Go Green

At Spinneys, we are actively involved in promoting green initiatives, to ensure our active involvement in reducing our carbon footprint thus contributing in preserving our planet’s resources. 

Trolleys and Baskets We are actively involved in promoting green initiatives to ensure our active involvement in reducing our carbon footprint thus contributing in preserving our planet's resources. Such initiatives include the introduction of shopping trolleys and hand baskets made of biodegradable PET plastic materials.

Printed Circulations Our printed circulations also take part in preserving the environment we live in through the use of reusable papers in our weekly and monthly printed communications and the reduced use of paper and labels thanks to more advanced technology.

Reusable Bags We have introduce a 100% reusable shopping bag, because, At Spinneys we believe in promoting a better lifestyle for the next generations. You can use this bag over and over again and reduce the dependency on plastic bags. Be the change you want to see around you! The bag is available in 3 designs at all Spinneys stores.

Smoke Free Environment Spinneys took the lead in the retail industry by banning smoking inside its stores. In fact, exposure to smoke can jeopardize the goods' quality and preservation conditions which might also lead to their contamination. Furthermore, smoking is not only unpleasant for non-smokers and reformed smokers; it is also of concern given the number of children, pregnant women and physically ill people who just want to enjoy a clean and risk-free shopping experience at Spinneys.

Plastic reverse machines In partnership with Nestle Waters and Servicorp, Recycling Reverse Vending Machines were installed at our Greater Beirut stores hoping to convince our customer base that bringing the empty bottles and cans for recycling will become part of the shopping experience in our stores. The RRVM can be used by our clients to recycle all kinds of water and beverage plastic bottles as well as aluminum cans. The concept is designed to deliver recyclers rewards thus encouraging them to follow a green lifestyle and environment friendly practices.

Energy Saving Actions At Spinneys, we also believe in energy saving actions that not only help reduce overheads, but can also strengthen our brand and reputation, helping improve relationships with customers, suppliers, staff, investors and the community.             Our energy saving actions includes: Reduction in energy consumption by using more energy efficient fluorescent lighting in new and existing stores. Reduction in energy consumption by using more energy efficient LED lighting to shelving fixtures. Introduction of LED Lighting to all alcohol caves in our existing stores in Lebanon. Installation of timer delays to stage machine start up on Refrigeration and AC installation, reducing power consumption. Use of friendlier refrigerant gas (R 404), less harmful than the historically used R 22. Introduction of toxin free FM200 fire suppression systems to electrical and computer room facilities. Construction waste management controls to reduce waste quantities. Sourcing and election of locally produced materials and equipment to reduce carbon foot print, where practicable. Introduction of external green space landscaping and tree planting, where permissible. Energy cost comparison studies for gas / versus fuel oil source for bakery ovens, to reduce revenue expenditure. Improving insulation of the stores building. Applying 3M heat reflectors on curtain walls in Hazmieh branch, Lebanon.

adapted:http://www.spinneys.com/Global/Sub.aspx?pageid=1647

Spinneys helping IGOP recycle 1,000,000 bottles and cans

Spinneys sponsored IGOP to recycle Ashrafieh 2020. Approximately 1.57 million tons of waste is being discarded every year 17% of which is associated with paper products (i.e. 266,900 tons) of Paper/ cardboard per year, 13% from plastic, and 6% from cans. Most of Lebanon’s waste is currently buried in landfill sites.

IGOP aims to create an on-going sustainable cycle for recycling in Lebanon. Spinneys helped IGOP recycle 1,000,000 bottles and cans until summer 2013. As a result, 30 tons of plastics will be recycled and 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be decreased. 



Quick Info:
• 1 recycled bottle can keep a light on for 3 hours
• 1 recycled can will power your TV for 3 hours
• 2 Billion trees are cut annually to be used for newspapers

ADAPTED:http://www.spinneys.com/Lebanon/Sub.aspx?pageid=3080

Spinneys – Lebanon actively engaging the Lebanese in recycling

It is truly refreshing to see companies in Lebanon involved in our community, and adopting a corporate social responsibility.

Recently, Spinneys launched the “Reverse Vending machine” to recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans – a positive initiative to actively engage the Lebanese in recycling: “for every 40 bottles placed in the machine you get a coupon to be redeemed for a free 2L Nestle waters bottle”

As it announces on its Facebook page:

“After Dbayeh and Achrafieh, the Reverse Vending Machines are now available at Spinneys Hazmieh and Jnah branches! They can be used by our clients to recycle all kinds of water and beverage plastic bottles as well as aluminum cans.

The concept is designed to deliver recyclers rewards thus encouraging them to follow a green lifestyle and environment friendly practices.

Together Spinneys, Servicorp and Nestle Waters are committed to escalate the recycling process of plastic bottles and cans and raise the public awareness on the importance of such practices aiming at protecting the environment in Lebanon.” Spinneys – Lebanon


 

adapted:http://www.haykhabriyeh.com/spinneys-lebanon-actively-engaging-the-lebanese-in-recycling/

Egg Tempera Paint!!!

Egg tempera paint, an Eco-friendly alternative to more commonly used paints, consists of dry, finely powdered pigment mixed with egg yolk and water. By using colored chalk as a pigment, you can make simple, brilliantly colored, environmentally safe egg tempera paint for science projects.

This is actually what our friends in grade seven did! Enjoy the following video about their project!

Recycling Symbols Explained

Would you like to know what recycle symbols represent? I did a small research and summed up all data in this post.

If these symbols are displayed on products/items, it means they can be recycled.

1. Can be recycled in the household waste recycling scheme

The Recycle Now icon is designed to be the recognised symbol for recycling and to motivate people into action. The curved arrow represents the action and sustainability of recycling. The heart signifies the feel-good nature of the recycling activity.

