Post Consumer Recycled Bottles? (maybe a typo?)

We tried, we really, really tried to turn to PCR bottles for  the items, like shampoo, that don’t work in glass.  Basically, people don’t want glass in the shower.  We  found a supplier who had them…but had to wait while a sample came from England.  Do the bottles themselves come from England?  Actually No.

But,  they weren’t  in production in the U.S. yet.  We finally got a sample and it was great!  Perfect for our shampoo and conditioner…..but, the price was prohibitive.  Mostly, because they would be shipped from Georgia or somewhere….We had to make a decision….get plastic from Vancouver  or somewhere a lot closer than the Southern States….and not use PCR?

We wondered, how environmental, or green, is it to use  a container  that has to be shipped for 5000 miles?  So, we made the decision that PCR isn’t yet common or available enough. So, I was fascinated by a short article in the Sept 2010 issue of Canadian Packaging which states:

“  the extensive use of PCR plastics by the U.S. -based AVEDA, which claims to have recycled over 37 polypropylene caps through its  “Recycle Caps with Aveda’ marketing campaign.”

Yes, it does say 37 caps.  I read it several times………must be a typo.  Hey, we could recycle 37 caps, no problem.  Are we head-to-head with Aveda in our attempts to be really, truly green and not just green-washing?

Maybe there will be a retraction in the next issue….if so, I’ll let you know! Meanwhile, all joking aside, we really do try to do everything we can to have a light environmental footprint here at Saltspring Soapworks….being on a little island makes this even more important I think….as everything comes to us by truck and the ferry system.

We’ll let you know the instant we can convert to PCR….and we hope YOU are recycling all of our bottles and caps!

Linda Quiring

CEO & Founder

About Our Author

Linda Quiring

After 30 years….I still do the fun, creative part, and invent new soaps and the other body care items. Bill has been selling for a long time now, along with Amber, our daughter-in-law who has been with Soapworks for about 15 years. Our son Gary makes soap each morning.

  • http://www.aveda.com/caps Evan Miller, Aveda Corporation

    Hi Linda — I came across your blog post and wanted to personally respond, as I am one of a few who is in charge of the Aveda Caps Recycling Program. We created the program in 2008, and since then have collected and recycled well more than 37 plastic bottle caps (so yes, it was a typo!). In fact, through consumers around the U.S. (and even now in Canada), our program has collected and recycled more than 90,000 lbs. of #5 plastic bottle caps! I encourage you to direct your readers to our Cap program info page, http://www.aveda.com/caps to learn how to collect in their communities.

    -Evan Miller
    Director, Aveda Global Communications

    P.S. I commend you on your efforts to ensure that your carbon footprint is kept in check.

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