TORONTO, December 29, 2008 – “This year, I’ll exercise more and quit smoking.” We’ve all made many New Year’s resolutions that we end up breaking around noon on New Year’s Day. Ambitious resolutions may have the best intentions, but small changes are more likely to stick.
 
That’s why some of Canada’s leading home care brands have created Future Friendly – a program to help Canadians reduce waste, packaging and energy consumption through small, easy-to-make changes. Future Friendly is supported by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance, canühome and the Recycling Council of Ontario.

The Future Friendly program includes products from trusted brands, like Bounty, Cascade, Charmin, Downy, Duracell and Tide, and offers a clear, no-nonsense benefit – each product under the Future Friendly umbrella must achieve a reduction in waste, energy or water consumption during production or use.

“Canadian consumers are concerned about the impact of the products that they buy,” says Melissa Karis, external relations manager, P&G Canada. “But they are also loyal to brands they trust and don’t want to sacrifice quality or effectiveness. With Future Friendly, Canadians can keep on buying the home care products they’re familiar with and take small steps to reduce their impact on the environment.”

Ken Elsey of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance adds, “Programs like Future Friendly get consumers thinking about what they use, how much they use and where it goes when they’re finished. The process of consumer introspection helps lead to informed, sustainable behavioural changes when it comes to our environment.”

“Reducing waste is an important part of making better purchasing choices,” says Jo-Anne St. Goddard of the Recycling Council of Ontario. “Future Friendly prioritizes environmental considerations like responsible consumption and less packaging. These are all simple but important considerations when purchasing products for our homes.”

To help you kick off 2009 with a new commitment to our planet, Future Friendly and its partners have provided the following eco-friendly and easy New Year’s resolutions that we can all live with.

1. Down with drafts
   
   Snow doesn’t mean it’s too late to weather-strip the homestead. The Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance says caulking cracks, insulating windows and other steps to ensure your home is as airtight as possible will keep you warm this winter.
   
   
2. Appliances can be lean, green machines
   
   Use your appliances efficiently. Reducing energy consumption in the laundry room can be as simple as cold-water washing. Washing in Tide Coldwater gives you great cleaning, and washing in cold water helps you save energy.
   
   In the kitchen, ensure the dishwasher is full before running it. Many dishwashers also have an energy-saving cycle you can take advantage of. Cascade Action Pacs will deliver sparkling-clean dishes even in the energy-saving cycle.
   
   
3. Slim down your waste
   
   It’s easier than toning the tummy. The Recycling Council of Ontario suggests bringing your own reusable shopping bag to the store. And when packing a snack, avoid packaging and plastic wrap becoming leftovers in the landfill with reusable containers.
   
   Choosing products with reduced packaging can also shed pounds from your waste. Concentrated laundry products often use less plastic in the packaging. 
   
   For example, Ultra Downy fabric softener uses 35 per cent less plastic per bottle than non-concentrated Downy. In the bathroom, Charmin Mega Rolls have more toilet tissue on the roll, reducing the number of cardboard cores that require disposal.
   
   Using only what’s required can also reduce waste.
   
   Bounty Select-a-Size, with sheets that are 45 per cent smaller than the next leading two-ply, is great for clean ups of all sizes –  you use only what you need, so wiping up doesn’t have to mean waste.
   
   
4. Buy batteries with enduring energy
   
   Many of our portable devices require batteries. Canühome recommends rechargeable batteries as a great way to power MP3 players, remote controls and digital cameras while reducing waste.
   
   Duracell Pre-charged Rechargeable batteries last longer and need less recharging when not in use as compared to standard NiMH batteries.

Future Friendly products are available now at mass, drug and grocery stores. For more information on the Future Friendly program, visit www.futurefriendlybrands.ca.