LFT Group is the brand owner of Live for Tomorrow
LFT Group is the brand owner of Live for Tomorrow
Monday, August 8, 2011 at 10:00AM LFT Group is happy to announce that it has appointed Summit Speciality Foods to distribute the Live for Tomorrow range of cleaning products in BC interior and Alberta.
Summit Speciality Foods
Dave Baker
250-542-5540
Monday, June 1, 2009 at 12:45PM Household chemicals are regulated under Health Canada’s Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 (CCCR-2001).
Some strengths of CCCR-2001
* It requires hazard symbols and warnings on the labels of consumer chemical products;
* It prohibits the sale of some very hazardous chemicals.
Some weaknesses of CCCR-2001
* It does not require companies to list all ingredients;
* It does not consider the risks, such as cancer, from long-term exposure to toxic chemicals;
* It does not consider that combinations of some chemicals may be more toxic than each one separately.
Chemicals may make household cleaning easier, but not always safer.
Studies show that some chemical ingredients used in cleaning products increase the risk of long-term health problems, such as cancer and asthma, as well as short-term health problems, such as headaches and skin irritation. Chemicals that pose health risks are often considered toxic. Children exposed to toxic chemicals in household cleaning products may become more susceptible to cancers, later in life. This risk can be avoided or minimized as there are many inexpensive and non-toxic cleaning product alternatives.
Toxic chemicals are in cleaning products
Although not required, some companies may voluntarily list ingredients, but the list may not be complete. However, if there are hazard symbols on the package, there may be toxic chemicals in the cleaning product.
Watch out for: Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, Methanol, and Ethylbenzene
What do they do?
They may damage the nervous system, fetuses and can cause cancer.
They are in:
Oven cleaners, disinfectants, detergents, toilet, tub and tile cleaners, metal polishes, drain openers, adhesives, paints and finishes.
Formaldehyde
What does it do? It is known to cause cancer in people.
It is in:
Air fresheners, antibacterial dish detergents and carpet cleaners.
Toxic chemicals can go down the drain and come back through the tap
Remember that even if you are not directly exposed to the cleaning product, the chemicals that go down the drain, from the bathtub, sink, and washing machine, may come back to you in small traces in your drinking water. The water purification system is usually unable to remove all impurities.
If you use chemical cleaning products:
* Remember it is often not necessary to use as much as directed on the package;
* Never mix them;
* Wear gloves;
* Always use and store them as instructed;
* Ensure the area is well ventilated during and after cleaning;
* Rinse, remove and properly store the cleaning equipment such as sponges, rags or buckets;
* Find out how to dispose of cleaning products responsibly by calling your municipality.
Take action!
Keep it simple at home
* Phase out the use of chemical cleaners and try non-toxic alternatives.
Talk about toxic ingredients
in household cleaners
* To your friends, family, employer and
colleagues;
* To your local store owner or manager;
* Call the telephone number often provided on packages to request a list of ingredients or to voice your concerns about products containing toxic chemicals.
CCCR-2001, Canada, regulations, toxic chemicals, warning in Environment Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 04:31PM 
Live for Tomorrow is included in this years edition of Green Zebra. To buy the coupon book, and more information, please visit their website at Green Zebra.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 02:30PM Business in Vancouver August 19-25, 2008; issue 982
Survey reveals cynicism, confusion over costs of green products
While 80% of Canadians consider the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions, the majority of consumers believe that environmental claims are often just marketing ploys, according to a Bensimon Byrnes Consumerology Report, released earlier this month.
The national survey, commissioned by the Toronto-based advertising agency and conducted by Gandalf Group of 1,500 Canadians, revealed that cost was the primary barrier of adopting more environmentally friendly practices among consumers, as green products are overwhelmingly seen to be more expensive.
And while they are perceived as being more costly, two-thirds of Canadians simply don’t believe that it costs more to produce them.
However, the concern about cost does not correlate with income level but with the level of commitment each individual is willing to make to the environment.
Canadians are eager to make choices that will benefit the environment. But cost, cynicism and confusion about green marketing efforts are prohibiting them from making those choices, said Jack Bensimon, president of Bensimon Byrne.
The research suggests there is a significant opportunity for companies who are seen to be legitimate green leaders and can offer conventional pricing of environmentally friendly products.
The survey further revealed that the majority of Canadians (85%) want government-enforced standards for environmentally friendly products, as well as labelling that certifies and explains such terms as green, organic, low emissions, etc.
Not surprisingly, consumers view the companies who produce green products as the least-trusted source for information about the environmental impacts of their products.
