Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Products and Services in Canada

by Adria Vasil

When the world’s environmental woes get you down, turn to Ecoholic – Canada’s best resource for practical tips and products that help you do your part for the earth. You’ll get the dirt on what not to buy and why, and the dish on great gifts, clothes, home supplies and more. Based on the popular and authoritative "Ecoholic" column that appears weekly in NOW , Ecoholic is a cheeky and eye-opening guide to all of life’s greenest predicaments.

The Best Green Products
For the cleaning and laundry supplies, furniture, linens
For flooring, paint, insulation, carpets, cabinetry
For the cookware, appliances
For your cool clothes, jewellery, shoes, beauty care
For toys, cribs, organic food, diapers
For the fertilizer, pest control, patio furniture
For the supplies, equipment, energy savings
For your natural food, flea control, litter solutions
For the fun of sporting goods, camping equipment, holidays

The Most Current Information
Avoiding toxins in the home
Buying pesticide-free food
Sustainable seafood, meat and veggie choices
Reducing energy and water use
Greening your love life
Eco-tourism
Keeping your home and garden pest-free without harmful chemicals
Green gift-giving and ethical investing
Choosing an environmentally friendly career
The big issues facing Canada and how to get involved

The Most Helpful Services
Electronics and computer recyclers
Alternative energy suppliers
Green general stores
Local organic food delivery
Incentives and rebates for greening your home
Local and national environmental groups
Household hazardous waste disposal

Also includes a city-by-city
Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Reference, Canada, Health, Sustainability, Nature

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2007

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has several good suggestions for environmentally friendly products, but very often provides an unbalanced assessment of the environmental dangers of particular products. For example, the author warns against the use of Drano (and similar products) because it contains sodium hydroxide which is corrosive and therefore must be bad for the environment. In fact, sodium hydroxide is beneficial to our waterways (in moderate amounts) since it reverses acidification due to acid rain. I would have liked to see some discussion of the relative importance of various forms of pollution, such as energy used in manufacture and transport vs toxic chemicals released vs packaging/garbage produced, etc. Is it better to buy organic fruit that has been shipped from South Africa, or is it better to buy sprayed food that is local?

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to help save the planet one simple step at a time? Adria Vasil’s highly entertaining and informative ECOHOLIC will supply all the advice and tips you could possibly need. Her informal and often humorous approach to some pretty grim facts about the amount of toxins we’re wearing, inhaling, and decorating our homes with (and this is only a fraction of the big picture) is enough to make one want to stay in bed, except that most bedding is chemically saturated. Adria demonstrates how everything we buy, consume, and excrete, effects our planet’s increasingly fragile ecosystem. But she also offers hope and practical solutions to coping with our toxic environment.

Although I’ve been recycling for years and shop as little as possible, I’m not a staunch environmentalist. Yet, this book made me realize there’s many more eco-friendly things I can do. While plenty of information is given, Adria also provides many useful websites for further information, though how many of these websites will be around three years from now is anyone’s guess. Still, given the growing concern for our planet, there will always good information somewhere on the Net. Do yourself and your children a huge favour. Buy the book, try some of those tips, and help make this planet a little better.

[Jo ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing resource/reference book. Well written with a hint of humor! I loaned it from the library since I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy it but I'll definitely be buying this because it's a book that I'll be able to refer to again and again. The book was published in 2007 so I'm a couple years late and I was worried that a lot of the websites mentioned or products/info might be outdated or irrelevant now but that was not the case! This book is definitely still relevant to today and a must have for all ecoholic Canadians and really, ALL Canadians in general. The book can be a bit overwhelming at times since there is a lot of information covered and it's rather scary to think of all these chemicals lurking in our favourite products but I think it's something we should all be informed about so we can all start making cleaner, greener changes in our lifestyles. <3

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

If even half of this is true - every single thing you see around you at this moment is highly poisonous and cancerous and destroying the planet.

