We're a small business with big plans and bold intent.
At GLC, we're driven by a simple but powerful mission: make the world a better, cleaner place by designing smarter, more sustainable products — and doing it right here in Canada.
We believe there’s a better way forward. That’s why we’re focused on:
Reducing pollution and toxic compounds in our environment
Prototyping products that are more sustainable and less harmful
Applying green chemistry to reduce toxins and improve how we use materials
We’re just getting started — but we’re serious about creating real change. Led by award-winning designer and entrepreneur Gavin Lottering, our team is combining innovation, sustainability, and local production to elevate the way we live.
These photos show our soy wax candle and coconut soap products. The label packaging is a first attempt at developing the design. It usually takes several iterations of a graphic design to reach its final form; so this is basically a prototype. It looks pretty good for a first attempt and we'll continue to refine it.
The photos feature natural environments that relate the vision of the company. They're lifestyle shots in a way.
Greetings,
I've been working on some graphic design for my soap packaging, and I'm trying to express the ideas and values behind the product.
The polar bear is meant to show that the soap is made in Canada, while also drawing attention to the fact that polar bears are facing habitat loss due to climate change. In doing my research, I learned something fascinating: there is actually a temperate rainforest in British Columbia, and within that ecosystem lives a white bear known as the Kermode bear, or "spirit bear." It’s not a polar bear — it’s a rare subspecies of the American black bear with a genetic trait that gives it white fur. This bear is unique to the Great Bear Rainforest and carries its own conservation story.
The coconut and coconut tree symbolize the idea that coconut oil can be a more sustainable alternative to palm oil. Palm oil plantations, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, are one of the primary drivers of deforestation in tropical rainforests, contributing to habitat destruction for endangered species. Palm oil is used extensively in commercial soap and many consumer products because it's cheap and versatile — not because it's the healthiest or most environmentally sound option.
One of the species most affected by this is the orangutan, which is critically endangered and found only in the wild on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Orangutans are our close relatives, sharing about 97% of our DNA, and their shrinking habitat is directly tied to our everyday choices — including something as seemingly simple as soap. I hadn't fully realized this connection myself until I started digging deeper. I believe we can and should do better. The profit motives of large industrial conglomerates shouldn’t outweigh the urgent need to protect biodiversity. It’s one of Earth’s greatest treasures, and if we disrupt it too much, we risk endangering our own survival.
We’re not just apex predators — we should be stewards of the planet.
At the same time, it's interesting how North American marketing has rebranded coconut oil as a health food in recent years. If you're a millennial or older, you might remember a time before coconut oil lined the shelves of health food stores. The truth is, coconut oil is very high in saturated fat — about 82% saturated, in fact — and it’s solid at room temperature. While extra virgin coconut oil has some appealing properties (like its antimicrobial qualities when used in oil pulling for dental hygiene), it's not necessarily a heart-healthy fat. Saturated fats are less chemically reactive in the body, which can affect how they’re metabolized. In contrast, unsaturated fats — such as those found in olive oil — are generally more beneficial for cardiovascular health and more versatile for your body’s biochemical needs.
This is for sending to those who are in positions to do something about it. Feel free to add your information to it and send it along.
Reclaiming Our Watersheds—How AI Can Repair the Fragmentation That Let POPs Poison Our Communities
Dear [Name/Title],
If we had designed cities with stormwater as an asset—not a liability—our communities and ecosystems might look very different today.
Had we integrated green infrastructure from the start—bioswales, rain gardens, permeable roads, decentralized treatment—stormwater wouldn’t be a polluted torrent we flush away, but a regenerative resource. Our rivers might still run clear. Our aquifers might still be full. And our most vulnerable citizens—children in underserved neighborhoods—might not carry the toxic burden of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in their blood.
Instead, the systems we built more than a century ago prioritized speed of removal over quality of retention. The result is a fragmented, siloed stormwater regime in Ontario and beyond—one that ignores pollutant accumulation and disproportionately affects low-income communities.
Today, stormwater runoff delivers POPs like PFAS, PCBs, PAHs, and pesticides directly into the air, soil, and water around urban dwellers. These chemicals are:
Endocrine disruptors that impair fertility and development
Neurotoxins associated with autism spectrum disorders, lowered IQ, and attention deficits in children
Immunosuppressants that reduce vaccine efficacy—a public health risk of growing urgency
And due to the geography of poverty, it's no surprise that marginalized and racialized communities—often located near high-runoff zones—bear the brunt. POPs don’t just pollute water; they pollute opportunity: by degrading cognition, weakening immunity, and reinforcing cycles of disadvantage.
Had our stormwater systems been designed to filter, slow, and recharge instead of just drain, these pollutants could have been captured or degraded. The burden on our healthcare systems could be lower. Our public health metrics—especially in underserved areas—could be stronger.
Today, we have a chance to reclaim what was lost—not just with infrastructure, but with intelligence. Artificial Intelligence can now help overcome the very governance fragmentation that created these gaps.
I propose Ontario undertake a pilot that uses AI to:
Map Fragmented JurisdictionsAI can scan bylaws, planning frameworks, and provincial statutes to identify overlaps and gaps in stormwater responsibility—creating a digital governance map that makes collaboration possible.
Automate Coordination WorkflowsA shared AI platform can streamline multi-agency decision-making by guiding stormwater project proposals through permissions, design reviews, and data sharing, while maintaining compliance and accountability.
Predict and Prioritize POPs Risk ZonesMachine learning models trained on land use, demographics, and hydrology can identify “hot spots” where runoff and health risks intersect—targeting resources where they’ll matter most.
Drive Equity Through Environmental Health IntelligenceAI can help measure and visualize how reduced pollution could improve outcomes like cognitive function, school performance, and vaccine efficacy in lower-income zones.
Let’s fix the stormwater systems we inherited—and the injustices they perpetuated—by finally aligning our governance structures to match our technological capabilities and moral obligations.
I urge the Ministry of Environment, Conservation & Parks, TRCA, local municipalities, and conservation authorities to consider this AI-integrated governance pilot for the Greater Toronto Area or Lake Simcoe watershed.
This is more than an infrastructure issue—it’s a matter of public health, economic justice, and environmental resilience. We now have the tools. Let’s not wait another generation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title / Affiliation]
