Little Miss No It All » Green Marketing

2X Ultra Cool

colleenjaycox — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:05:01 +0000

I went to stock up on some laundry detergent a week ago and could not find my usual brand/bottle, much to my dismay. Before leaving the aisle with a second choice, I noticed a smaller version of my usual brand on the bottom shelf. I picked it up and saw the words “New 2X Ultra Tide.”

New concentrated formula

Those (smart) people at Tide decided to come out with a concentrated version of laundry detergent that saves:

Plastic
By making the bottle smaller, they reduce the amount of packaging needed. When I read the stats on their web site, I found out that the new formula uses significantly less plastic that the old Tide.

Because it’s concentrated, 2X Ultra Tide bottles use up to 43% less plastic than nonconcentrated Tide bottles. Less plastic means less waste — up to 8,334 tons of it per year. That’s equivalent to about 1 billion plastic shopping bags each year!

Water
Since they removed water from the formula, I can use less detergent in each load. I wonder how many other products could concentrate their formulas to save water?

2X Ultra Tide also contains up to 44% less water than before. This, along with other water savings due to concentrating, could save almost 120 million gallons of water every year — almost enough to fill 180 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Space
Smaller bottles means you can fit more on each shelf, each truckload, and there’s more room at my house for other things.

Okay, so maybe I’m being a bit over zealous when it comes to laundry detergent. But seriously! How many other consumer goods products could eliminate excess from their products and generate excitement about new ways to improve standard products?

Let’s get some shoes

colleenjaycox — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:35:54 +0000

As a self-professed shoe addict, I find that I am getting to the point where I have enough different kinds of shoes that I can no longer justify my shoe purchases with the but-I-don’t-have-anything-like-this-already excuse.

Thanks to TOMS Shoes, I don’t have to worry about justifying my shoe purchases any more. That’s because with every pair of shoes you buy, TOMS donates a pair to a needy child.

Many companies donate proceeds or time to worthy causes, but it’s not often that you find organizations that build their entire business plan around the idea of helping others.

Want to learn more about companies with responsible business practices?

The best part about these organizations is that they don’t scream about it. They do the right thing because it’s the right thing… not because it’s going to get them press or dramatically increase their business.

Smaller is smarter

colleenjaycox — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:09:29 +0000

So on my way back to work after lunch today, I saw a Smart Car. You know, one of those teeny little two-seater cars touted to be the newest way to love on Mother Earth? I might save some money on gas and finally learn how to parallel park… but I’m pretty sure I’d die if I got into a car accident in one of those babies

…and I drove a Geo Storm when I was in high school.

But now that Oscar Meyer downsized the Weinermobile, I guess it’s time we all reconsider our lifestyles (and sweet rides).