
If you are trying to live your best life by increasing joy and minimizing stress, all while keeping your carbon footprint as low as realistically possible, welcome to the club!
Inspired by increased media around global environmental events (Hello Covid), youth eco-leaders (We love you, Greta!), and of course the earth loving-superstars who can fit their whole family’s year of trash into a mason jar (🙋♀️ Hi @ZeroWasteHome, @Going.Zero.Waste and others!), more and more people are making the switch to low waste living, but are facing information overload in the process, not to mention restrictions of budget and time.
Fortunately, as we come out of the worst of the pandemic (🤞🤞🤞) and ease back into our communities with fresh perspectives on green-living priorities, the digital world has our back. Apps to find local businesses that sell vetted eco-friendly products, thoughtful blog posts outlining action steps to take, and online groups to support, educate and encourage you on your journey abound!
Here we provide a handy eco-resource list for our various “basic needs”, with a modern touch. From Wikipedia: “A traditional list of immediate “basic needs” is food (including water), shelter and clothing. Many modern lists emphasize … not just food, water, clothing and shelter, but also sanitation, education, and healthcare.” *And we include these additional aspects. (Note: This list does not cover “psychological” or “sociological” needs – we stick to the PHYSICAL fundamentals here!)

FOOD
Our eating habits impact the natural world, and its balance, more than anything else that we do! These resources are a good jumping off point to start eating seasonally, locally and sustainably – as well as how to waste less!
CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE LINK |
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Grocery List | Shopping with a list helps you to buy only what you need. Stick to the list to avoid food waste |
(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)
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Seasonal eating | Eat seasonally per your region to lower your footprint |
Canadian Blog Article: “What’s In Season”
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Farmers Markets | Find a farmers’ market in your community to source locally grown, seasonal produce – win-win-win! |
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Local Fruit Sharing | If your fruit trees produce more fruit that you can eat, you can share it with others! Find, or share the bounty, for free at this network of fruit sharing resources across Canada. |
Operation Fruit Rescue, website
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Local Food Sharing | With a motto of “Share More. Waste Less.” – sign up to get notified if anyone in your neighbourhood has excess food or goods to share, or share your own |
“Olio” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Seafood Sustainability | Make informed seafood choices that support healthy oceans, today and always. Science backed. |
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Monitor foods by expiry dates |
It’s amazing how much food waste occurs from items expiring in our fridges. Track purchase dates and make sure to “rotate” items when you put them away to prevent this waste.
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“NoWaste – Food Inventory List” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Claim identifications | These resources explain what commonly seen food-package claims really mean from “Naturally Grown” to “Responsibly Grown”… it can be a hard area to navigate! |
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Meat Free | There are many reasons to move toward a plant-based diet. This website lets you see how much difference you can make by going meat free, even one day a week | Meat Free Mondays, Interactive Website |
[Bonus! Check out this great article regarding the sustainability of Seafood: https://www.chatelaine.com/food/buying-sustainable-fish-in-canada/]

WATER
Water is the magic elixir of life. Essential for the survival of every aspect of life on Earth, it is more important than ever that we ALL act as stewards of this valuable resource. From doing your part daily by choosing products that are water wise (like Live for Tomorrow line ups), shutting off the tap while brushing your teeth, refilling your water bottle from local spots, to supporting those who actively protect our oceans and lakes, all these actions do add up!
CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE LINK |
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Water refill stations |
Refilling your water bottle at locations throughout your community is an excellent way to reduce plastic use (Another tip, many coffee shops and cafes will fill your bottle for you – if you are polite and they aren’t too busy! Also, many malls now have a bottle filling station next to their drinking fountains, often near the washrooms.) |
https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/water-fountains.aspx
“Quench” Water Refill Station Finder for Toronto (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)
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Ocean Protectors
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15 Brave Organizations Fighting to Save Our Oceans, including SeaShephard, Greenpeace and more | Marine Insight, Blog Article |
Freshwater Protectors | Follow for actions you can take nationwide to support those on the front lines protecting our water! |
https://www.freshwateralliance.ca
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Get involved | 10 ways you can do your part to help protect the ocean |
Oceana, Blog Article: https://oceana.org/living-blue/10-ways-you-can-help-save-oceans
(Follow @oceana_canada) |

CLOTHING
It’s fun to be frugal! Frugal with both money and resources. The links in this list all help “green up” your wardrobe. From swapping clothes, to buying and selling used items online, to only buying “new” pieces if they are from sustainable manufacturers or local makers… “Green” looks good on everyone! Just say NO … to fast fashion!
CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE LINK |
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Swapping, sharing | “Swap the clothes you’ve fallen out of love with for clothes you want to wear now” | https://www.swapsociety.co/ |
Buying/sell clothes online | Buy or sell gently worn clothes online |
(“Poshmark” App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Sustainable manufacturers | LA based company whose mended and manufactured products are created from a combination of post-consumer waste, deadstock and domestically, organically grown fibers. | |
Upcycled fashion | Follow fashion forward designers with creative style |
Zero Waste Daniel, Designer @zerowastedaniel Sarah the Upcyclist, Designer |