Among other interesting findings, the survey showed that women are significantly more likely (88%) to consider environmental impact while making purchasing decisions over men (71%), which has major implications for company target marketing.
The survey challenges the conventional wisdom that youth are the predominant target for environmental marketing and found that women are most responsive, said Bensimon. As a result, companies should be more targeted in their environmental communication and focus on the female audience.
In addition, specific environmental issues were found to have more resonance with consumers than the environment as a category. Canadians place a higher level of personal importance on issues such as keeping water resources clean, reducing excess waste, and reducing air pollution and smog than they do on more abstract issues such as global warming and climate change.
Recycling is the clear leader among actions Canadians would take to benefit the environment. This stands in contrast to purchasing energy efficient appliances.
While 93% of Canadians say using energy efficient appliances would most benefit the environment, only 38% would consider taking the action because of the perceived sacrifice – the cost.
The most visible and persuasive initiative a corporation could adopt is to use less packaging, followed by using renewable energy sources for production and using recycled parts for production. •
Friday, July 11, 2008 at 12:37PM Canadian companies will be effectively banned from using phosphates in dishwasher detergent, laundry soap and household cleaners under new federal regulations designed to reduce the detrimental overfertilization of Canadian waterways.
But some environmentalists are frustrated because the regulations, recently made public, won't apply to commercial or industrial sources of phosphates, which they say are major contributors to a problem that has led to an overabundance of toxic algae.
The new rules would, for the first time, impose a limit on phosphates in dishwasher detergents and household cleaners of 0.05 per cent of the product's weight, an amount considered to be negligible.
Until now, the phosphate content in automatic dishwasher detergent has ranged from about 3.7 to 8.7 per cent, according to Shannon Coombs, president of the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association, which represents companies that make many of the products that would be affected by the new regulations.
The new rules apply to household cleaners and detergents, but not to industrial sources of phosphates. (Yvonne Berg for The Globe and Mail)
Current government rules restrict phosphate concentration to 2.2 per cent of the weight of laundry detergents. Under the new rules, laundry soap would also have to adhere to the 0.05-per-cent limit for phosphates.
"It's long overdue," said Mark Mattson, president of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, an environmental advocacy group.
"It could be incredibly significant to certain lakes, particularly those that don't have a lot of dilution and don't have a lot of drainage."
Phosphates are used in detergents and cleaners to suspend dirt particles, soften water and reduce spotting, but can lead to overfertilization when released into waterways.
That fertilization has resulted in a critical abundance of harmful algae, which release toxins that can damage plants and wildlife. An excess of phosphates can also remove oxygen from the water, potentially killing plants, fish and other creatures.
Many companies have been making efforts to reduce phosphorus, commonly referred to on product labels as phosphates, to extremely low levels in the past few years. Last fall, Manitoba became the first province to introduce legislation to reduce phosphates in detergents and soaps, and Quebec's government pledged to follow suit. Earlier this year, Loblaw Cos. Ltd. unveiled its own line of phosphate-free dishwasher detergent at the same time Wal-Mart Canada launched its own line of phosphate-free cleaning products.
Independent tests have found that phosphate-free cleaning products are as effective asthose with phosphates, according to Loblaw.
Environment Canada said that detergents and household cleaners were responsible for about 11 per cent of the phosphorus in municipal wastewater in Canada in 1996. But, also according to the department, a much higher proportion of Canadian households use dishwashers now than did in 1996, so that number could now be much higher, although many companies lowered the phosphate concentration in cleaners and laundry detergents during the same period.
The move to limit phosphates in consumer products is an important step for the environment, but the fact industry will be exempt is cause for concern, according to the Sierra Club of Canada.
"[I'm] a little disappointed," said Celeste Côté, the group's national water campaigner.
But Ms. Coombs said the exemption is necessary. That's because the cleaning equipment used by organizations such as restaurants, hospitals and schools is much different than those used in Canadian homes, and rely on phosphates to function properly.
"At this time, we don't have any alternatives that would deliver the type of sanitation that is required for hospitals and restaurants," she said.
Ms. Coombs added that most of the phosphates in waterways originate from agricultural runoff and human sewage.
Many companies have been committed to reducing phosphates in their products for years, and they support the government's move to further restrict allowable levels in many consumer products, Ms. Coombs said.
The proposed regulations, which are currently under public consultation, will take effect July 1, 2010.
Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 10:33PM Based in Port Moody, British Columbia, ‘ Live for Tomorrow ’ is an environmentally-focused company, carrying a range of earth-conscious cleaning products for use in both households and commercial premises. Following eight months of intense development, five products were launched in April 2008: powder laundry detergent; unscented liquid laundry detergent and scented and unscented fabric softeners.
