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If you’ve ever been frustrated by a brand’s excessive use of tissue paper or need to know more about brands with sustainable packaging, this email template can help you fill in the eco-friendly gaps. All you have to do is hit ‘send’.
Last week, I was inspired by Fashion Revolution’s email template asking fashion brands to support their garment workers during this crisis. I sent a letter to the sustainable California-based brand Reformation. Two days later, I received a response detailing the organizations they were partnering with to support their workers in downtown Los Angeles. This week, I’ve revamped the template to ask brands about another pressing issue- packaging.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ‘Containers and packaging make up a major portion of municipal solid waste (MSW), amounting to 80.1 million tons in 2017 (29.9 percent of total generation).’ Sometimes those packaging materials have been treated with chemicals that release toxic gases when decomposing in landfills. And, they aren’t only harming the environment. Consumers wallets are negatively affected too. According to the University of Southern Indiana, ‘Out of every $10 spent buying things, $1 (10%) goes for packaging that is thrown away. Packaging represents about 65% of household trash.’
I recently purchased Sunday Riley’s Antioxidant Face oil. Yet, when I received a package from the sustainable skincare brand, I was unsure whether or not the heavy box was recyclable. (Not to mention that it’s incredibly hard to open). The site states that all packaging will be recyclable in 2020, yet there hasn’t been an update on whether or not they have been able to meet that goal.
Laneige is a Korean skincare brand whose whipped masks have replaced my sheet mask obsession. While natural, biodegradable sheet masks do exist, my favorites weren’t. And, while there are a few natural replacements that I’ve found over the years, Laneige’s hydrating sleep masks are addictive for that ‘lit from within’ glow. Unfortunately, I have no idea whether or not the containers are plastic, glass, recyclable or trash set for the landfill.
Thred Up is an online thrift store. I often use them to stock up on pre-loved t-shirts and fun J.Crew dresses for summer. There is even have a ‘bundle’ option. Yet, it wasn’t very ‘bundled’ as my last package was delivered in 4 separate packages. What’s more is that each was wrapped in tissue paper and the garments had cardboard tags attached.
I emailed all 3 of these brands to find out more about their sustainable packaging. If you’d like to write to your favorite brand- whether it’s a fashion label that uses way too much tissue paper or a sustainable beauty brand- copy this an easy-to-use template. All you have to do is replace the name of the brands and update with your signature. Then, hit send.
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Dear Laneige, I am your customer, and I love your products. However, I am very worried about the impact that your packaging has on the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that, ‘Containers and packaging make up a major portion of municipal solid waste (MSW), amounting to 80.1 million tons of generation in 2017 (29.9 percent of total generation).’ According to studies done at the University of Southern Indiana packaging accounts for 65% of household trash. This is a big strain on our environment and I’d like to know what your impact is. Is your packaging recyclable or are you working on sustainable packaging solutions? I understand that finding the right packaging for your brand takes a lot of time and effort building relationship with packaging companies. But, now is the time to step up and protect the environment. As your customer I am ready to support you if you do. So, please tell me #EthicalisTheNewNormal about what you are doing to be more sustainable and the proper way your customers should safely and ethically dispose of your packaging materials. Sincerely, Lindsay Christinee |
