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Environmental Health, Health Equity, and Pride

This blog post was written by Editorial Volunteer Aranee Mahendiran and Executive Director Victoria Lewis, edited by WHEN Board Members Kanisha Acharya-Patel and Charlotte Hobson.

WHEN advocates for all women, including cis and trans women, as well as intersex and non-binary individuals. Environmental health harms affect the body differently depending on sex, gender, race, and other identity factors. We all deserve healthy environments. 

Environmental health risks do not affect everyone equally. 2SLGBTQQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Trans, Queer/Questioning, Intersexual, Asexual/Aromantic/Agender and all others) individuals and communities can face unique barriers in accessing healthcare, obtaining reliable health information, and advocating for their needs. As we learn more about endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), it's important to consider how environmental exposures intersect with existing health inequities. As you read through this piece, the terms Queer and 2SLGBTQQIA+ will be used interchangeably. 

Intersectionality in Environmental Health & Justice 

Pride is a celebration of 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities and their resilience in fighting for their rights and protections. It is also an opportunity to reflect on history, current issues, and achieving social, environmental, and health justice. 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals often face barriers to healthcare access, discrimination by healthcare providers, and challenges navigating systems not designed to accommodate their needs. Environmental health conversations must recognize these realities and work towards the inclusivity of diverse identities and experiences. 

Health status is shaped by various determinants or factors, including gender identity, sexual orientation, race, disability, income, and geography. 2SLGBTQQIA+ and Indigenous individuals whose identities exist across the intersection of these factors face compounded barriers and health risks, including reduced access to healthcare and a greater likelihood of engaging in harmful health behaviours. 

The lack of representation in research can make it difficult to understand how environmental exposures affect different communities. Environmental exposure is not equal among all individuals, and to effectively identify gaps in accessibility and appropriate care, it is necessary to include these overlapping determinants and factors within environmental health research. Achieving health equity (fair and equal opportunity to be healthy) and justice (eliminating systems that create poor health) for our Queer, Trans, Intersex, and Two-spirit communities means reducing disproportionate environmental exposures and addressing health disparities (preventable health differences), cultural competency (ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds), stigmatization (negative attitudes), and discrimination (treating some people unfairly) in our health care systems. 

Hormone Health and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Our bodies are made up of many different systems that manage our daily functions. One of those systems is the endocrine system. The endocrine system produces hormones, a type of chemical messenger that communicates to different parts of the body to balance your sleep, mood, hunger, growth, metabolism (transforming food into energy), sexual function, and reproduction (your body’s ability to have children).  

The communication between different bodily organs can be disrupted in many different ways and can lead to health issues. One of those disruptions can be caused by environmental toxicants, such as parabens, phthalates, and bisphenols, which are chemicals often found in many of our everyday consumer products. These chemicals may “mimic” or look like the hormones produced in your body, or block hormones from travelling where they need to be. These chemicals cause disturbances to your body’s functioning, and for that reason, these chemicals are referred to as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, or EDCs for short.   

The impact of the chemicals found in our everyday environments can disproportionately affect some communities more than others. 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities already face greater health inequities, with a higher risk of chronic conditions, cancers, certain STIs (sexually transmitted infections), as well as a greater risk of suicide ideation than others. With the rise of environmental toxicants in our spaces, Queer, Trans, Intersex, and Two Spirit individuals face additional barriers and hurdles to these new environmental health challenges. 

For additional information on how to limit your exposure to EDC’s found in your everyday products and environments, read our other recent blogs.       

Healthcare Inequities

Canada has a history of not providing the respect and care that the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community deserves. From discrimination, violence, criminalizing their identities, allowing nonconsensual surgeries on intersex children and completely failing to provide care during health epidemics, the Queer community has been harmed in so many ways.

Even today, Queer, Trans, Intersex, and Two Spirit people face barriers to their safety and access to healthcare services. While Canada continues to posture progressive and inclusive values, the state often leaves members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community excluded, stigmatized, and disregarded, especially in relation to the rolling back of trans rights and safety. According to Pink Triangle Press, the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community experiences greater health disparities, reduced quality of life, inadequate access or satisfaction with care, systemic discrimination, structural barriers and mistrust. With growing concerns around environmental health impacts, how are members of the Queer, Trans, Intersex, and Two Spirit community expected to receive attention to those matters when they are continuously excluded from receiving care that meets their needs? 

An example of Queer-specific care is gender-affirming care, which is made up of a variety of supports and care that affirms a person’s identity (matching their physical identity from birth with their gender identity). One aspect of gender-affirming care is hormone therapies. Currently, there is not enough research or evidence around the impact of EDCs on hormone therapies, but we do know they can be disruptive to hormones in the body. Advocating for greater investment in research on the impact of EDCs, while also advocating for gender-affirming care to be seen as medically-necessary are key environmental and health issues in Canada.

Local Community Resources and Support 

We hope you learned a little bit about health, the environment and how it impacts Queer, Trans, Intersex, and Two-Spirit communities. Below is a list of organizations and clinics that focus on providing appropriate support and care to 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals.

  • The 519 (Resource hub, multiple programs)

Interested in learning more? Find out what is working in 2SLGBTQQIA+ healthcare, what needs to change, and what the future of healthcare will look like by listening to experts and innovators on the Health in Focus Podcast by Rainbow Health Ontario.

Happy Pride to our 2SLGBTQQIA+ community that makes Toronto a brighter and more wonderful place. May we work together to build safer, healthier, and more just futures for all. 

From your friends at WHEN. 

Our Updated Blog Disclaimer

As an environmental health organization committed to equity and inclusion, we periodically review our language to ensure it reflects the communities we serve and the values we uphold. We have updated our blog disclaimer to more accurately and respectfully acknowledge the diversity of identities when we discuss those affected by environmental health harms. Our revised language affirms with greater clarity that “women” includes both cis and trans women, while also acknowledging that intersex and non-binary individuals may experience environmental health impacts related to sex- and gender-based biological and social factors.

We also clarified our description of vulnerability to environmental harms to explicitly recognize that environmental health outcomes are shaped not only by sex and gender, but also by race and other intersecting identity factors. This change better reflects the principles of environmental justice and the evidence that environmental exposures and their health impacts are not experienced equally across populations.

Our goal is to use language that is inclusive, accurate, and reflective of the diverse communities advocating for and deserving of healthy environments.

Wanna Sip Toxic Free: Health Impacts of Hot Drinks 

This blog post was written by Aranee Mahendiran and Syeda Nasr, members of WHEN’s volunteer editorial team, and edited by Victoria Lewis & Kanisha Acharya-Patel.

WHEN advocates for all women, trans, cis, and Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) individuals. For the purposes of this blog post, the term ‘women’ shall refer to those with ovarian reproductive systems and/or those who identify as women, recognizing that both sex and gender affect one’s vulnerability to the impacts of toxic exposure in the home.

What else is in your morning cup? 

