternatives.

The usual suspects that one should try to avoid in cleaning products include the following (taken from "Naturally Clean").

• Surfactants - a modern kind of detergent that functions as old-fashioned soap used to…except that surfactants are largely made from petroleum. Because surfactants are found in almost every form of household cleaning product, look for items that use vegetable-based surfactants for a better option.
  

• Solvents - often called degreasers and are, as a general rule, among the most toxic components in typical products. They evaporate easily but then are in the air to irritate eyes, mucous membranes and internal organs and the neurological system.
  

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - carbon-based chemicals that evaporate and form vapors at room temperature which are transported directly to the brain where they can be as intoxicating as ether or chloroform - found in household materials and cleaning products. VOCs are highly toxic but are often labeled as "organic" because they are made from carbon. As a general rule, if you can smell something, you are smelling a VOC.
  

• Synthetic dyes - used to colour products but are only cosmetic and (a) have absolutely nothing to do with making a product effective as a cleaner and (b) are irritants, resistant to biodegradation and are highly toxic to aquatic life.
  

• Synthetic fragrances - often added to products to make the small appealing and/or to cover up what the product really smells like on its own - like dyes, they are completely cosmetic, have nothing to do with the product's effectiveness, and in one study of 2,983 chemicals used by the fragrance industry, 884 toxic substances were identified as capable of causing breathing difficulties, allergic reactions, and neurological damage.
  

• Optical brighteners - are often added to laundry detergents to make fabrics look brighter or whiter but, in truth, they simply coat clothing to create an optical illusion. Many optical brighteners are derived from benzene, a highly toxic compound. They don't break down in the environment; they are toxic to fish; they can create bacterial mutations; and they can cause allergic reactions when they come into contact with the skin.
  

• Inerts - a wide array of chemicals which are considered 'non-active' ingredients in that they do not actually do the work of the cleaning agent…but they are still there and many have never been tested as to their effects. Of the 1400 chemicals that the Environmental Protection Agency in the USA allows manufacturers to call 'inert', over 100 are either known carcinogens or believed to cause considerable harm.

In summary, P'lovers' tries to select products which are simple in their formulation and concentrated so that a little goes a long way (and reduces the per use cost).

"We should all remember the simple things we can do…like use the readily available 'solar-powered clothes dryer'...the common clothesline."

(One load of laundry in the dryer uses enough energy to make 250 pieces of toast.)

NATURAL & ORGANIC CLOTHING
(Including Hats, Socks, Shoes, Underwear and Sleepwear)
 

Someone once said "If you want to change the world, change your socks!" While this is, sadly, too simple to be true, paying attention to what we wear and what it is made of and how it is made can have significant environmental impacts.

P'lovers looks for clothes made from natural, organic, reused or recycled fabrics that use low-impact dyes. As with all of our products, we also look for items made close to home and items made in a fair trade, supportive work environment.

Sometimes clothing combines reused and new clothing - we try to check before hand and focus on items which have the highest percentage of reused cloth.

As with all product categories, P'lovers tries to always improve the environmental significance of what we carry. For example, when we opened in 1992, it was very difficult to find decent looking clothing made from organic cotton and so we at least tried to have clothing made from 'natural' cotton (cotton grown with pesticides but not exposed to chemical treatments or formaldehyde in the production process). Now, it is much easier to find clothing made from organic cotton and the number of items made from natural cotton has been reduced.

Does P'lovers ever carry clothing with polyester? The answer to this question is "No, unless it is recycled." Polyester, like plastic, is made from petroleum which is a non-renewable resource and P'lovers only wants to promote products made from renewable resources. The 'unless' part of the answer, though, comes from (a) clothes which may be made from clothing that is reused that includes polyester or (b) clothes which are made from recycled pop bottles (when plastic bottles are recycled, they can be transformed into fleece-like fiber).

