Garnier, a hair-care brand made by L’Oreal, is reducing the amount of landfill waste generated by its products by partnering with TerraCycle to turn its packaging into playground equipment.
Hard to believe, but they say personal care and beauty products account for one-third of all landfill waste.
Garnier aims to divert a significant portion of its product packaging waste by sponsoring worldwide “Personal Care and Beauty Brigades”- individuals or groups who sign up to participate. For every piece of waste collected, Garnier contributes two cents to the charity of the individual or group’s choice.
These groups will collect and ship waste packaging to a TerraCycle facility, where it will be recycled into materials for playgrounds that will be built across the US.
In addition to the TerraCycle program, Garnier said its environmental targets also include renewable, bio-derived plastics; cardboard packaging sourced from sustainably managed forests; and the use of more naturally-derived ingredients.
This year Garnier is beginning a two-year roll-out of new, greener products.
Founded in 2001, TerraCycle is the world leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle works with over 30 major brands in the US (and in a growing number of other countries) to collect used packaging and products (chip bags, candy wrappers, juice pouches, pens, toothbrushes, etc.) that would otherwise be destined for landfills. It re-purposes that waste into new, green materials and products that are available online and through major retailers.
The first is Garnier Fructis Pure Clean – a 94% biodegradable shampoo and 92% biodegradable conditioner. Garnier says the products are non-toxic and contain no silicone, paraben or dye. The shampoo and conditioner bottles are also made of PET, the most widely recycled plastic, and include 50% post consumer recycled plastics.
Website: www.terracycle.net