Whether it’s hot or cold, for here or to go, our coffees and teas that kick-start our mornings have become a non-negotiable in our everyday routines. However, with every cup there’s more than just cream and sugar. Your cup of joe or spot of tea contains a plethora of microplastics and chemicals. Whether it’s from the quick and easy single-serve coffee machine pods made from plastic, or the disposable coffee cups lined with plastic, or the bleach, plastic and glue found in tea bags and coffee filters, our regular morning habits have become a threat to our health.

Coffee Waste by Jas Min, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

It doesn’t stop there. The single-serve coffee pods and disposable cups don’t just disappear after your last sip, they accumulate in landfills and our waterways, and those microplastics and chemicals that were polluting our bodies also pollute the health of our environment. WHEN is here to explore microplastic and chemical exposure in the heavily consumed coffee and tea industry and provide you with various alternatives to reduce the burden of harm. That being said, individual action alone is not enough. We must demand safer products and regulations because we deserve coffees and teas that not only pick up our days, but are also safe for our health and our planet.

Hot Drinks and Toxic Links 

Millions of people worldwide consume coffee and tea as part of their daily routine. It is a significant part of cultural traditions and social interaction, and has connected people with each other globally. Unfortunately, over time, our coffee and tea culture intersected with our capitalist consumer culture of convenience, which has paired toxic substances with our beverages in ways that are increasingly difficult to disentangle.  

Teabag by Lynda Sanchez, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash 

In addition to plastic found in our everyday products, food packaging, clothing, and cookware, they have entered every cafe, workplace and home. Most teabags are made specifically of nylon or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which then leaches into your drink when steeped at high temperatures. Single-serve coffee pods, which are plastic pods that contain coffee grounds made by popular brands including Keurig and Nespresso, also release plastics when brewed. Let’s not forget that every disposable cup from Tim Hortons and Starbucks is lined with plastic as well. 

Coffee machine pods by Jisu Han, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

The plastic in these products degrade into smaller forms called microplastics and nanoplastics that enter our bodies and ecosystems. Microplastic research is still emerging, and studies are looking at various ways we are exposed, such as inhalation (i.e. breathing in) of plastics, skin contact, and the ingestion (i.e. eating and drinking) of substances that are contaminated with plastics. Some studies evaluate our chronic exposure, or our Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and our Lifetime Intake (LTI), which looks at how often we consume plastics and the overall accumulation of plastic exposure, but a significant hurdle for microplastic research is that plastic is already in everything and everyone. The lack of a control group, which is a study group that is unaffected by microplastics, does not exist, making it more difficult to research and understand the level of harm they specifically cause to our health. 

Microplastics by Da-shika, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

To get a better picture of the pervasive nature of microplastics in our environments and bodies, check out the award-winning, Canadian feature documentary Plastic People, available on CBC Gem for free under the series The nature of things.  

More Plastics, More Health Problems 

While microplastic and chemical exposure that is paired with coffee and tea impacts all consumers, WHEN will be highlighting some of the impacts on the health and bodies of women and people with female reproductive systems. 

Women's Health by Round Icons, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

Microplastic accumulation has been found in every corner of the human body; our brain, blood, organs, and most concerningly, in the placenta of soon-to-be parents. Current research on the plastic build-up in our bodies is found to be associated with endocrine disruption (hormone imbalances), decreased reproductive health (fertility concerns), insulin resistance (inability to regulate your blood sugar levels), weight gain, and cancer. Phthalates, perfluoroalkyl (PFAs), bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives are some of the chemicals companies use to provide flexibility, durability, as well as water and oil resistance to disposable cups and coffee pods. These chemicals are widely known as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) that are associated with major reproductive disorders, including: Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS), endometriosis, menstrual irregularity, and infertility. When we consider the health of pregnant people, prenatal exposure to EDCs was found to be associated with neurodevelopment and obesity risks. 

We all deserve to enjoy coffee and tea safely. This means that our current culture of convenience at the expense of women’s health should not be tolerated by our leaders, and more policy and regulatory efforts prioritizing our health and reducing microplastic harm must be implemented. 

Greenwashing in the Coffee Industry  

Although coffee pod companies claim their products are recyclable, many branded K-Cup coffee pods require consumers to peel off a plastic film before disposal, and for years many municipalities lacked the infrastructure needed to recycle the pods properly. Ontario only recently expanded its recycling system to accept K-Cups and similar single-serve coffee packaging in 2026.

Trash and Recycling Center by riptide444, retrieved from and licensed from Unsplash

According to Club Coffee, Canadians discard approximately 2.8 million coffee pods a day, amounting to hundreds of millions of pods (or the annual weight of more than 420 blue whales!) entering waste streams each year. In landfills, these products continue to have environmental consequences through the generation of greenhouse gases, (the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas) as they slowly break down. 

Disposable paper cups contain a number of potentially toxic elements that are often embedded in the plastic lining (polyethylene) and the glue used to keep the paper cup waterproof. So it is worth questioning paper cups as an adequate ‘eco-friendly’ disposable cups. Additionally, incinerating paper cup waste releases greenhouse gases, with an estimated 1.77 kilograms of carbon dioxide emitted for every 1 kg of cups burned. Researchers also detected trace amounts of naturally occurring radioactive materials in the resulting ash, which adds up with the massive amount of cups that are thrown away.

Therefore, we see that meaningful reductions in waste and pollution require not only better recycling systems but also a reduction in society's reliance on single-use products in the first place.

What Changes Can You Make? 

While individual action alone cannot reduce harm to the extent we need, we can take some precautionary steps to reduce our personal exposure, especially if you may have any predispositions or a history of reproductive disorders.

WHEN’s go-to alternatives:

Instead of single-serve coffee pods, consider using a french press made from glass and steel. It is a cylindrical pot that doesn’t require filter papers, and has a multi-layered metal filter that pushes boiling water through medium to coarse coffee grounds.

French press by Sorin Gheorghita, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

Exclusively an espresso type? Look into using a Moka Pot! It’s a type of coffee maker that can be placed on top of a stove or be plugged into a wall, and it works by pushing pressurized steam through the coffee grounds to make the perfect cup of espresso. They are typically made from aluminum or stainless steel and are popular in Italian culture!

Moka Pot by Chris Weiher, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

Instead of using tea packaged in plastic teabags, consider using loose leaf tea with a reusable stainless steel infuser. There is so much variety in the types of infusers that are available to meet your tea needs! 

Moka Pot by Chris Weiher, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

You can also consider tea brands that use biodegradable/compostable plastic-free teabags made from natural fibres – WHEN’s favourite local brand is Pluck.

Try your best to avoid brands that use plastic packaging to reduce ingesting microplastics and your overall plastic waste. Additionally, when you visit cafes or are on the go, opt for mugs and thermoses to reduce disposable cup usage, ultimately minimizing disposable cup waste in landfills! 

Holding Corporations and Governments Accountable

Public health experts often point to the precautionary principle, which holds that governments should take preventive action when there is evidence that a substance or activity may cause harm, even if some scientific uncertainty remains. Applied to plastics, this principle suggests that policymakers should act to limit potential risks to human health rather than waiting for definitive proof of harm.