HOME
Your home is your sanctuary and should be an oasis from the toxins and stresses of life. Swapping to all-natural products for household cleaning, refilling with local staples for the pantry, adding plants both indoors and out, being conscious of what products you buy – making choices that are good for you, your home, your family AND the environment does wonders to improve the quality of your life.
CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE LINK |
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Refillery finder | Find local sources for sustainable and refillable daily use items | https://lftbrands.com/store-locator/ and filter on “Refill” |
Zero Waste Guide | Timeless information on converting to a zero-waste life | ZeroWaste Guide, PDF |
Learn how to take action at home |
Podcast about reducing toxins at home, by “Green at Home”
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“The Missing Pillar of Health” (Podcast found on your favourite podcast player) |
Plant Care Guide | Tips on taking care of your plants, signs of disease to watch for – also – reminders to water! |
“Planta” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store)
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SANITATION
“There is no such thing as away. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.” Annie Leonard wisely stated in “The Story of Stuff”. We need to move away from the throw away culture, and even recycling culture, and move toward first having less waste, and second, how we handle the waste we do produce. As we move toward lower waste living, below are some resources to deal with the inevitable “Stuff” along the way, and above all we highly recommend getting familiar with your local Waste Management Resources – call or email your local municipal government to receive a detailed list of what is and is not accepted in your blue bin, and what to do with that which isn’t.
* Great article about plastics in Canada: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/03/09/canada-drowning-plastic-waste-recycling-wont-save-us
CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE LINK |
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Compost | Find where you can compost in your area |
(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Recycling Apps | Recycling Apps: how and what |
(Apps available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Freecycling | Join over 8 million people around the world are giving and getting free things in their local communities |
https://trashnothing.com/beta/
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Recycling Electronics | Electronics recycling across Canada | |
Defined – Recycling Symbols | Recycle symbols defined | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling_codes |
Wishcycling | Education article |
Road Runner Recycling, Blog Article: https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/blog/wishcycling Road Runner Recycling, Waste Audit Guide: |
Waste into Fuel | Company working to convert ALL plastics and other waste into fuel | https://www.cielows.com |

WORK & PLAY
“Education” gets a reboot in this section with resources to green-up your “Work & Play” with alternate transportation options and supporting the planting of trees just by browsing the internet, and staying away from your device!
CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE LINK |
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Transportation – Car Share | Learn about carsharing coast to coast – Canada | https://movmi.net/shared-mobility-canada/ |
Biking | Find bike routes to get around more easily without need of fuel |
“Bikemap” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Search engine | Plant trees while you browse! This app uses profit from ads to plant trees! |
“Ecosia” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Time management | Limiting screen time allows you to get more done – this app will incentivize you, and will plant actual trees as a result! |
“Forest” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |

HEALTH & WELLBEING
With “Healthcare” reframed as “Health & Wellbeing”, these resources support green options around physical and mental health, particularly with making informed choices about the products you interact with daily. (This short list is in no way to be regarded as a replacement to medical advice from a physician.)
CATEGORY | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCE LINK |
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Lifestyle product rankings | Search products for a ranking “Dirty”, “Half n’ Half” or “Clean” – see how the products you use every day stack up! |
(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Cosmetics product rankings |
Cosmetics Database ranked as Low, Moderate or High Hazard!
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(App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Activities | Adopt sustainable activities into your life |
“Joulebug” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Physical Health -Challenges | Get around by foot, bike, kayak, etc – and track your distances. Challenge friends and yourself! |
“Strava” (App available in Google Play and Apple App Store) |
Mental Health | From suicide prevention, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, to meditation – this article lists various apps to support your mental health |
https://www.psycom.net/25-best-mental-health-apps
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And a Canadian community that encompasses them all? Random Acts of Green (RAOG)! With a website, blog, app, AND active social media accounts, living a RAOG life helps you check all the boxes!
Their vision is to build a global climate action community where everyone feels empowered to take actions together. Their mission is to prove that any change – no matter how big or how small – can add up to make a big collective impact. Their community recognizes that we all have a part to play in protecting our shared home.
Follow them for tips toward living your best low-waste life, to learn about ecosystems – and – to take green actions to earn points! Points can be used toward discounts at participating businesses – including Live for Tomorrow! Woop woop!
Join the community here: https://raog.ca/
And find Live for Tomorrow on their site here: https://raog.ca/community/lft-group/
Eco living should be fun, easy and rewarding – and we are thrilled to be on this journey with you, and don’t forget…. As Margaret Mead wisely said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Every little bit helps!
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