Green Options

I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t enjoy summer & warmth, but while we’re soaking up the sunshine and relaxing there are some extra preventative measures that need to be taken to ensure our skin, hair & bodies are given the right TLC during these lazy, hazy days. Whether you’re at the beach or pool, UV Rays, salt, sun & chlorine all wreak havoc on skin & hair, but while most of us understand the need for sunscreen & moisturizers, almost all of us forget to take care of our tresses! Aveda have just launched a new hair care collection called the 16hr UV Defense & Recovery System that protects & restores for, well… up to 16hrs.

By contributing guest author Ida Cheinman, Principal and Creative Director of Substance 151, a strategic design agency for Green Printer’s “Design Goes Green” series.

We live in a time when “sustainability” is topping the buzzword charts and a wave of greenwashing is flooding the mainstream. We live in a time of intense competition, gloomy economic forecasts and rapidly disappearing marketing budgets, but also in a time when more and more companies and organizations strive to uphold higher environmental and social values, making the shift to the triple bottom line economic model. Sustainability and social responsibility are the forces that drive many of today’s business decisions; they also change the way organizations re-think their branding and marketing strategies. As marketers and business leaders, we are faced with the challenge of finding differentiation by creating empowering and memorable brand experiences for our audiences in the increasingly crowded sustainable marketplace.

So, What are the rules?

I’m a die hard scented candle afficianado, but besides the obvious olfactory pleasures I gain from burning a delicious organic version, the new ‘Light The Way’ limited edition soy wax candle from Aveda gives me extra reason to feel good.

Inspired by a French stress-relieving aroma comprised exclusively of certified organic ingredients including clary sage, lavender and lavandin, 100% of proceeds from this sale of this candle will help Aveda donate a total of $1,000,000 to clean water projects around the globe. Over 1 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water and children are dying every day from preventable diseases as a result.

Hot off NY Fashion Week came the Oscars and in this recession, I’m happy to report, not for a moment did they disappoint. As an Organic Glamazon, who loves to watch the stunning parade of gorgeous, glamorous and uber chic gowns, hair and makeup, it was a night of decadent, unapologetic, head-turning, fashion glory that saw couture from Galliano, Yves Saint Laurent, Balmain, Versace, Dior and on it went - in [...]

Rodarte started making an eco-splash about 4 years ago, having partnered with Aveda in various ways for their shows. Known for their groundbreaking, artisan & artistic approach to their work, the girls have become more and more environmentally savvy over the years. “They are unique,” said Kirsten Dunst of Kate and Laura Mulleavy, front-row at their show today. “They didn’t just study fashion. You can see that. [...]

As a sun worshipper many years ago, who giddily slapped on coconut oil and eagerly awaited the burn I’d get after hours of baking, I’m now suffering the effects of too much exposure. The greatest cause of skin damage including premature aging, discoloration, fine lines, pigmentation, is the sun. Period. Free-radicals are formed with over exposure which run rampant, cause havoc and breakdown the very structure of skin, which leads to all of the above. Ah, if only I’d listened to my mother admonishing my bad sun habits! Too late for hindsight, but not too late for some enlightenment. Aveda are about to release a new skincare line called Enbrightenment, an entire line containing a plant-powered, skin brightening blend.

Far from being my ‘crowning glory’ my hair is actually my worst nightmare! I have hair that happily resides in ‘neither here nor there’ land when it comes to attributes and seems to have a mind of its own: oily & flat at the roots but some days I get amazing root lift; dry ends that are fragile no matter how many 6wk hair cuts I maintain; easily straightened but immediately ruined by humidity; some days does exactly what I want and others not… I curse that I was not one of the fortunate (and rare?) people who has ‘normal’ hair! However, I was recently sent a sample of the new Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep Smoother and not only am I loving it, so is my hair.

Conceived to raise the fashion industry’s collective ‘green’ conscience, Aveda are partnering with some of the hottest young designers in town and renowned editorial stylists to create an earth-friendly front-row, backstage and overall green fashion week environment. Rodarte, Phillip Lim, Preen and Alexander Wang are all participating in the innovative “Green Backstage” program.

Models, designers and media will all be offered emission-free transportation to and from the shows courtesy of Aveda branded petty cabs; organic & locally sourced food is being served to models, stylists, makeup artists and production crews backstage; all use of fur is being eliminated; show invitations and programs are being printed on post-consumer recycled paper; and they’re replacing all bottled water (400 p/show on average) with reusable SIGG bottles that will be filled with NYC tap water (which is actually some of the most pure in the US believe it or not).

The girls over at Organic Beauty View have just previewed the official launch of the latest makeup collection from Aveda. Shown here are three hot new looks from the Uruku Makeup Collection. New formulas, new shades and all 100% color from the earth. Aveda has collaborated with the Yawanawa people in the Amazon to organically & sustainably grow urukum and annatto - two rich color pigments used by the tribes for faces, eyes and lips. With a product lineup that includes sheer moisturizing lipsticks, long-wearing crease resistant eye colors, cheek & lip glow, eye & lip liners there are no excuses for not rocking your inner organic glamazon! Get the look now. Writer :: Emma Pezzack - www.futurenatural.com: the best organic beauty products in the world.

Image credit: Aveda Website - Uruku Collection

Having led the way for many years with their approach to packaging, fair-trade and sustainable ingredients, this latest initiative from Aveda is yet another feather in the cap of this savvy green beauty brand.

Named the ‘Recycle Caps’ program, they’re collecting all hard, plastic bottle caps (from personal care products, household products, you name it), which are then being recyled into new caps, containers and bottles. Some of what they’ve already collected is being made into their limited retro edition Clove Shampoo that will be out in September with the bottle containing 96% post-consumer recycled content. The caps can be dropped off at any of their stores, beauty salons or participating schools.

HAPPY EARTH DAY from AVEDA 2008 EARTH MONTH: CLEAN WATER IS LIFEAveda Seeks to Raise $2.3 Million this month for Clean Water Rights Globally. Aveda’s fundraising goal for 2008 is to raise this amount or more during the month of April for global and local organizations working to support and preserve clean water. Last year they raised well above the goal and we are hoping it happens again!Specifically the Aveda Clean Water Is Life targeted plans are:

• a project in Brazil focused  on an effort to aid in the development of sustainable water systems, medicinal gardens and natural healing education, and the prevention of illegal fishing and logging on indigenous lands.
• work in Bulgaria to train and provide resources for local farmers in to convert to organic farming.
• efforts in India for the building of sustainable water systems in nine villages, where youth will be trained in hand pump wells.
• help in South Africa to help protect local communities from high levels of uranium discharge in drinking water supply from a mine upstream.

Aveda is proud to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility as this campaign  continues for clean water in an effort to make a sustainable positive impact on our planet through the organization. For the second year now, Aveda has joined together with Global Greengrants Fund as their global Earth Month partner. The GGF is to provide grants for community-based water projects around the world. These efforts highlight a special focus on regions where Aveda sources ingredients,