Notable casse study: Keurig Canada

For many years (at least since 2016, according to a lawsuit), Keurig marketed its single use k-cups as recyclable. However, in 2022, the competition bureau found that these claims created the impression that the pods could be recycled in municipalities across Canada when, in reality, they were not widely accepted by municipal recycling programs outside British Columbia and Quebec. As a result, Keurig Canada agreed to pay a settlement and revise its environmental claims and packaging information.

Here, we see the limitations of relying on individual consumers to make environmentally responsible choices. We can make eco-conscious decisions based on what the packaging says, but how can we ensure they are actually recycled properly?

Following increased scrutiny, recycling systems in Ontario expanded to include empty K-Cup pods and other recyclable single-serve coffee packaging. According to Circular Materials, these changes demonstrate what can be achieved when producers, governments, and recycling organizations work together to improve waste management systems (and ensure transparent claims and corporate accountability).

Fridays for Future - Global Climate Strike by Markus Spiske, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

Final Thoughts

Combating the plastic and chemical toxins all around us can feel overwhelming, but remembering that every small step adds up, and that it takes each and everyone of us to begin the shift in our culture of convenience to a culture that is sustainable and safe. We at WHEN are dedicated to fighting for health, equity, and the wellbeing of our planet through education, and demanding policies and regulations needed to live healthier. Consider making a donation to WHEN to support our advocacy for stronger health protection for women and the environment. 

Cut the Toxics, Not the Love

This blog post was written by Gwen Merry and Aranee Mahendiran, members of WHEN’s volunteer editorial team, and edited by Victoria Lewis.

WHEN advocates for all women, trans, cis, and Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) individuals. For the purposes of this blog post, the term ‘women’ shall refer to those with ovarian reproductive systems and/or those who identify as women, recognizing that both sex and gender affect one’s vulnerability to the impacts of toxic exposure in the home.

On Mother’s Day, many of us take part in the tradition of showing appreciation for the women who guide and support us by gifting beautiful bouquets of flowers. However, behind this gesture is a lesser-known reality. 

The cut-flower industry carries significant environmental and health consequences, including: 

  • Conventionally grown flowers utilize chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides) which harm flower farmers, florists, the land, and can pollute nearby water sources. Chemical residue on flowers can release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), an indoor air pollutant.

  • Excessive water consumption from growing flowers (a single rose stem requires upwards of 7 litres of water to grow).

  • After the flowers are harvested, they are imported from many places around the world. Global transportation and refrigeration to keep cut flowers fresh produce large amounts of carbon emissions and contribute to outdoor air pollutants. In 2024, Canada imported $222.4 million in cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets or ornamental purposes, primarily from the U.S, Colombia, and the Netherlands.

  • The plastic Polypropylene or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) film that bouquets are wrapped in and the green floral foams which are used to hold arrangements are both sources of microplastics. Microplastics break down into smaller pieces but don’t disappear, build up in our waterways, bioaccumulate (absorb into our bodies faster than it can be excreted) and biomagnify (increase in concentration as it moves up the food chain).  

Exposure to microplastics1 and VOCs are linked to endocrine-disruption (affecting hormonal balance), can negatively impact reproductive health (impairing fertility and ovarian functions, affecting hormone levels and embryo development), and increase health risks for children. Stronger regulations against plastic and pesticides are essential for intergenerational health protection. 

One of the ways we can reduce our chemical exposure and environmental degradation is by choosing more sustainable gift options, so we have included some ideas below that are more conscious of our health and environments.  

  • Seasonal flowers from local farms that use sustainable growing methods to limit both emissions and waste. 

    • Greenbelt flower farms directory (Ontario). 

    • Slowflowers is another useful resource to locate local and sustainable flowers near you (Canada).

    • Purchase flowers from local farmers markets where farms might have their own booths.

  • Indoor plants which help to reduce VOC’s and dust.

  • Outdoor plants or trees: gifts that grow, absorb carbon, and create lasting habitat. 

  • Gift native wildflower adoptions which can restore shoreline soils, support pollinators, and reduce runoff. 

  • Local places to purchase seeds in Toronto: 

    • Urban Harvest: Toronto-based, organic seed and seedling shop with the goal to promote ecological diversity and preserve the health of our planet  

    • Toronto Seed Library: Several locations are listed across Toronto for folks to donate and pick up seeds! See their websites for locations, contact, and hours of operation. 

    • Toronto Botanical Garden Shop: Connects people with plants with their plant and seed selection in North York. 

Make your Mother’s Day celebration a statement for health, equity, and the planet by making sustainable, health-conscious purchases. 

This Mother’s Day, honour a mother, grandmother, mentor, or a loved one who has passed by making a donation to WHEN in their name. Your gift directly supports our work to share accessible information on reducing environmental toxic exposures, and to advocate for stronger protections for women’s and environmental health. By supporting this work, you’re helping create healthier environments for current and future generations.

Detox Where You Dwell

This blog post was written by Alessia Iacobelli, Kaitlyn De Sousa, and Gwen Merry, members of WHEN’s volunteer editorial team, and edited by Victoria Lewis, Ariana Nicola, Kanisha Acharya-Patel, & Charlotte Hobson.

WHEN advocates for all women, trans, cis, and Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) individuals. For the purposes of this blog post, the term ‘women’ shall refer to those with ovarian reproductive systems and/or those who identify as women, recognizing that both sex and gender affect one’s vulnerability to the impacts of toxic exposure in the home.

Throughout all blogs WHEN publishes, and as we talk about creating healthier homes, we must reiterate that precautionary consumption, or being able to shop your way out of toxic exposure, is a privilege. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that our environments are protected and that product regulations in Canada prioritize the health of humans and our environments. 

WHEN’s annual Wannabe Toxic Free (WTF) event is returning on June 7, 2026 at the Centre for Social Innovation, Spadina! This year, we will be hosting the Home Edition of WTF, complete with a panel discussion, home decor swap, sustainable vendors marketplace, and a DIY cleaning product workshop designed to help you make safer swaps with confidence. Tickets and more information about the event schedule can be found here.

WHEN is turning its focus inward, toward the place we spend the most time: our homes. From cleaning products and cookware to furniture and air fresheners, everyday items can release substances that negatively impact both human and environmental health. By starting at home, we can take manageable, practical steps to reduce exposure and reclaim our living spaces as places of care, safety, and restoration, not hidden sources of harm.

Many common household products contain toxic materials linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive harm, cancers, respiratory illness, neurotoxicity, and developmental concerns. Chemicals such as phthalates, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), flame retardants, heavy metals, and synthetic fragrances can accumulate in indoor air and dust, building up in our bodies over time and straining our natural detoxification systems. What feels routine - wiping a counter, lighting a candle, cooking breakfast on nonstick pans - can become a pathway of chronic exposure.

