ECOFEST, hope for the future of green and sustainability
The Paris ECOFEST 2010 went well on August 14, 2010 at the Syl Apps Park. At least, the weather cooperated unlike last year’s thunderstorms which prompted everyone to move indoors. It was indeed a blessing for folks who gather annually for anything green living related.
Annually held by the Friends of Paris Culture and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Paris ECOFEST highlighted the works of local craftspeople, artists, musicians and vendors. The said event gave emphasis on alternative energies, water preservation chemical free gardening. To encourage more people to go green, all displays and models are exhibited in a remarkable Artist’s Alley that’s filled with all the great food and music.
Among all the ECOFEST participants, two groups stood out from the rest. First is Enjo Canada’s consultants’ Andrew and Christine Lanesmith. The second group is Jeremy and Katherine Pickering.
Mississauga-based eco-friendly cleaning product company, Enjo was opened in Canada 2004. The company started with one unique fiber. Through research and development, Enjo’s biggest product was born – an innovative cleaning system using only water.
Enjo believes that green cleaning should be done without any chemicals. People searched for more effective ways to clean the house and at the same time, take pleasure in the wide-ranging advantages of a chemical free cleaning system. Based on the company’s website, Enjo promotes health and well-being, gives an opportunity to save money and time and lastly, Enjo cares for Mother Earth.
Christine Lanesmith said, “We’re really happy to be able to offer these products to Canadians to clean their homes with no chemicals, with just fiber and water.” Furthermore, she believes that these products can greatly help people by saving time, energy, and money and it saves both the environment and health. “Virtually no waste goes into the landfill by using these products,” Andrew Lanesmith exclaim
According to the Lanesmith’s, an average Canadian household uses one kilometer of paper towels each year. Thus, it requires one 12-year-old tree to manufacture into paper towels. “We don’t realize we are using 14 million 12-year-old trees every year and this can be eliminated,” Christine Lanesmith said.
At the same time, the same households across Canada plunk an increasing number of 960 millions liters of cleaning chemicals into waterways. These are just some of the ways that people tend to put the environment and health at greater risks. That is why the Lanesmith’s, together with Enjo, have walked extra miles just to inform an encourage people to change their cleaning system and other practices that puts the environment and heath at risks.
Another group of participants, Jeremy and Katherine Pickering, sold eco-conscious products, particularly energy health drinks. “We have a healthy energy drink alternative to beverages like Red Bull,” said Jeremy Pickering. He prides in promoting their products as these drinks are a manifestation of their motto which is “no sugar, no carbs, no crash, and no bull”.
He, therefore, persuaded people to think twice before they purchase mainstream energy drinks. According to Jeremy Pickering, an average energy drink contains six teaspoons of sugar while their products are full of B vitamins and some caffeine. “We want to be ‘prosumers’ and not consumers; and since people re getting interested in health, we provide them with alternative health drinks, which we truly believe in,” Katherine Pickering said.
Indeed, more and more people are getting interested in healthy living. It’s a good thing to note that events like these are initiated so people will become aware about green sustainability. But what’s more important is, people are coming with their own ideas that can help both environmental and health issues!
