Going Green- what’s it all about? A ploy to make money? A hippie’s dreams come true? Don’t feel bad, even the most savvy of us get confused with all this green-washing. I hesitate to use the word since so much confusion and deceit seems associated with it.
Here’s some food for thought though- whether you believe in global warming or not, you can at least acknowledge the filth around you- in the gutters, at the beach, etc etc. It has to come from somewhere, right? And like it or not, the one thing that this influx of marketing schemes has done right is caused the everyday consumer to think about his or her environmental impact.
Remember folks, it’s not about buying things with leafy logos, it’s about reducing your impact- which usually means buying less stuff and being smart about getting rid if what you do have.
So consider this: since 1990, Origins has been a well-recognized brand, not only for their high-quality cosmetics, but also for their innovative thinking in the way of environmentally friendly practices. They don’t use Styrofoam or PVC (notoriously hard to recycle products) in their packaging, they print on recycled paper, and lo and behold, they even had a recycling program for their used cosmetics containers (I for one, never know what to do with empty mascara tubes).
Starting March 29th, bring your cosmetic empties- regardless of brand- to any Origins retailer* and they will recycle it for you! To thank you for your effort, they’re even offering freebies when you turn in your waste- only please, wash it out before you turn it in (makes it easier to recycle when there’s no lipstick left in the tube).
Hungering for more do-gooding? Become a fan of the Origins Facebook, upload pictures of you recycling to Flickr with the tag “Origins Trash Talk,” or Tweet about it (FYI- You can now follow Racket on Twitter!!), using the hashtag #OriginsTrashTalk. For every new Facebook fan or Flickr photo Origins will plant a tree!
And if you are still not through with all this recycling bliss- join Origins in Los Angeles on April 2nd for their recycling event! Same thing- bring in your cosmetic empties. The first 100 people to bring in recyclables will receive a sample of the brand’s A Perfect World™ Intensely hydrating body cream with White Tea. The event kicks off at 10 am at this location:
Century City
10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310 772 0272
A small step towards a cleaner future. For more info, check out the Origins website. Or shoot me an email, I’m always happy to debunk any green-washing myths- Caitlin@racketmag.com.
Happy Recycling folks!
–Caitlin Elgin
* Excluding Nordstrom’s, Canada, and Puerto Rico.