Beautiful people on a beautiful Planet...ECO packaging in the Beauty Industry

It's a happy day today with some responses back from companies...and the good news is Adore Beauty - one of Australia's largest online beauty retailers has replied to a Facebook post.

"Hi Luci. Good question! At Adore Beauty we print on recycled paper, and pack your orders using compostable package filler and bio-degradable bubble wrap. Where possible we re-use packaging that our suppliers send to us, and we encourage you to re-use or recycle any packaging material sent to you. I hope this helps! Celeste x"

Great! Biodegradable bubble wrap - i didnt know we could get this & i just found in available in Australia from ECO Office.

It's been a great day out & about for someone like me who gets excited about recycled, biodegradable & compostable packaging. I have also come across Sanctum Skincare packs in biodegradable plastic packs with a recycled card box. Check them out on Sanctum's website - there is not a lot of detail about the type of plastic being used - but it is sure to be better than most skincare packaging AND perhaps they are moving the entire range to this packaging?

I was also curious to find an Ollo Olive Oil refill in the supermarket. This little package is twice as big as it looks. I have just visited the Ollo website for the lowdown on how eco this refill is...the claim is that it creates less emissions in manufacturing & also takes up less room in land fill.

This just shows me it is such a complex picture to look at - so many things to consider. So it is time to get some figures & get an idea just how important ECO Friendly Packaging is when we compare it to other impacts a company is having on the Planet.

For example - what is the most important - the contents of the packet - how they are made, where they are made OR the packaging. I am guessing they are all pretty important.

is no news good news... when it comes to ECO packaging?

hi - it's the end of another week here on Planet Earth so here's what i have been up to today:

Firstly something positive - especially if you like frozen yogurt...Twisted Frozen Yoghurt use a plant based eco friendly cup for their take outs, spoons, straws etc.

I have contacted Coles to check whether they use Modified Atmosphere Packaging on their meat (conventional & organic)...as well as commended their decision to sell only hormone free meat. If they don't, then they will consider a change to the ECO friendly PLA (plant based plastic) option.

I have emailed Nature's Child & Adore Beauty because it's the end of week 2 now and no reply or definitive answer. I am not known for my patience...but i think 10 days is long enough. I am asking what packaging they ship in and if they don't currently use an ECO option, why not and what would inspire them to swap to an eco option?

This is the most interesting part, because I figure we need to understand what, if anything, companies are thinking when it comes to selecting packaging. It is quite possible that they are not aware of all the excellent biodegradable & compostable options out there.

Is it just me...or does anyone else agree that if there is an eco friendly packaging option - then a company should use it? ... or at the very least make some eco friendly changes whilst they head towards total eco-ness?

Here is a picture of a great packaging fill product made from CORN..Corn Starch. This packaging product replaces foam. I ate a piece - but i don't recommend this - just re-use it or let it biodegrade by natural means :)

Next week i will continue to follow up on Boost Juice, O-Sushi, Sushi Train & anyone else you suggest. To be honest i am surprised at how many companies have not responded - i thought they would have all at least answered the emails. Luckily i am not adverse to a chat on the telephone....let's see how that goes.

We have made contact! (at least with one company) Coles - biodegradable meat trays?

Well the journey has begun. I spoke with Coles Supermarkets today regarding biodegradable or at least more eco friendly meat trays to package meat in. Coles recently announced that all of their meat would be hormone free - so what better initiative to take than to pack this in a responsible manner also.
As you may figure - it is not always that clear. Coles major concern is shelf life. They said in our conversation today that they would definitely look at an eco friendly alternative if they could get a similar shelf life as they currently do with their non-biodegradable choice currently being used.
For more information i spoke to Sean at Going Green Solutions, who put me ion contact with the friendly crew at BioPak (links below to these companies).
The big issue here is that the eco alternative (PLA - plant based biodegradable plastic) can only be used if meat is not packaged with Modified Atmosphere Packaging a term new to me that essentially seems to means that gases are added to the product and environment during packaging (not just of meat, also salads & bottled water & sure to be more) to maintain color, freshness etc for longer.
I don't believe these chemicals or gases are declared as an ingredient - but i am not sure about this.
So to cut a long story short - if Coles do not use Modified Atmosphere Packaging to prolong shelf lives of their meat, then a ECO friendly option is possible. YAY for the Planet.
So i have a direct email address now & will forward this information to Coles and await their response.
I also followed up to Nature's Child online baby eco store about the type of packaging they use. After not hearing reply to my email after a week, i gave them a call. I didn't get a definitive answer - but i did get the Director's direct email - so will keep you posted on the news here. My goal is to have online stores adopting eco friendly shipping materials and products considering they send out hundreds to thousands of items by post. If cost is prohibitive - what about offering an ECO pack option for 50c more to the customer?
Stay tuned for more updates & follow this blog if you can - every follower is a voice SUPPORTING ECO PACKAGING! Thanks for reading & thanks to the great folk at BioPak and Going Green Solutions for their time and information.

hmmm...yes i am obsessed with rubbish - actually i am obsessed with creating less rubbish. As you would have figured i am on the mission to inspire companies to adopt eco friendly packaging. One by one i am asking the questions & with your support we can change the world !