FABRIC LEXICON:

The following outlines the kinds of fabrics P'lovers carries and their relevant features and benefits. P'lovers tries to tell its customers about the fabric(s) in the items a customer chooses...both the environmental values and how to care for the fabric.

Bamboo: Although bamboo is just grass, plants can grow to giant-sized timber. Bamboo exceeds 100 feet in many parts of the world and is used for food, fodder, construction material as well as clothing and paper products. Bamboo, often called a supergrass, is nearly as strong as steel and can be woven as soft as silk for one-twentieth the cost. It grows pesticide free, is harvested every three to four years, self-regenerates when cut down, and is completely biodegradable.

Bamboo fabric is made from lyocell (see Micro-modal fabric as well) which is made from viscose from bamboo pulp. Bamboo fabric has the drape and feel of soft, silk jersey and yet is durable; it is known for its unusual coolness and natural antibacterial and hypoallergenic qualities.

Bamboo is great for the environment as it uses zero pesticides, zero soil disturbance, zero fertilizers, and zero irrigation.

Cotton:

(a) Natural Cotton: This term means that the cotton has been grown conventionally using pesticides but, once picked, has not been exposed to chemical bleaches, dyes or formaldehyde. Typically, natural cotton is light beige in color but it is also possible to get whiter natural cotton which has been bleached by the sun or by using non-toxic substances like hydrogen peroxide. It is important to check with companies as some use the word "natural" to refer to a color created by bleaching the fabric and then dying it to look "natural".

(b) Organic Cotton: Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides. Given that conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides, pesticides and herbicides that any single crop in the world, choosing organic cotton is a very significant choice for reducing environmental harm to the earth and to what you have next to your skin and mouth. The growth of organic options for baby clothes and beddings is most significant. The exposure of tiny bodies to the masses of chemicals in conventional cotton and bedding is, given the size of a baby, is relatively huge. As well, many of these chemicals 'bio-accumulate' in babies making their effects even larger.

One of the most convincing arguments for the use of organic cotton is because conventionally grown cotton represents only 3% of the world's cultivated crops and yet uses 26% of all pesticides.

Hemp: Hemp is the oldest cultivated fiber plant known. Hemp has been used in textiles as far back as 8000 B.C. Hemp is the strongest natural fiber known and the fiber for hemp cloth comes from the stems of the plant. Hemp helps block UVA and UVB rays, is resistant to bacteria and mold, and tends not to shrink when washed. With great wicking properties, hemp can keep you cool in hot weather and can provide warmth when it is cold.

Hemp is naturally pest resistant and so is typically grown without pesticides; it is an aggressive plant and naturally chokes out invasive weeds and other predators. Hemp uses little water; grows quickly (per acre, hemp can produce 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax/linen) and so can produce multiple crops; and adds nutrients to the soil rather than depleting the soil.

All elements of the hemp plant can be used - for paper, for textiles, for food, for fuel. Hemp fiber used to be used in the manufacture of American paper money! Industrial hemp is "low THC" and so if you smoke your clothes, you cannot get high - you will only have burned clothes.

Because hemp fibers are long, it does not tend to shrink as much as other fabrics. That being said, all of the clothing at P'lovers has been pre-shrunk and we draw people's attention to proper care instructions.

Linen/Flax: One of the most natural and environmentally friendly fibers in the world, linen has been grown for centuries without danger to the environment. Long linen fibers are made from the crushed stems of the flax plant and are spun into yarn. Woven or knitted, linen produces a fabric with a natural sheen and slightly uneven texture. It is moisture absorbent and cool as well as strong and durable. Linen is a renewable resource. Every part of the flax plant is used - in textile and paper industries, oil paints, soap and food. Linen is a very strong fiber which softens with wear but does not lose its strength. Linen tends not to shrink with washing.

Micromodal: Micromodal is made from natural beechwood cellulose fiber made in Austria and woven in Germany. It meets the European Oeko Tex Standard 100 which guarantees a completely chemical free fabric. Micromodal feels like silk, launders easily, and is supple and soft. The fabric is so fine that ten thousand meters of this fiber thread weighs only one single gram. Micromodal does not shrink.

