Kermit the Frog had it right - it's not easy being green! Thankfully, Garnier and TerraCycle have made it a little bit easier!

Did you know that 1/3 of all landfill waste worldwide consists of personal care and beauty product packaging? Garnier and TerraCycle are looking to put an end to this and you can help - not only will you be doing good for the environment, but you can make money for your favourite charity or school while you're at it!

A couple of weeks ago I visited The Cleaner Greener Tour  - a mobile marketing program whose purpose is to educate consumers to think differently about waste and to learn simple ways to have a positive impact on the environment. I was also introduced to the new Garnier Personal Care and Beauty Brigade at TerraCycle.

The concept is simple and it's easy and free to participate. You just sign up for the program, collect your empty personal care and beauty containers in any box and when it's full you download a prepaid label and drop it off at any UPS location. Every approved package will net you $0.02 to the non-profit organization or school of your choice! I think this would be a fabulous fundraiser for a school or charity - how easy would it be to put out a call for empty shampoo bottles and lipstick tubes?!  And I would much rather have kids dropping by my house asking for empty containers then trying to sell me stale popcorn! (Don't stop coming by with the ThinMints though) You can find full information about the program, the types of packaging included in this brigade and sign up details at -  http://www.terracycle.ca

I'm an avid recycler, so I'm familiar with that concept but I was also introduced to "upcycling" like the cosmetic bag above which was made from shampoo bottles! 

I also had a chance to re-introduce myself to the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean line whose shampoo and conditioner have biodegradable formulas that are less harmful to the environment. They are also free of silicones, parabens and dyes. I of course love the smell - green apple!

- Lisamarie -