These risks are not distributed equally, and for many women, gender-diverse people, BIPOC, and low-income communities, the home is a significant site of chemical exposure. Structural inequities mean safer products are often more expensive and less accessible, with regulatory bodies failing to protect vulnerable communities. Those who already face disproportionate environmental burdens (primarily caused by zoning issues including proximity to waste or disposal sites, factories and production sites, and resource extraction sites) are also more likely to encounter toxic building materials, higher levels of indoor and outdoor pollution, and limited access to affordable, non-toxic alternatives. Gendered marketing and product design also increase exposure for women and gender-diverse people, particularly through personal care and household labour patterns. 

Photo by Veronica on Unsplash

We can no longer ignore the intricate and inextricable links between the chemicals we are surrounded by and the negative health impacts we are increasingly experiencing. 

The good news? Small, informed swaps can make a meaningful difference. Detoxifying your home does not require perfection or a complete overhaul overnight. It starts with awareness, practical tools, and collective action. At this year’s WTF: Home Edition, we invite you to learn, swap, create, and reimagine what a truly healthy home can look like, for ourselves, our communities, future generations, and the planet.

Read on to learn about why our homes have become major sites of exposure, how exposure happens, how household toxics harm our bodies and planet, and actions we can take to limit our exposure. 

Excessive Toxic Exposure in Our Homes

In North American societies, particularly here in Canada and in the United States,  overconsumption has become deeply normalized. As we purchase more items, we accumulate more sources of toxic exposure, causing our homes to become major sites of harm. The routine and excessive purchases of single use and single purpose items is not accidental. It is embedded in the tactics of capitalist systems that prioritize convenience, disposability, and constant growth of profit over durability and long-term well-being of human and environmental health. Through social media and marketing, we are constantly encouraged to buy more items we ‘never knew we needed’, which usually means you don’t actually need them! 

Many of these household products contain toxic substances that are linked to various health concerns (described in the next section). Some of these products are not dangerous in isolation, but daily exposure from multiple sources add up to create a greater health risk over time. Reducing how much we buy, how often we replace items, and how we use materials can protect both human health and the environment. 

Despite the numerous changes we can make as individuals, we still face significant barriers to making truly informed and safer choices. Marketing often outpaces regulation, making it difficult to distinguish genuinely safer products from those that simply appear sustainable; for example, many companies employ greenwashing strategies to make their products and production methods seem harmless. 

Greenwashing 

Greenwashing occurs when companies make false or misleading statements about the environmental implications and benefits of a product. This gives the impression that they are an eco-friendly company, but they might continue to participate in harmful practices. Branding often includes words such as “natural,” “non-toxic,” “eco-friendly,” “plant based,” or “biodegradable/compostable” without any actual explanation of the standards or certifications that they use. They also use images of nature, greenery, or other symbols that create an impression of environmental responsibility. Checking that your products have independent third-party certifications and environmental labels can help to ensure that the environmental claims being made are legitimate and regulated, providing more accountability than vague labels. 

Companies also tend to highlight single ‘green’ improvements, while ignoring other larger environmental concerns in their supply chain. They may introduce a small line of eco-friendly products while continuing to use unsustainable methods for their other products. These products are marketed to be more environmentally friendly than they actually are, creating an illusion of a commitment to sustainability, so that consumers feel like they are making a responsible choice. 

These tactics give the impression that consumers can shop their way to a more sustainable lifestyle, rather than reducing consumption or choosing longer-lasting products.

Composting 

When it comes to composting, some packaging advertised as “compostable” contains PFAS. Look for BPI-Certified items which have been certified by the third party, BPI, as their certification ensures that there are no PFAS in the product. The BPI certification also ensures that the product can be safely composted.  

Further, BPI explains that it is important to pay attention to the language distinction between biodegradable vs compostable because not everything that is labeled as biodegradable is compostable. Biodegradable products can be consumed by microorganisms and break down into compounds. However, labelling a product as “biodegradable” does not refer to specific end life of the product, and the label is often used on non-compostable products which contaminate compost facilities. Biodegradable items may also emit pollutants at the end of their life. On the other hand, compostable items (under certain conditions) are guaranteed to decompose into non-toxic elements within a certain timeframe. 

In short, all compostable items are biodegradable however, not all biodegradable items are compostable. Compostable items are preferable as they are guaranteed to break down within a specific timeframe unlike biodegradable items which may persist for centuries.

Precautionary Consumption and Lack of Protections

When companies are not being transparent about their products, the responsibility for safety through research, verification and risk assessment shifts onto the consumers. Consumers can take precautionary measures to prevent harm before it is fully proven by avoiding products and changing the products they use. This is based on reasonable suspicion that it could be harmful, even if the risks are not fully understood or proven (“better safe than sorry”). 

People have become responsible for making safe choices in a system where potentially harmful substances are still available and widespread, and public protections are limited. This burden is put on individuals because, in Canada, manufacturers are not required to prove safety of all ingredients before their products enter the market, and chemical risks are seen as a personal responsibility rather than a public health issue. 

Different groups of people are also disproportionately impacted by this burden due to varying intersecting identity factors, like race, gender, and income. People facing the highest toxic burdens are often the least able to avoid them, and tend to be excluded from decision-making processes. Precautionary consumption requires the time, education, and financial flexibility to research products, understand the ingredients and potential harms, and have the money to purchase more expensive alternatives. When non-toxic living is treated as a personal and more luxurious lifestyle, those who can afford the safer alternatives are seen as responsible and informed. Those who can’t are blamed for their own exposure. For example, people with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) are forced to do excessive research to manage the risks of their purchases because of the lack of protections coupled with this diagnosis not being widely recognized as an official medical diagnosis.

Women are disproportionately targeted with messaging that they have a moral duty to keep a “safe home” and make “good parenting choices.” Scholars have highlighted that this is a form of gendered labour as women are primarily responsible for managing and shopping for the home. Research has investigated maternal responsibility and how mothers bear the burden of mitigating their children’s exposure to toxic substances. However, mothers without the financial resources, time, or access to “safe” products and a toxic-free lifestyle, may be seen as neglectful. Precautionary consumption in this context is a gendered burden shaped by societal expectations, economic capacity, and access to safer products.

Without strong government protections and real corporate accountability, consumers are left navigating confusing labels and incomplete ingredient disclosures, and health and safety becomes more of a privilege than a right. This normalizes exposure to toxins as inevitable. Living toxin free is often marketed to us as a lifestyle choice; something that people have a preference for and choose because they care more, know more, or can afford to be more aware. In this landscape, precautionary consumption becomes the default, requiring individuals to research, scrutinize, and spend more just to limit toxic exposure in their own homes. True protection should not depend on purchasing power or personal vigilance; it should be built into the systems that regulate what enters the market in the first place. In an ideal system, hazardous chemicals would be restricted or banned, product safety would already be tried and tested before they are put out onto the market, and exposure reduction is politically handled.

Common Exposure Sources and Effects on Human Health 

Our biggest exposure sources are the everyday items we use without thinking twice. The products under our sinks, the pans on our stoves, the containers in our fridges, and even the couches we relax on can all contribute to our overall chemical exposure. These items are used frequently and come in close contact with our bodies, and become consistent, low-level sources of toxics over time. 