Mohair: Mohair is the fleece that is sheared twice yearly from the Angora goat. Mohair is a natural renewable resource and is renowned for its luster, softness, warmth, durability and easy care. Kid mohair is the first hair sheared from a young kid sheep. It has the softness of cashmere and the strength of mohair.

Rayon: A synthetic fiber made from cellulose derived from wood and plant pulp. It tends to crease unless treated and it is often blended with natural fibers.

Recycled: Eco-spun transforms PET (recyclable plastic bottles) into tiny pellets which are then liquefied to become polyester fibers. Eco-spun reduces the burden on the world's landfills and natural resources and provides a viable end-use for recycled post-consumer PET bottles.

Reused: This term refers to clothing made from pre-existing clothing that is cut and sewn into attractive products. No chemical processes are used other than what went into the production of the original clothing. This is a way of getting style and reducing waste going into the landfill.

Soy: Soy was cultivated in China before 3000 BC and was classified as one of the five sacred crops. Soy was used years ago by Henry Ford to make a wool-like fabric that once upholstered the seats of his cars. Soy has also been used for fuel, plastic, paint, ink and food. Soy-based fabrics are as soft as silk and cashmere. Soy fabric is washable and wrinkle-resistant.

Silk: The secret of silkworm production began in China over 5000 years ago and was once the primary currency for commercial trade. Silk is the strongest protein fiber for its weight and is stretchy, resilient, luxurious, breathable, and warm.

Tencel: A cellulose fiber made from wood pulp. It is produced by a special solvent-spinning processing using a non-toxic solvent that is 99% recoverable and recyclable. Tencel has exceptional strength and drapes fluidly and has the luster of silk. Another name for Tencel is lyocell...the fiber is 100% biodegradable. This fiber breathes with the body, absorbs moisture and then releases it to preserves warmth. Does not shrink. "From the tree - to the body - enveloped in nature - quite simply for the well-being of mankind."

Wool: Sheep have been domesticated for wool for nearly 12,000 years. Wool is a natural fiber and can be sheer, thin, soft, or thick. Wool is naturally flame resistant. Wool has excellent insulating capacity enabling you to be warm when it is cold and keep you cool when it is hot. It also absorbs moisture without feeling damp, sheds dirt easily so it doesn't need to be cleaned as often, and is durable and resistant to static.

Candles have been used for centuries and for many reasons - in rituals, for light, to create a romantic or relaxing atmosphere, to make our homes smell good. P'lovers is a huge fan of candles but we are eager to provide alternatives to the kind of candles that the majority of people use.

Most candles sold today are actually made from paraffin which is a by-product of the petroleum refining industry. The fact that they are petroleum-based explains why they smoke and leave black marks on walls and ceilings when they are burned. Not only are these candles made from toxic, non-renewable petroleum, but most of them are then dyed and fragranced with more toxic chemicals to cover up their oily smell and appearance. So these candles that so many people love to burn to nicely fragrance their homes are actually emitting toxic chemicals and carcinogens into the air when they are burned.

In addition to being toxic, these paraffin candles are highly inefficient. Most of them burn right down the middle, leaving thick walls of wax behind that most people throw out. But now for the good news…there are lovely, non-toxic alternatives to these stinky, paraffin candles so we don't have to sit in the dark during power outages!

Beeswax Candles

A lovely, non-toxic alternative to paraffin candles are 100% pure beeswax candles. When burned beeswax has a beautiful, golden flame and produces little to no smoke. It has a natural, subtle honey scent and it is possible to add essential oils to the pool of wax as the candle burns if additional aromatherapy is desired.

Also, besides burning cleanly, beeswax actually cleanses the air of toxins by emitting negative ions. Positive ions are created in many ways around our homes and attach themselves to dust, toxins, and mould, making these irritants airborne and easy to inhale. Negative ions are beneficial because they join with positive ions to create full molecules that are heavy and fall to the ground where they are less likely to irritate us.