The book gives you alternatives for just about everything, complete with websites and brand names (if you live in the right place where you can buy it)

For the rest of us, it raises awareness, I guess, and makes us weary (and very scared) of our dry cleaners, shower curtain, carpet, clothes, furniture, pots and pans, cosmetic products, shampoos, candles, etc.

But seriously, at least we can make some changes one step at the time. I will try.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't necessarily ENJOY this book, but it was an informative and useful resource.

It was quite grim, discussing the toxins and bad things in what we eat, breathe, wear, and more. But it also provides advice and suggestions on how to avoid the worst offenders, and alternatives in terms of purchasing things like bedsheets and cosmetics. (A lot of web sites are referenced, which I like, but I wonder if they'll stay current.)

I loved that it was Canadian, though.

[Hope · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am clearly not the target of this book. The writer's style got on my nerves. The choices of typesetting size and colors made all the side-bars very hard to read. The author recommended so many specific products is felt like a very long infomercial. And not once could I find any reference to how or why she comes to her conclusions.

This book may well be useful to someone - but not to me. I prefer a bit more science in my reference works.

[Vida L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview and recommendations especially for Canadians looking to make more eco-friendly choices.

The book was published in 2009 though, so several of the companies or websites recommended have since shuttered. However, some product brands recommended in the book can still be found and I’ve been able to find several of the recommended personal care products on Well online.

The con is on some subjects I do find that the author offers a somewhat unbalanced non-scientifically supported view. It would be nice if she had more scientific literature or references to support some of the health claims she has made (e.g. that she recommends against fluoridated water or dental products because it is toxic). I believe most of her views are in line with trying to live a healthier life and a greener planet, but in some of her health claims I really would have liked to see more scientific backing. Otherwise it borderline reads to me as anti-vaxxer brand paranoia, and undermines her reliability in my opinion.

[Kemi looves 2 read · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has some good suggestions for environmentally friendly and sustainable products. It has small steps we can taken to lighten our impact on the planet. It is written from a Canadian perspective and hence has suggestions of vendors and services that are local to us. It may have been published in 2007 but it more relevant today than ever.

Wee caveat: some assessments and views are strictly those of the authour as proven scientific backings or studies are not provided.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched and easy to read. Canadian content: probably a bit annoying to use for people living elsewhere. Wide-ranging, for better and for worse: read the parts you like, skip what's irrelevant. From tampons to meat-eating to banking, this book covers a lot of ground. I wound up enjoying quite a few sections and taking home some advice.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty standard fare for this type of book. The author does suggest a few things without seeming to have done her research (Aluminum foil seems like it could leach aluminum which wasn't mentioned). It also seems to largely encourage consumerism which seems like a rationalization that while pervasive is destructive (buying eco shoes is still wasteful if you have a closet of shoes).

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is an older publication, it still has some great resources. The information is very relevant today. Many of the websites are still running and all of the chemicals that should be avoided are still true.

I found it a good Canadian source for greening my home. All of the resources are Canadian as well.

[Sabrina R · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a negative Nancy! Not sure why anyone thought this would be a good book to write. They had to have known it would be outdated quickly and the parts that don't age are easy to find elsewhere. Don't waste your time or money.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for anyone curious about making some changes for their health and that of the environment's. Also a great refresher for those that are already on that journey.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great informational for beginnings in environmental living, but some-what out of date for reading in 2019

[Christine (booktumbling) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have made an effort the past few years to do my part, small though it may be, to be more environmentally aware and friendly in my daily life. I recycle most things, I do compost for my garden, I purchase more “green” products and try to buy locally and organically when possible. After reading Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Porducts & Services by Adria Vasil, I am now aware that there are so many simple and inexpensive ways to aid in a healthier environment not only for the planet but for my family.

Ms. Vasil is a columnist for Canada’s NOW magazine and has written a weekly “Ecoholic” column for five years. This book is a funny, easy to understand collection of the same ideas and insights included in her column. Ms. Vasil does not ask the you to run out and hug the nearest tree, donate your clothes and start knitting a hemp sweater or forgo bathing. She does provide quite a bit of eye-opening enlightenment which may make you examine your normal purchases and habits in a different light.