Chemicals and pollutants enter our bodies in one of three ways: Inhalation (through the lungs), absorption (through or irritating the skin), and ingestion (through our digestive system). The rate of absorption of all chemicals, and persistence (resistance to degradation) of synthetic chemicals such as PFAS, can cause them to bioaccumulate (build up over time as they cannot be metabolized or excreted) in humans, animals, and the environment, and biomagnify (increasingly accumulate as they move up the food chain). Below, we will break down some of the most common household exposure sources, and main concerns for human health.

Nonstick Cookware 

Most nonstick cookware has a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating, a type of polymer or plastic commonly known as Teflon. A 2022 study found that both new and old nonstick cookware released tiny PTFE particles, including microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs). This coating belongs to a group of synthetic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” which have grease, heat, and water-resistant properties. The Government of Canada has stated that PFAS is found in almost 100% of the Canadian population, and can affect the liver, immune system, kidney, reproduction, development, endocrine disruption (affecting thyroid homeostasis and synthesis), nervous system, and metabolism. For more information on this pervasive group of chemicals read our previous blog post here.  

Photo by Onur Kaya, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels 

Utensils and Cutting Boards 

Common kitchen and food preparation items, such as plastic cooking utensils and plastic cutting boards, have been found to release harmful substances into our food. 

A recent study found that 85% of black plastic household items tested contained toxic flame retardants (FR’s), with kitchen utensils showing some of the highest concentrations. Brominated FR’s and organophosphate FR’s are often used in electronic products, but due to the lack of transparency and regulations on plastics recycling, they are found in many products which do not require these chemicals as plastic material is re-used. Health concerns related to flame retardants (FRs) exposure include carcinogenicity (causing or increasing risk of cancers), endocrine disruption (impacting the thyroid), neurotoxicity (disrupting the nervous system), and reproductive and developmental toxicity. 

Plastic cutting boards are a concern because of the microplastics that are released into our food. This study found that cutting vegetables on polypropylene and polyethylene boards could release up to 1,114 microplastic particles per single cut, equivalent to approximately 15 mg of microplastics. Microplastics can cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorder, poor immune response, and neurotoxicity, and contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals which can lead to hormonal disorders, reproductive issues, and developmental issues. 

Plastic Containers 

Plastic food containers can leach numerous chemicals and metals into food, especially when exposed to heat. These chemicals can be intentional additives (more well-known or studied effects) or inadvertent contaminants. The most commonly found chemical groups are phalates (very common in plastics and in fragrances), and bisphenols (includes BPA and its substitutes, found in polycarbonate plastics), which are associated with numerous health concerns, including endocrine disruption, neurodevelopmental issues, metabolic disorders, and reproductive issues. As mentioned above, FR’s are often found in plastics but are likely contaminants that come from recycled plastics. We are exposed to many more chemicals through plastic food containers, but research is not available for many of them. A database of chemicals associated with plastic packaging was created which identifies hundreds of chemicals likely associated with food packaging, and thousands possibly associated. 

Cleaning Products 

Household cleaning and personal care products can negatively impact indoor air quality and human health. These products often release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which evaporate at room temperature and can cause eye and throat irritation, headaches, allergic reactions, and contribute to asthma and chronic respiratory problems. Even natural fragrances, such as citrus, can react indoors to form harmful pollutants. Common sources of VOCs include aerosol sprays, air fresheners, fragrances, chlorine bleach, detergents, dry cleaning chemicals, rug and upholstery cleaners, furniture and floor polish, and oven cleaners. Children and those with conditions such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are more sensitive to the effects of VOC’s. Ensure proper ventilation when using products with VOC’s indoors and ensure new carpets and building products are aired out before being brought into the home.

Photo by Kübra Arslaner, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash+ 

PAINTS 

Most paints have some level of VOCs, including formaldehyde, terpenes, BTEX; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, acetone, and FR’s (such as PBDE’s polybrominated diphenyl ethers). In addition to the health effects mentioned in the section above, VOC’s can also cause decreased lung function, low energy levels, and impaired mental focus. Chronic exposure to hazardous VOCs is associated with neurological disorders, including dementia and tremors.

Furniture 

Chemical flame retardants (FR’s) are used in materials such as furniture and home textiles (bedding, towels, curtains, etc) with the intention to prevent or slow the spread of a fire. These FR’s have been widely used since the 1970s to meet flammability standards, but have been linked to serious human health concerns. Flame retardants can enter the body in several ways: by ingesting contaminated dust, inhaling airborne particles, or absorbing them through the skin. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, thyroid disease, pre-term birth and decreased fertility, as well as deficits in motor skills, attention and IQ in children.

For guidance on how to replace these items and reduce your exposure to these toxic materials, check out our recommendations section below!  

Environmental Health Impact

The chemicals we use don’t stay in our homes, they circulate through the systems we all share. Harmful chemicals and waste pollute the environment through our water and air.  

Waterway pollution 

When we wash dishes, do laundry, or rinse products down the drain, residues don’t just disappear. Dyes from dish soap and laundry detergent, heavy metals, and PFAS (often linked to treated materials and even some fertilizers) can make their way into rivers and lakes. Wastewater treatment plants can’t always fully remove these substances, meaning they can accumulate in aquatic ecosystems over time. 

The incomplete breakdown of detergent from both industrial and household wastewater use creates excessive foam in waterways.  Oxygen in water is referred to as dissolved oxygen and a thick layer of foam reduces the rate that oxygen can penetrate into the water impacting the aquatic organisms’ ability to absorb dissolved oxygen. Many organisms such as fish, insects and microbes rely on dissolved oxygen and, when levels drop too low, they can die impacting entire ecosystems. In addition, a study on the effects of Sunlight detergent on fish showed that the increased detergent concentration caused difficult breathing for the fish and death in high concentrations. 

Photo by Chris F, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels 

Proximity to airports, military bases, landfills, and firefighting training sites can pollute groundwater and have created PFAS hotspots across Canada (visible on this interactive map, published in 2025). PFAS also leach out of failing septic systems and landfills and these toxins can end up in our waterways. An American study found that PFAS have an impact on the immune system and liver functioning of fish. Through consumption, humans and other animals accumulate these PFAS. For example, Metro Vancouver uses biosolids, which are organic matter extracted from wastewater treatment plants, as fertilizers across British Columbia. Since PFAS are in so many of the items that we use daily including household products such as non-stick cookware, PFAS end up in sewage from households and are found in trace amounts in biosolids. Metro Vancouver says that as long as PFAS are in the products we use, they will be in biosolids. When these fertilizers are used for agricultural purposes, they can leech into the crops and livestock that we then consume.  PFAS also reach wastewater treatment plants through the products we rinse down the drain. Be aware of the following ingredients found in household products to limit PFAS exposure: “perfluor-,” “polyfluor-,” “PTFE,” or Teflon.