Here is an update on the companies i have contacted so far - this won't take so long because 3 days later, only 1 has replied...perhaps they are busy, perhaps they will amaze us with their eco friendly packaging policy & measure they have taken. I will follow up in a few days to get the questions to the answers. It is also possible that eco friendly packaging is too expensive? If that is the case, perhaps customers WILL pay more for eco packaging. I for one would at least like the choice!

Understanding what stops companies using eco friendly packaging is part of the way forward,

Coles supermarkets www.coles.com.au - Coles have replied about the suggestion to use biodegradable meat trays with there entire hormone free meat selection: "Your comments have been forwarded to our National Quality Control Team for investigation and we will respond to you as soon as possible."

Nature's Child www.natureschild.com.au - no reply yet about the mailing/packaging products they send out. Hoping they use recycled, biodegradable options.

Sushi Train - no reply yet

O-Sushi - Byron Bay & Coolangatta http://www.osushi.com.au/byron/home - no reply yet to Facebook page post & email/contact form

BOOST juice www.boostjuicebars.com.au -no reply yet

Adore Beauty www.adorebeauty.com.au - no reply yet

Asking the Questions - which companies care about the waste they create?

Today I emailed & wrote to several companies to see what they were doing about packaging and waste that they create as part of their operations. I am excited to hear back from these companies and hope to be pleasantly surprised by their GREEN initiatives. I will keep you updated...here is who i contacted:

ONLINE SHOPPING:

• Adore Beauty -www.adorebeauty.com.au as a large online beauty store, stocking some great brands - i would expect this company to ship with eco friendly packaging - recycled padded bags, biodegradable corn starch etc. I will update when i hear back from them.
  
• Nature's Child - www.natureschild.com.au a large online store with outlet in Byron Bay - selling eco products for mums and bubs. Looking forward to hearing what they pack the many parcels they send each day in.
  

RESTAURANTS/CAFES/TAKE OUT FOODS & DRINKS

• Sushi Train - wondering whether these restaurants use the biodegradable takeout containers available from Going Green Solutions
• BOOST juice www.boostjuicebars.com.au - i asked about their packaging policy & what is ECO about the cups they sell their drinks in
  

SUPERMARKET
COLES - www.coles.com.au meat trays - Coles recently announced they will sell only hormone free meat...i asked their policy on meat packaging - do they use biodegradable trays?

This is just the beginning - i cant wait to see how these companies respond! My goal is to support companies who care & inspire the rest to care & adopt ECO friendly packaging.

Sushi & Strawberries to go...

Strawberry punnets and sushi take out containers are available in 100% biodegradable PLA (plant based - not petroleum based plastic) packaging from Going Green Solutions.
If you would like your sushi. strawberries & other yummy things in these eco friendly packages...just like this blog post & we will send the post to all the big companies who are currently NOT using this packaging.
Perhaps they would cost 10-20c more than the current ones. Should the company cover the costs...would you be prepared to pay extra?
Any restaurants using these - let us know - let's support them.
Would you like your fav sushi store to use these containers?...just comment on this post & we will contact the company for you and let you know their reply.

Shopping online - is it ECO friendly?

Shopping online is so popular and most of us shop online at least sometime. How is this impacting the environment?...what are the "pros & cons" of shopping online?

PROs

• not driving your car around shopping reducing pollution
• re-using secondhand & unwanted goods - less landfill & waste
• you can support great brands and products even if not in your area
  

CONs

• product delivered in bubblewrap and other non eco friendly wrapping
• delivery may be specific, meaning that the product miles are high eg shopping internationally and not locally

How can we make online shopping GREENER?

• You can select goods that are delivered by existing post eg Australia Post & not sent by courier.
• Request that your parcel is packaged in ECO friendly packaging for shipping - recycled, recyclable boxes, post packs and stickers. Even if they can do this, you are creating demand and awareness.
• Ask for eco friendly options- ask about the company's action to be greener.

One great product is a range of recycled mailing products. Check out a selection of wholesale jiffy mailers at Get Packed - an Australian company. Suggest these to your fav online sellers.

This is a subject I would love more input on - these are just a couple of thoughts i have had about the impact of shopping online.

Who, What, Why...& WELCOME !

Welcome to ECO friendly Packaging! This blog is step one on the mission to save the Planet from excess, toxic & what i view as unnecessary waste. With a background in science, conservation, PR & social media - i know that we as the people of the earth can make a MASSIVE positive impact on our beautiful Planet....by speaking up to companies, informing them of eco friendly packaging options & supporting companies who are already creating little or no waste.
Imagine a planet without landfill....with truly biodegradable and non-toxic packaging.
Stay tuned as i profile some great and not so great companies. As we build up a following of this blog & Facebook...we can have some fun speaking our voice & watching & applauding new companies taking on a green packaging approach.
Thanks for reading - be sure to send in your eco packaging thoughts, info & inspirations.