Finally, beeswax is a much more efficient fuel than paraffin. A high quality beeswax candle will actually have a wick whose width is determined by the size of the candle - the larger the candle, the larger the wick. Some very large beeswax candles will actually have multiple wicks to ensure that the candle is burning as efficiently as possible.

Unlike with paraffin candles, beeswax candles, with proper wick maintenance, will burn with very little wax wasted. The wax that is left can later be "fed" into another beeswax candle. In fact, although beeswax candles seem expensive at first glance, when burned properly beeswax actually costs just pennies an hour to burn.
 

**Please note that when buying beeswax candles it is important to make sure that the candles are truly 100% beeswax and that the wicks are 100% cotton or plant fibre and contain no lead!

**It is also important to note that beeswax candles are not a suitable paraffin alternative for some vegans as the wax comes from the labour of bees. Vegans who are opposed to beeswax candles can feel comfortable burning candles made from soy and other vegetable waxes.
 

Soy Candles (& Other Vegetable Wax Candles)

Soy wax provides another alternative to paraffin candles. Soy wax is also clean burning and has no odour when burned, making it an especially good option for those who are sensitive to most smells. However, as with beeswax, soy wax can also be scented with essential oils. Soy wax burns at a cooler temperature than beeswax.

Another important benefit to soy wax is that it is a healthy vegan alternative to paraffin candles as many vegans will not use beeswax candles.

Soy wax candles are typically less expensive than beeswax candles making them appealing to many who wish to burn non-toxic candles but are put off by the cost of beeswax candles. However, it is important to point out to those customers that soy wax is not as efficient as beeswax and will burn more like a paraffin candle, often leaving some wax behind.

There are also candles made with other non-toxic waxes such as palm wax and other vegetable oil waxes that are other possible alternatives to paraffin candles.

JEWELRY

People have chosen to adorn their bodies, with make-up and jewelry, since the beginning of time. While one might say that jewelry is frivolous and completely unnecessary, the reality is that people like jewelry and P'lovers' mission is to present environmentally sound alternatives.

The jewelry P'lovers carries is typically made from some reused, or recycled, or natural substances. For example, we have jewelry made from cutlery, reused to make rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces; jewelry made from recycled glass and old scrabble tiles; jewelry made from natural seeds and pods sustainably harvested in South America; and silver jewelry made by the Karin hill tribe people who are trying to sustain their way of living of simple livelihoods and by preserving old craft traditions.

Jewelry at P'lovers is often 'one-of-a-kind'. Customers often appreciate the fact that they are getting something that is unique and, in a sense, a piece of hand-crafted art.

RUGS & MATS

Floor coverings are worthy of attention if one is wanting to improve one's indoor environment. For years, the preferred style was to have wall-to-wall carpeting but, over the years, we have learned more about the typically synthetic fibres used to make carpets which have, in turn, off-gased and caused health problems.

As well, wall-to-wall carpeting tends to capture and hide dust thereby stimulating allergic reactions in many.

More recently, there has been a shift to people getting rid of their carpets and switching to wood flooring or other alternatives such as cork and bamboo. For decorative reasons and for reasons of warmth, people are looking for area rugs and mats. P'lovers tries to offer rugs and mats which are made from either natural fibres (such as jute) or recycled fibres such as rag rugs (often called chindi rugs) and recycled rubber and plastic mats.

ALTERNATE ENERGY

P'lovers tries to showcase consumer products which can reduce our consumption of non-renewable energy and reduce our consumption of toxic batteries. We also try to have books which describe larger alternate energy initiatives - such as ways of living off the grid using solar power, having a hybrid car, using composting toilets.

In our selection of alternate energy consumer products, we have tried to identify companies who really stand behind their products and will take them back if they break easily or do not function as described