One thing I really appreciate about Let’s Go Eco is how smoothly their company seems to run. There is plenty of warning about exactly when and how much you’re going to be charged, which I find helpful. If you have a subscription, you’re only locked in for two boxes for the simple reason that there has to be some incentive to subscribe rather than buy one box at a time. I imagine it helps them plan much more easily when they know they have a guaranteed number of purchases. If my math is right, this season’s box is worth $170 before tax, which is a pretty great deal.
Let’s Go Eco Subscription Box Overview
Cost: $89.99 CAD + $10 shipping + Tax
My Cost: $104.49
Value: $150-$200*
Frequency: Quarterly
Cancellation Policy: Cancel any time after 2 boxes
Payment: Quarterly with notification 1 week before billing cycle
Focus: “Items are sustainable, made from natural materials, cruelty-free, encourage a low waste lifestyle and most are fair trade, organic and/or biodegradable. We proudly support small businesses and focus on women-led Canadian businesses.” from their FAQ
Ships From: Toronto
*Information has changed since last post: originally read “$120+”.
Inside the Box
I was really excited to get more measuring cups. I have some metal ones with handles that have broken off, as well as a very old Tupperware set that is in mostly good shape (one handle got chewed by a dog), but the 1 cup is used for dog food, and the 1 cup is very important for baking! All that to say I’m very happy to now have another 1 cup measuring cup with a handle.
These measuring utensils are made from a wheat straw bioplastic. Apparently it’s made from a byproduct of wheat harvesting, which I am going to assume is the grain stalks, hence the “straw”, and then combined with sugar and pressed into this heat-resistant material. Seems pretty cool to me.
A long time ago a company, I can’t remember which one, was producing pens made from corn. I used to have a habit of chewing on my pens, and because it tasted sweet, I ended up with very little pen left. I didn’t intentionally eat it, but that’s what happened. How embarrassing.
These are handknit in Nepal, fair trade, New Zealand wool mittens lined with fleece. Each pair is one of a kind, which seems like a lot of effort to me, but there you go. My knitting skills never went beyond scarves, so maybe when you’re an expert new patterns are easy as pie, which I also don’t find easy.
I love wool products. Sheep need to be sheared, so why not take advantage? Wool is naturally flame resistant, breathable, antibacterial, and helps keep you dry. I have a pair of sheepskin gloves that I got from Scotland that are an essential item whenever we have a cold snap. I wore those fixing pipes in -15 celcius last year, and while doing repairs this year. Even when they get wet, my hands never get cold. Granted, they’re not woven wool fibres, but they are seriously one of the best investments I’ve ever made.
I wish these mitts were a bit smaller, as I have children’s size hands, but I’m sure they’ll get used by someone. They really came just in time for the cold weather in Vancouver. The downside is that they are lined with fleece, which is generally made from polyester. Although it makes them much softer than if it was pure wool, it downgrades the eco-friendliness.
This is a very nice ceramic mug with a tea infuser and lid! This goes perfectly with our loose leaf tea subscription from Tea Runners. When I first subscribed back in August I only had 2 ways to steep loose leaf teas. Now I have 7! I feel enriched even though my pocketbook feels drained.
I love the look of this, and though when all is together it’s a heavy little sucker, it’s a delightful addition to our overflowing cupboard. I do believe some rearranging is necessary.
One thing I have to note, after having enjoyed a beverage in this cup: the handle is super awkward. Once it cooled down, I tended to not use the handle.
And on the theme of loose leaf tea, here we are presented with one! This smells like a fruity chocolate, or a black forest cake kind of thing. Apparently there is nothing explicitly fruity in it, so maybe my nose is inventing things. It is already sweetened, so it probably doesn’t need more sugar. I’m not usually a huge fan of chocolate teas because it just makes me want hot chocolate. This one actually isn’t too bad, probably because it is already sweetened.
There is a small QR code on the package that my phone can’t read, so I can’t tell you what it leads to, but it’s on sale for $8.28 online.
Oteas is a Canadian company based in Revelstoke, BC.
This is a year of supplements for me apparently. I keep getting supplements in these boxes, so it’s been interesting to see what effect, if any, they have on my health. So far my favourite has been the Plant Irons from the fall Maple Box. I actually noticed a difference when taking it, but it’s a bit inconvenient, and fairly expensive. This powdered supplement is completely different with a different focus, that being tranquility. It contains ashwagandha and reishi, which are both adaptogens, as well as peppermint, to help calm the body.
This little powder can be added to your favourite drink, though they suggest water, milk, or a smoothie. It is said to last 18 months once opened, and you can buy your own online.
I licked the powder off the seal, and I have to say, one should definitely mix this in a drink. When I did finally mix it in a drink, I found it offered no flavour, which is probably a good thing.
I lied. It had sunk to the bottom and tasted disgusting when I had the last swallow.
Apothekary is an American company based out of Virginia.
Huzzah for soap! We were getting low, so this is great. These soaps are made by hand “with love” in Eastman, Quebec with lots of fun art on the labels. I appreciate that this product is genuinely plastic free in its packaging and made of only natural ingredients. Not only do they make body soaps, that also make bars of shampoo and conditioner for a reasonable price!
You can buy your own cranberry exfoliating soap for $8 online. This one is made in partnership with Les Trappeuses.
I love that these are made with whole grain. Most of the time in my baking I will do half whole-wheat and half all purpose flour, especially if it’s a recipe that I’ve made before. It’s my “secret” to the best chocolate chip cookies. That and a free pour of real vanilla. The whole wheat gives it a bit of a nutty flavour without the nuts (I hate nuts in baking). Anyway, this is not about my cookies.
All right, I have baked and eaten and this is my verdict: I like them. Easy to bake, nicely chewy, and the texture is uniquely grainy. A deliciously different cookie. I’m not a huge fan of peppermint-flavoured things, but it’s very subtle in these. Pick up your own box here for $6.
There is also an alternate vegan recipe on the back, for those who can’t/won’t do animal products.
I love sponges not made from plastic! Many years ago I bought a pack of cellulose sponges. They were not easy to find, and ended up ordering them online. It’s so nice to see them more readily available these days, especially in such cute designs!
We unfortunately have a mouse problem. They made a hole behind our oven and decided that our baking mats were great for… whatever they used them for. Anyway, these are a good replacement. You might not see, but there are two of them. I used one of these to bake the cookies from above, and it did quite well. Unlike my previous ones, this one did not stain with the baking and was extremely easy to clean. Get your own for $23 online.
The company itself is pretty cool and based in Vancouver. As the name suggests, they are really working on reducing waste in a variety of ways.
Overall Impression
Overall I think this was an excellent box. There is nothing I dislike and I have already used most of it: the measuring spoons, cookie mix, and baking mat for the cookies, and the mug, tea, and dietary supplement for a lovely beverage to accompany the cookies. Really well thought out and put together, and a great mix of items that are useful. Well done Let’s Go Eco!
wanderingfawn 