Adria Vasil Launches "Ecoholic Home"

Rick Smith Interviews Toronto's Enviro-Writer at Gladstone Hotel

Nov 17, 2009 Naomi Szeben

Rick Smith of Canada's Environmental Defense interviewed environmental writer Adria Vasil for the "This Is Not a Reading" Series: A lighthearted look at serious issues.

Organic beer flowed at the Gladstone Hotel as environmentalists and fans of Dr. Rick Smith and Ecoholic writer Adria Vasil watched the two discuss Vasil's latest Ecoholic book. The Executive Director of Environmental Defence Canada, began by describing Vasil as "a sort of organic, ecological Dan Savage," in reference to her researching environmental questions sent to her and debunking old folks tales.

Ecoholic Book Launch at Gladstone Hotel

November 17th's evening event from the "This is Not a Reading" series, was a book launch for Vasil's second book, Ecoholic Home: The Greenest, Cleanest and Most Energy-Efficient Information Under One (Canadian) Roof. This collection of tips ran the gamut from green renovation and tips to saving money to finding which green cleanser was the most effective. She personally had tested many of the products herself, and had close friends and co-workers test out items from glass cleaners to toilet disinfectants. "I had a friend with a large dog whose sliding doors were always smeared with dog drool. She was an ideal candidate to test run window cleaners."

One recurring concern that Vasil and Smith discussed throughout the book launch was the prevalence of Greenwashing, a term that describes merchants who give their products the appearance of being environmentally friendly in order to gain profit. Some companies may hide certain facts about their product, without full disclosure about ingredients, or even couch the terms in pseudo science jargon.

Greenwashing a Continuing Concern

Citing the story of a "green insulation company" called RetroFoam, Vasil described checking their website to see if there was any information on what made the insulation environmentally friendly. No phone calls were answered by RetroFoam's employees in regards to her questions. Health Canada later investigated and revealed that the product was in fact, a re-packaged substance that was banned years ago and marketed as environmentally friendly.

Smith, himself an author of an environmental health book, Slow Death by Rubber Duck, asked Vasil if more options had become available to consumers in the two-year interval between each book. Vasil replied that there are more environmentally friendly choices available, since the public is demanding more sustainable solutions.

Unfortunately, that also means more companies are recognizing interest in the environment, and markets less-than-ecological items as being green. A particular greenwashing disappointment for Vasil lay in discovering that Sigg's water bottles were leaching BPA; "They had a fancy way of dancing around the language."

Consumers Urged to Ask Questions Before They Buy

Vasil's work is nonetheless described as being "optimistic," by Smith. "There is more information available, and more ways to get it than ever before," states Vasil. "Keep asking questions. Ask the store owners or the product manufacturers - like, why does your product contain only 5% recycled material and not more? Is this vegetable non-GMO?" Ecoholic Home is all about making global changes by making changes on the home level, first.

The first question from the crowd? "What is the book made of?" The answer: 100% post-consumer recycled goods, printed from an enviro-friendly press that uses vegetable based ink. An environmental book that is as good as its word.

The copyright of the article Adria Vasil Launches "Ecoholic Home" in Green/Simple Living is owned by Naomi Szeben. Permission to republish Adria Vasil Launches "Ecoholic Home" in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Ecoholic Home by Adria Vasil