Adopting a unique approach to product development, Live for Tomorrow has given a great deal of thought not only to the products, but to their use and the environmental impact of production, and packaging. This vision of re-usability and earth-friendly ingredients has driven the solution, enabling processes within the company and with retailers to process and re-use returned packaging.
The company actively recognizes the central role that business plays in a sustainable society by contributing to improvements in the quality of life locally, nationally and internationally. We are committed to participating as responsible corporate citizens in our communities and fostering partnerships with organizations that help protect and sustain the local, national and global environment for future generations.
Live for Tomorrow is also committed to sourcing, distributing and selling environmentally-friendly products with a continued dedication to promoting best business practices that respect the earth and the environment.
Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 12:02PM
The federal government has announced it will further limit the use of phosphates in household detergents to help control harmful blue-green algae growth in Canadian lakes and waterways.
Environment Minister John Baird and Public Works Minister Michael Fortier were in Montreal to announce the phosphate limit.
(CBC)
By 2010, all laundry and dishwasher detergents, and "if warranted" in some general household cleaners sold in Canada, will contain no more than 0.5 per cent phosphates by weight, federal Environment Minister John Baird said Friday in Montreal.
At the moment, the phosphorus limit in laundry detergent is 2.2 per cent.
"We've seen the impact of higher levels of phosphorus in our lakes, in our rivers, in our streams: beaches closed and summer holidays ruined; lakes and rivers choked with blue-green algae; poisonous impact on marine life and livestock. That's why our government is taking action," Baird said.
"This change will allow us to better control the amount of phosphates that end up in our lakes, in our rivers and streams, and will help curb blue-green algae growth that chokes our waters."
But Jean Langlois, national campaign director for the Sierra Club, said that agricultural runoff contributes 300 times the weight of phosphorus that dishwasher detergents do.
Asked about agriculture's contribution to the problem, Baird only said he's working on it.
The detergent limit "is one action, one of many that is needed. I think we
are signalling today an engagement that it is a priority," he said.
Phosphates promote algae growth, which appears as scum on the surface of water. The algae plants die and sink to the bottom of the lake. When they decompose, they use up the oxygen in the water, suffocating other plant and animal species.
Quebec welcomes move
Quebec Environment Minister Line Beauchamp congratulated the Conservative government for taking what she calls an "important" step in cleaning up Canadian waters.
Beauchamp "rejoiced" to have the federal government follow the lead of Quebec and Manitoba in banning phosphate-rich detergents. She said that even though the measure targets only a specific product, it would make a difference.
"People who live near lakes want to contribute to the solution" to reduce blue-green algae growth, Beauchamp said. "This is a first step, which allows everyone to participate.
"Every act counts."
Last year, Manitoba and Quebec introduced anti-phosphate measures for detergents in an attempt to address longstanding problems caused by the proliferation of blue-green algae in the respective province's lakes and rivers.
Both provinces announced plans to limit phosphate concentrations in dishwasher detergents to 0.5 per cent by 2010 and called on Ottawa to do the same.
For the past two summers, dozens of lakes in Quebec were found to be contaminated with blue-green algae. Last year, Quebec issued contamination warnings for more than 50 lakes because they contained an overabundance of algae blooms that could emit potentially dangerous toxins.
The north basin of Lake Winnipeg was also clogged with algae last summer.
The blooms are generally considered harmless to people, but they can sometimes produce neurotoxins that can be dangerous if ingested in large enough quantities.
Phosphates have long been limited in laundry detergents and shampoos in Canada. Under the current Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the concentration of phosphorus in any laundry detergent cannot exceed five per cent by weight.
Last fall, the Sierra Club endorsed a bill introduced by Bloc Québécois MP Guy André to ban detergents that contain phosphates.
The government stopped short of banning phosphates all together because "a small bit of the products does obviously lead to better results for the consumer," Baird said. "I think you need to have minimal content in it to have effectiveness in the product.
The new measures will help discourage blue-green algae growth but other polluters should also be targeted, said the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association.
"We're really hoping that other players who are the more significant contributors come to the table and provide some solutions on how we can ensure that our lakes and waterways are safe," said Shannon Coombs, president of the national association.
Manufacturers are weighing alternatives to phosphates, such as citric acid, that would give detergents extra power to break down grease and grime.
2010, Canada, cbc, dishwasher, john baird, laundry detergent, new regulations, phosphates in Canada, Industry news 