Glass

This symbol means the packaging is made from glass.
Glass can be recycled in the household recycling bin in Sussex or in public bottle banks.

Metals

This symbol means the packaging is made from aluminum.
Aluminum can be recycled in the household recycling bin in Sussex.

 

This symbol means the packaging is made from steel. Steel can be recycled in the household recycling bin in Sussex.

Compostable

This is a very new symbol, which means that the packaging is suitable for home composting. You can buy cut-price compost bins through the West Sussex County Council Composting offer. For further information visit www.wsussex.getcomposting.com

Electrical and Electronic Items

The crossed-out wheelie bin can be found on items such as batteries, electrical and electronic items, which are covered by the WEEE Directive. These can all be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Site. To find your nearest Household Waste Recycling Site go to Recycle for West Sussex.

Items displaying these symbols might be recyclable

The Mobius Loop has no precise meaning. It is generally understood to be the international symbol for recycling, but the use of the symbol is entirely voluntary. It generally means the item can be recycled; however it will depend on the recycling facilities in the given area.

Plastics

There are 6 different types of plastic polymer commonly used to make packaging. The symbol used to identify the type of polymer is a triangle with a number inside it and some letters underneath. Unfortunately the triangle does not mean that the packaging can be recycled and the council recommends that residents ignore this symbol on packaging.

 Apparently, we can’t recycle all plastic, just certain types – PETE or PET and HDPE. Unfortunately, there’s quite a lot we just can’t recycle yet.

Doug has some useful ideas to help you organize your recycling. 

As he thinks up more ideas we will add them to the list so keep checking back to see what's new

5

Sometimes it seems like modern America is one colossal plastic palace. The versatile material is in our cars, toys, packaging, clothing, home goods, food utensils, medical devices and so much more. It is also littering our streets, clogging our waterways and choking marine life. Many plastics can be readily recycled, but how do consumers make sense of all the different types and rules?

Number 1 Plastics
PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; oven able food trays.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers

PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers

Plastic Recycling Symbol 2

Number 2 Plastics
HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks.
Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing

HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable.

Plastic Recycling Symbol 4

Number 4 Plastics 
LDPE (low density polyethylene) 
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile

LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.

Plastic Recycling Symbols 5

Number 5 Plastics 
PP (polypropylene) 
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles 
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs. 
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays

Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.

Plastic Recycling Symbol 6

Number 6 Plastics 
PS (polystyrene) 
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases 
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction

Plastic Recycling Symbol 7

Number 7 Plastics 
Miscellaneous 
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon 
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products

A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors

Recycling Facts and Figures

My blog is the place to know all about the 3Rs 

for those who have passion for environment just

 like me.


Here's another post based on research. Hope

 the title triggers you to read on.


UK households produced 30.5 million tones of

 waste in 2003/04, of which 17% was collected

 for recycling (source: defra.gov.uk). This figure

 is still quite low compared to some of our

 neighboring EU countries, some recycling over

 50% of their waste. There is still a great deal of

 waste which could be recycled that ends up in

 landfill sites which is harmful to the environment.

Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy
 and conserving the environment.


Did you know that...?

• 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
• 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
• 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
• 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.

 Interesting Facts

• Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled.
• The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours.
• The largest lake in the Britain could be filled with rubbish from the UK in 8 months.
• On average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as rubbish.
• As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted.
• Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled.
• 9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were made easier.

Aluminum

• 24 million tonnes of aluminium is produced annually, 51,000 tones of which ends up as packaging in the UK.
• If all cans in the UK were recycled, we would need 14 million fewer dustbins.
• £36,000,000 worth of aluminum is thrown away each year.
• Aluminium cans can be recycled and ready to use in just 6 weeks.

Glass

• Each UK family uses an average of 500 glass bottles and jars annually.
• The largest glass furnace produces over 1 million glass bottles and jars per day.
• Glass is 100% recyclable and can be used again and again.
• Glass that is thrown away and ends up in landfills will never decompose.

Paper

• Recycled paper produces 73% less air pollution than if it was made from raw materials.
• 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard are used annually in the UK.
• The average person in the UK gets through 38kg of newspapers per year.
• It takes 24 trees to make 1 ton of newspaper.

Plastic

• 275,000 tonnes of plastic are used each year in the UK, that’s about 15 million bottles per day.
• Most families throw away about 40kg of plastic per year, which could otherwise be recycled.
• The use of plastic in Western Europe is growing about 4% each year.
• Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium

Earth Day

In 1964, twelve young men in New York publicly burned their draft cards in protest. The many forceful displays against the Vietnam War are well remembered, but what is less remembered is how these commanding displays and the spirit of the era created the energy that led to the first Earth Day witnessed in the US.

Cleverly combining the energy of the anti-war movement and the rising environmental consciousness following Rachel Carson’s publication of Silent Spring, Earth Day founder Gaylor Nelson created a momentous crusade with incredible effects. On April 22 1970, 20 million Americans, of all backgrounds, fought for change–for a healthy, sustainable environment. This initial event led to the creation of the US EPA and the passing of the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Endangered Species Acts.

Fast forward to 2012- Earth Day’s 42 anniversary. More than one billion people in 192 countries took part in the 42nd Anniversary of Earth Day. From Paris to Beijing, Rio to Rome, Cairo to St. Louis, citizens everywhere united in their effort to protect the Earth.

So now here we are, approaching our 43rd Earth Day! We should take the time to not only celebrate and attend outdoor festivals and events, but instead reflect on the success of the movement. The history of the successful movement is one that should be studied and used for future initiatives.

Adapted from:
http://www.ancienttreearchive.org/global-earth-day-planting-event/?gclid=CLGtwaGbkbcCFWfItAodfSUA2A