The book is divided into twelve sections such as home products, food, clothes, beauty, children and finances. Each section covers quite an array of material but the writing is to the point and gives an overview of both the bad and the good. Ms. Vasil explains what toxins are in make-up or cleaning products and she is not afraid to name names (as in name brands) of those that are guilty as well as highlighting those manufacturers that are taking some steps to make their products a little safer. She is also honest with the “good” products as well. When discussing nail polish and nail polish removers, she mentions one brand of remover that is 100% soy- and corn-based. Great except for the massive headache it caused. Since regular nail polish remover causes my eyes to water and sinuses to freeze, I would probably look into the natural remover. I may still have the headache but I don’t have to worry about the dogs or cats accidentally knocking over the bottle and sneaking a taste. I enjoyed the quick pace of this book. It was not full of extraneous information, history or examples. It is more like a field guide then an encyclopedia. This also means there is not much in the way of explaining from where Ms. Vasil found her information or many details as to exactly why something is not green. Short, simple and humorous is the name of the game. And it works.

Yes, lurking in your cozy abode are some serious pollutants that can make the indoor air quality in a house worse than a smog-alert day. They’re hiding in your cookware, cleaning products, coffee table, and candles. They’re even building up in household dust (which is a problem when you dust as infrequently as I’ve been known to) and settling in your tissues. (page 162)

The index at the end of the book is wonderful as is the glossary and a list of national environmental organizations. Ecoholic is not a bible for environmentalism. It is an everyday reference tool, fun to read and easy to implement.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much information it's great! There is a section on everything from clothing to cleaning products and the author provides URL's for company websites where you can buy the eco-products she recommends. The only thing I would say is a lot of the products are really, really expensive. So if your a super rich yuppie buying into the eco-trend then this book would be your dream buying guide.

There are some tips on doing things on the cheap: like home made cleaning products and things of that nature. And the information about what products are "healthy" and which have harmful chemicals is really great for anyone, because even if your not a millionaire you will know what things to avoid. Really well researched informative book.

She also talks about what companies use these "bad for you chemicals" and which don't, (ikea doesn't for the most part and their products are inexpensive so she does present options for the middle class consumer). That coupled with all the information on what chemicals are out there and where, made me give it four stars. I know a lot more about what's in what I'm buying, and some ways to tell the difference between truly green and "pseudo-green" products.

I would say this book focuses on things that are not just better for the environment but better for us. Her focus is say, not just on solar panels and recycling, but she talks a lot about what chemicals and dangerous material might be on your: pots and pans, plastic wrap, furniture and even sheets and towels. Really good information. If I ever win the lottery I will be able to take all her product advice.

[Ellen Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ecoholic is THE book that anyone who is concerned about environmentally friendly products needs to read. This book is “your guide to the most environmentally friendly information, products & services”.

Ecoholic is broken down into chapters on bathroom confidential, what not to wear, green’s anatomy, food for thought, no kidding around, homeward bound, home improvement, outer space, I get around, it’s all fun and games, you work hard for your money and big issues.

Each chapter discusses several products in general and how safe they are. Then it lists specific products that it recommends as environmentally friendly. It also lists what products & companies aren’t environmentally friendly.

Have you ever wondered just what’s in your mascara? Are antibacterial products really good for you? Just what’s in that lotion you put on your baby’s skin? How organic is that food you’re buying? Which company’s products are produced in sweatshops? What are genetically engineered seeds? Who is Monsanto?

These questions and hundreds more just like it are answered in Ecoholic. These are a few facts I learned:

We used to eat 10,000 different species of food plants, and now 90% of the world’s diet is down to 120.

Nearly a third of all the garbage Americans toss each year is packaging.