Air pollution 

Air pollution isn’t just an outdoor issue. Fragranced products, aerosol sprays, and VOCs released from furniture, paint, flooring, and building materials can off-gas into indoor air. Industrial activity, construction, and factory emissions add to this pollution, which often makes its way inside our homes too.

Fragranced laundry products don't just negatively impact the air quality of our households, these chemicals infiltrate outdoor air. One study measured the VOCs in emissions from two household dryer vents while using fragranced laundry products. The study found that between emissions from the two households, there were over 25 VOCs emitted, seven were classified as hazardous air pollutants and two as likely carcinogens. 

Photo by Erika Wittlieb, retrieved from and licensed by Pixabay 

The building sector in Canada accounts for around 30% of Canada's GHG emissions. Around 12% is from the process of construction. The construction of homes impacts air quality from dust emitted into the environment. The health risks associated with the dust are chronic respiratory diseases, which especially affects construction workers most closely exposed to the dust.  To address the emissions associated with the construction, the UN advocates for a circular economy where during demolition materials from existing buildings are preserved and used for new construction.   

Recommendations

Consumer Tips 

A great way to begin limiting your exposure to toxic materials is by using the PFAS consumer guide that WHEN released last year! Some easy swaps to remove PFAS, VOC’s, heavy metals, flame retardants, and synthetic fragrances from your home are: 

  • Non-stick cookware → Stainless steel, cast iron, or glass cookware

  • Plastic cutting boards → Wood cutting boards (high density wood such as maple, walnut, and cherry, and finished with food-grade mineral oil or beeswax rather than synthetic sealers) 

  • Plastic food storage containers → Glass and stainless steel containers, travel mugs, and water bottles

    • You can also purchase lead swab kits for glass and ceramic items (common in vintage items) to ensure they are free of heavy metals (mainly lead, but also cadmium, mercury and arsenic)

  • Numerous, one-purpose cleaning products → Cleaning products with organic and simple ingredients, purchasing from refillable product companies that limit plastic container waste, or DIY and cost-effective versions!  

  • Paints with high VOC’s → Paints with certifications such as Green Seal (+ avoid aerosols, and always allow for strong ventilation when applying paint)

  • Synthetic, plastic fabrics for towels, beddings, curtains, and furniture ​​→ Natural materials like linen, jute, cotton, and hemp (and look for technical bulletin tags on furniture to ensure there are no flame retardants used) 

  • Synthetic air fresheners and candles made from petroleum-based paraffin wax → Beeswax, coconut or soy wax candles and simmer-pots (check out our candle company recommendations from our Toxic-Free Traditions blog!)

Photo by Jas Min, retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash+

Photo by Liza Zerya Konus, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels

Tip: stick to natural materials! To ensure the quality of these materials, buy items with independent third-party certifications, environmental labels, and production story labels that go beyond what is legally required, such as showing the traceability and transparency of supply and production chains or have ethical and fair trade seals.

Advocacy and How to Get Involved 

Choosing non-toxic furniture and textiles, safer cookware and food storage containers, organic candles and fragrances, or low-VOC paint requires time, research, energy, and money. Not everyone has equal access to these options, and the responsibility for protecting our homes should not fall solely on individuals. There are many structural inequities that negatively affect safety at home, including your access to clean water, clean air, and healthy eco-systems.

WHEN’s policy and law reform efforts are committed to ensuring our governments’ regulations consistently prioritize and protect environmental and human health. Below are some useful tips for advocacy, links to stay updated on relevant policy developments, content our organization has released, opportunities for you to personally contribute through submissions and participation in consultations! 

  • Advance and enforce a circular economy, where producers are financially responsible for the full life cycle of their products, from design to disposal. This would incentivize companies to eliminate harmful chemicals, reduce waste, and rethink packaging before products ever enter our homes.

  • Establish legally binding indoor air quality standards, recognizing that the air inside our homes can contain a complex mix of chemical pollutants that accumulate over time.

  • Restrict, phase out, or prohibit chemicals linked to human and environmental harm, including those commonly found in household items like furnishings, cleaning products, air fresheners, candles, and seasonal décor.

    • Read our 2025 Submission to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada (HC) on their proposed Risk Management Approach for PFAS under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

    • Planned engagement in PFAS Phase 2 consultations (address the use of PFAS in consumer products where safer alternatives are known to exist) in early 2027, with opportunities for community participation. You can also stay updated on the progress of the PFAS phases by signing up here (there are sections to sign up for all or specific phases). 

  • Follow the development of the National Strategy to address Environmental Justice and Environmental Racism, which must be published in the Summer of 2026. 

    • Read the joint statement on the development of the strategy, which WHEN and 52 other organizations signed onto, providing input on what a credible strategy would consist of.

    • The engagement document submissions for the four foundations of the strategy (found here) are closed now, but you can still sign up at enviroequity.ca to stay informed on the development of the strategy.

To continue to support our mission to create healthier environments for everyone, donate to WHEN and stay updated on our work by following us on our social media! (Instagram, Facebook)

Toxic-Free Traditions

This blog post was written by Alessia Iacobelli, Kaitlyn De Sousa, and Gwen Merry, members of WHEN’s volunteer editorial team, and edited by Victoria Lewis, Ariana Nicola, Kanisha Acharya-Patel, & Charlotte Hobson.

WHEN advocates for all women, trans, cis, and Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) individuals. For the purposes of this blog post, the term ‘women’ shall refer to those with ovarian reproductive systems and/or those who identify as women, recognizing that both sex and gender affect one’s vulnerability to the impacts of fast fashion.

Welcome to the holiday edition of our Wannabe Toxic Free (WTF) series! WTF shares information about toxic substances to support individuals who hope to limit their exposure and protect their health. We also hope to inspire our community to advocate for structural change and environmental protections. 

As you gather with your loved ones during this holiday season, we want to help you keep toxic items out of your homes and focus on meaningful gift giving. We believe this season should be one that celebrates joy without excess, and where every purchase, package, and piece of décor reflects care for our health and the planet. 

Photo by Nicole Michalou, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels  

Keep reading to learn more about: 

  • The impact of overconsumption in gift giving and gift wrapping

  • How to limit the amount of waste 

  • Deciding between artificial and real Christmas trees

  • Common toxic exposure sources, such as Christmas trees, gift wrap and candlesFestive recommendations to improve the health of your home this holiday season

Overconsumption

Gift Giving

The holidays are a beautiful time to show appreciation to your loved ones through thoughtful gift giving. The season is known for bringing joy and warmth into our lives, reminding us to express our gratitude to those who are close to us. But over the years, holiday norms of gift giving have changed. For many, overconsumption has taken its toll on the holiday season. With constant flash sales, endless marketing campaigns, and the growing pressure to keep up with trending items, overconsumption has started to overshadow the connection at the heart of the holiday season. 

Photo by Pixabay, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels 

Spending on holiday gift giving in Canada has more than doubled in the last two decades, increasing from $416 billion in 2002 to $936 billion in 2022. For comparison, Canada’s population grew from 31.6 million to 38.9 million over the same period. These numbers  demonstrate the significant growth in consumption patterns, and this calls into question whether the things we buy during the holidays are actually being put to good use. 