[Iseult · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might give this more of a 2.5 on some parts. I skimmed this book cause some of this doesn't really apply to me. However the parts I did read were full of claims with no specific sources. You'd think she would at least have provided some scientific studies backing that practically everything man-made is horrible and killing our planet. Instead, she vaguely says "This organization said x chemical may cause cancer and disrupt hormones" and has many URLS per page of companies to buy or not buy from. Seeing as this book is close to a decade old and the recession was happening, I bet a good number of these smaller businesses no longer exist. Her brand of humor annoyed me, and so did the ratio of "pretty much everything the average person uses is toxic and is causing a global crisis" which was 80% of the book with her alleged "solutions" which are mostly just to buy organic, fair trade, and environmentally-conscious products where you can, which I didn't need this book to know. I think she also tries to underestimate how much more expensive organic and fair trade products can be. Overall I wouldn't recommend this book, nor had I ever heard of this book which researching environmentally-conscious books to read, I just saw it at the library.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource for ideas on various products and services that are more eco-friendly than most of the mainstream options. Brief explanations of why/how these choices are more beneficial for you or for the planet. Includes tips on local or Canadian sources for these services or products. Contains information that I would like to share with my family in the states, too, although I think I'll hang on to my own copy.

Printed on recycled paper, though you can probably find most of the same information verbatim by searching for the author's columns on the NOW magazine website.

I appreciated the chance to take stock of my current practices in different aspects of my life and to try to figure out what I could be doing differently. If you tried to change everything at once, though, it would be daunting.

[Katie_marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THis book gives detailed and thoughtful information about living green in every aspect of life from eating, to cleaning (almost anything you may need to clean), to children and travel. Ecoholic offers a quick fix for a clogged sink: baking soda, vinegar and, 15 minutes later, a kettle of boiling water to wash it down. Works like a charm and doesn't pollute.

A very handy guide to have around any home.

[Leif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful if you love being didactically lectured at - for a good cause. But seriously, despite its conversational tone and light writing, Ecoholic is largely prescriptive, not engaging. Still, it is a well thought out and intentioned book, seemingly, and worth your time if you are intent upon a greener life. Personally I found it occasionally helpful. It's a handy book to have around, I would think.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read, not actually entertaining, but educational in a quick and helpful way. For example, this book gave me several suggestions as to where I can get gifts for kids that are non-toxic, and not made in China (which is pretty much the same thing). Tha't pretty much the only reason I gave the book such a high rating ... I've never been able to find any good suggestions as to how/where to get toys/gifts that are not made in China.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started taking notes as I was reading this library book, but there was so much helpful information that I bought the book so I'd have it for ready reference. For those of us who are trying to wean ourselves off harmful chemicals, this is a must-have. Adria Vasil doesn't lecture; she presents facts, reporting on what to avoid and, more importantly, offering healthy alternatives. It's a helpful reference, rather than an ecological textbook.

[Nadia Wiwczaruk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy way to get excellent information on the affects of some of the chemicals we are exposed to in our everyday lives and what products or services we have available as alternatives with out causing as much damage.

This book is very well layed out and extremely educating for someone who doesn't know where to start but wants to make a change.

[Latasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I have read all I can read on "eco living." This book was generally the same as the rest I have browsed. I won't say I read this from cover to cover because frankly it was a lot of text. I thought it was a really good overview but I felt the layout didn't really please the eye, and I also felt there needed to be more solutions to the problems she presented

[Miss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough and clear; enjoyed the fact that it was a book written specifically for Canadians. It even made some references to places that I knew and I certainly recognized them as being worthy of mention. I also appreciated her enthusiasm and support for high-quality goods.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book, filled with loads of solid information and tips. See my review on Blue Planet Green Living: http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/...

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book - filled with well-documented information and loads of tips. See my review on Blue Planet Green Living: http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com/...

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It will make you feel great and scared and want to change your life and how you do things. It's an amazing book that I think everyone should read!

[Samara]

Great resources to "green" your life and home.