Figure 1. Human Health Effects of Common Toxic Chemicals

In addition to the waste produced by excessive and less intentional gift-giving, these items are often major sources of toxic exposure. Toxics are found in many popular personal care and beauty products, clothing, kitchenware, household items, toys, electronics, and other items with batteries. These items often contain toxins which negatively affect our health, including Phalates, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS), dyes, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), fragrances, and heavy metals. Many popular gift items also come in disposable packaging (plastic or coated in plastic), which are hard to recycle or not recyclable, creating an even larger amount of waste and toxins from packaging materials to leach into our environment, causing pollution in our soil and waterways. 

Gift wrapping

Everyone loves to wrap and unwrap presents with fun, festive-themed paper, but the cost of using traditional gift wrapping paper is often overlooked. While recent data on wrapping paper waste in Canada is limited, the scale of the issue can be seen through international examples. In the UK alone, an estimated 227,000 miles worth of wrapping paper is used every holiday season. 

Photo by Hello Sunday, Retrieved from and licensed by Unsplash

Aside from the amount of paper being wasted, the impact on our health is also a concern. The City of Winnipeg’s Superintendent of Waste Diversion has noted that the dyes in traditional wrapping paper can contaminate entire batches of recyclable paper, preventing them from being properly processed into new materials and likely leading to this waste being diverted to landfills. Much of this paper contains metallic or laminated finishes, and even glitter. Glittery and shiny wrapping paper looks festive, but can contribute to the prominent issue of microplastics in our environment. The European Environmental Agency calls microplastics “a major emerging pollutant” because of their impact on our health, and their everlasting presence in the environment. On top of that, wrapping papers can use solvent-based inks that release VOCs. When we toss this type of paper out, these chemicals can leach into the soil and water, and cause negative health effects such as hormone disruption, neurotoxicity, and skin irritation (See Fig. 1).

Holiday Toxic Exposure Sources

Aside from gift-giving, the holiday season is also among the most waste-intensive times of the year as a result of energy use and waste from decorations. In North America, energy surges drastically from increased lighting during the holiday season, and household waste increases by 25-30% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Annual consumer habits such as purchasing mass-produced decorations contribute to overconsumption and unnecessary waste.

Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees 

Choosing between a real and artificial Christmas tree is more than an aesthetic preference: it has significant environmental and health implications. The choice is often a confusing one, because there are benefits and drawbacks that seem to apply to both options. 

The general rule is that if you already own an artificial tree, keep it for as long as possible. If you prefer real trees, buy local and ensure you compost them at the end of the season.

Photo by Lloyd the Void, retrieved from and licensed by Pixabay

Real trees are, generally, better for the environment than fake trees. Christmas tree farms can provide carbon absorption and wildlife habitat as they grow. They do have negative environmental impacts, however, which come from fertilizer and pesticide use, irrigation, and long-distance transportation. Large monoculture farms are more likely to rely heavily on pesticides and herbicides, reducing the biodiversity of the soil. Farmers often use chemical methods of cultivation to reduce labour costs for growers. A more sustainable choice for purchasing a real tree is one from a certified organic farm or suppliers practicing forest stewardship, replanting trees and minimizing chemical use. Supporting local growers also reduces transportation emissions and helps boost the local economy. 

If a tree is properly cared for, keeping it near a natural source of sunlight can also promote oxygen production. After the holidays, when trees are sent for composting or mulching, they return nutrients back into the soil and decompose naturally. Many municipalities, including Toronto, offer tree recycling programs, turning used trees into mulch for parks and gardens. Some wildlife centres also accept real trees to help enrich animal habitats.

Real trees bring a different set of indoor air concerns, including mold spores, pollen, dust, and residue from pesticides or fertilizers used on tree farms. Residues from pesticides can enter the home and may affect people with asthma, compromised immune systems, allergens, or MCS. Mold spores from natural trees are one of the most common holiday triggers for indoor respiratory symptoms, even being named “Christmas Tree Syndrome”. Proper care to keep the tree alive (as detailed here) reduces fire risks and potential allergens like mold and pollen. 

Since real trees can introduce these allergens into the home, enforcement around pesticide safety and management on tree farms is an important part of public health during this season. Pesticides on trees are regulated under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), which requires certified applicators to use products registered and permitted in Canada on Christmas trees. Canada has published a guidebook to help Christmas tree growers with safe pest management, so we encourage you to check if the place you’re purchasing from is aware of and complies with these guidelines.

Photo by Natalie Bond, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels

Artificial trees, on the other hand, are made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a petroleum-based plastic associated with toxic emissions during manufacturing. PVC is toxic at every stage of production and disposal, and is filled with several toxic additives and plasticizers, which can leach from plastic during use, exposing us and contaminating the indoor and outdoor environment. Many trees are coated in flame retardants, which are linked to respiratory irritation. PVC-based trees can off-gas chemicals in the home, which persist in household dust and are a significant exposure source for people with asthma or chemical sensitivities. PVC is very hard to recycle, and so most of it ends up in landfills and incinerators, where it continues to release microplastics and heavy metals. Most artificial trees are also made overseas, adding significant transportation emissions. All of these factors add up to a carbon footprint three times greater than that of a real tree. An artificial tree must be reused for up to a decade before it becomes more sustainable than buying a new real tree each year. Before putting up your artificial tree for the holiday season, it is a good idea to air it out and clean it to help minimize health risks.

Candles

Candles are associated with the holiday season both as gifts and as decor. They bring a lovely smell and cozy vibe into our homes during the winter months. However, it is important to be mindful of the potential health effects candles have. As explained in our article on the intersection of wellness and candles, many candles are made of paraffin wax. This wax is a petroleum product that creates carcinogenic VOCs, benzene, and toluene when burned. Although there are not many studies on the direct health outcomes of candle use, there is evidence to show that the fragrances and dyes can be harmful to your health. Artificial fragrances also have VOCs such as phthalates. Phthalates are linked to learning and behaviour issues. In addition, they particularly impact those assigned female at birth as they are established as endocrine disrupters, affecting hormones and leading to serious conditions such as breast cancer. 

Photo by Gerd Altmann, retrieved from and licensed by Pixabay 

It is important to note that the harmful risks of fragrance are not limited to candles. For example, scented wax melts emit a greater amount of VOCs into the air due to the larger surface area of the wax during the heating process. One American study found that one third of Americans suffer from adverse health effects as a result of scented products. Finding healthier alternatives to artificially scented paraffin candles is one way that we can protect ourselves from the harmful scented products in our everyday lives. 

People living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) may experience headaches, respiratory irritation, or dizziness from even low-level emissions. The Environmental Health Association of Québec (EHAQ) is working to have MCS recognized as a medical condition to better protect these individuals and improve treatment practices. Fragrances are one of the triggers of MCS which can result in difficulty breathing, fatigue, brain fog, and more. When giving gifts this season, it is important to be mindful that scented products, even those with natural scents such as essential oils, can cause irritation and sensory interference for some people. 

WHEN’s Recommendations for a Healthy Holiday Season

It is important to acknowledge the barriers to accessing less toxic alternatives, such as higher price range and lack of availability at common shopping centres. Thus, the time and money associated with healthier alternatives can prevent many people, especially those who are low income, from accessing them. That’s why our first recommendation is to reduce overconsumption in general, and instead consider unconventional gifts such as a baked good, home-cooked meal, shared experience, or handwritten card.

Mindful Purchasing in Gift Giving 

Consumers and brands are starting to take a step back and reflect on the unsustainable culture of hyperconsumption. People are prioritizing more mindful and intentional gift-giving, by focusing on the quality and longevity of gifts rather than the quantity.  One way to do this is by shifting towards supporting local artisans or sustainable brands, and opting for experiences or services instead of physical products. WHEN recommends supporting brands that refuse to participate in the flash sales altogether. For example, Deciem has an anti-black Friday approach called Slowvember, which offers month-long discounts on all products to encourage mindful purchases instead of impulsive ones. Being strategic about what we buy not only reduces waste, but it also ensures our gifts have real meaning and longevity. We can also make more conscious purchasing decisions by avoiding toxic products. See our PFAS Consumer Guide for items to avoid gifting your loved ones this season. 

Gift Wrapping 

Instead of using traditional wrapping paper, we can use some fun, sustainable alternatives. Reusable options like gift bags, boxes, or fabric wraps reduce waste, while recyclable materials such as kraft paper offers a more eco-friendly choice. You can also repurpose what you already have (such as newspapers), or add extra gifts (tea towels, or small blankets) to make creative wrapping. Small swaps like these can truly make a difference. 

Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels 

DIY Decor

Holiday decor often includes plastic ornaments, synthetic greenery, and disposable gift wrap, which all contribute to seasonal waste. Opting for homemade and natural alternatives can help to significantly reduce this footprint. Foraged materials like pinecones, evergreen branches, and holly add a natural touch and aroma. Homemade decor like dried fruits, cinnamon sticks, paper ornaments, wooden pieces, or simple salt-dough crafts can create a nostalgic and cozy aesthetic without adding to landfill waste. 

Choosing quality over quantity this holiday season by reusing decor, sharing or swapping items, handmaking decorations, and prioritizing experiences over physical goods all help to shift the season’s focus from consumption to connection. The best celebrations for the holiday season are those that leave behind memories, not waste.

Photo by Sueda Dilli, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels

Christmas Trees

Tips for choosing a sustainable Christmas tree farm:

  • Planting program: do they replace the trees they harvest?

  • Wildlife habitat: do they leave areas for wildlife to thrive?

  • Organic practices: do they avoid using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers?

  • Local economy: do they sell local products such as maple syrup and wreaths?

Sustainable Farms in the GTA:

  • Elliott Tree Farm

    • Located in Erin, Ontario (about an hour north of Toronto), this farm sells fresh-cut & cut-your-own trees, also a maple syrup producer & sell local gifts

    • Program where they plant seedlings to replace trees that are cut

  • Barrett’s Christmas Tree Farm

    • Located in Cobourg (about 90 minutes east of Toronto), this farm actively plants seedlings each year to replace the trees that are cut

    • Has a buffer zone of trees along its stream that protects the stream bank from erosion and enhances fish habitat

  • Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm

    • Located in Markham and has a long history of organic farming, avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

Candle Alternatives 

Photo by Liza Zerya Konus, retrieved from and licensed by Pexels

It is important to note that candles made with cleaner waxes, like soy and beeswax, still have the same risks if they are scented with artificial fragrances which contain VOCs. However, you can opt to buy soy or beeswax candles scented with essential oils, which do not carry those risks. You’ll also want to look for organic or sustainably grown soy wax, and beeswax that is sourced from beekeepers who use ethical, humane and sustainable practices. Another option is making your own candles in glass or ceramic containers you already have, which is a lovely personalized handmade gift for this holiday season. 

Ethically Made Beeswax Candles in Canada 

(All companies have no additives, fillers, or fragrances, just a natural, subtle honey scent):

  • Huckleberry Hives (unique designs and also has beeswax to make DIY candles!) 

  • Lady Green (unique designs and white candles, no bleach)

    • Both of the above companies use beeswax from Nith Valley Apiaries: Based in New Hamburg, Ontario, over a century old with 25 bee yards using organic methods across Perth and Waterloo counties. 

  • Mom Body & Sol 

    • Based in Dufferin County Ontario, this company sources beeswax from local organic beekeepers. 

  • Honey Candles 

    • Very wide selection, uses wax from sustainable apiaries across Western Canada, based in B.C. and emphasizes eco-friendly packaging/limited waste.

  • Canada Beeswax 

    • Candles and beeswax wraps! Based in Roslin, Ontario and use beeswax from Canadian beekeepers (do not reference sustainable practices of beekeepers). 

Organic Soy Wax Candle Makers in Canada: 

(All use essential oils for fragrance) 

Further, simmerpots are a great natural alternative to candles. They will make your home smell great with natural ingredients such as herbs, spices and fruits. There are holiday simmer pot recipes which can replicate the cozy delicious smells that candles emit. Further, the recipe can be given as a gift! In addition, essential oil diffusers are also a great way to make your home smell lovely this holiday season. 

Remember - Protecting the Environment and Our Health is the Government’s Responsibility! 

We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about the health and environmental impacts of the consumer culture embedded in the holiday season. The air quality in our homes can shift considerably when we bring in new materials, scents, and chemicals. Gifts, decorations (such as christmas trees), candles, and scented products are a significant source of air quality disruption. It is important that the government makes information about home products accessible, clear, and thorough.

We want to remind you that precautionary consumption — or being able to buy your way out of toxic exposures — is a privilege that takes time, energy and money, and that this responsibility should not fall on you. It is our government’s responsibility to have the systems in place to protect our health and the environment in the first place.

Some key actions we will continue urging the government to take include: 

  • Creating and enforcing a circular economy, where producers are financially responsible and accountable for the entire life cycle of a product, which will incentivize them to rethink how their products and packaging are designed in the first place and make more sustainable choices

  • Restricting, phasing out or prohibiting chemicals linked to health and environmental harm, such as those described above in Christmas trees and candles 

  • Establishing legally binding rules around indoor air quality to better protect us from toxic exposures inside the home

  • Upholding our right to a healthy environment, which is now legally binding under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)

Getting Involved

One of the ways people can get involved with CEPA related legislation is through attending public consultations and webinars hosted by the government. These are open to the public to review draft assessments, policy updates, and proposed changes. Anyone can submit comments or provide feedback based on any experiences and concerns they have. 

You can also contact Health Canada with questions about chemical substances (including in consumer products) here. 

You can learn more about specific toxic substances and how to limit your exposure to them on our blog and our instagram. Other organizations such as Environmental Defence and Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) also provide information on limiting your exposure to toxic chemicals and ways to take action.  

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