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Fantastic Packaging
By Sandra Richardson
Fantastic Packaging You Can Plant
As most of my regular readers well know, I have a bonnet
full of bees about sustainable fashion. Looking good
must involve doing good!
Looking good also involves skin care. For awhile now,
I’ve been silently fuming about the ridiculous waste in
packaging. Bigger is NOT better. And cosmetics are the
worst! I’m astonished at how little face or eye cream is
contained in a humongous glass or plastic bottle,
packaged in layers of nearly impenetrable plastic and
paper! Recently I responded to a free trial offer of
face products on Oprah. I was astonished at the size and
weight of the bottles—especially when I had to return
them (or pay almost $100) at the end of the “free”
trial. (Each container was about twice the size of the
contents.) The products didn’t impress, but the bulk of
the bottles and price to return empties did! And what is
the rationale for spending time, energy and money
returning empty bottles?? They don’t recycle! Sorry, big
OOPS for Oprah.
So, I’m absolutely delighted and compelled to share with
you a discovery I made right here in Taos at the
beautiful El Monte Sagrado Living Spa. At their “locals’
day” Solstice celebration, I met the rep—former Taos
girl, Linda Driscoll—for Pangea Organics Ecocentric
Skincare (named after the original super continent,
before Plate Tectonics divided earth into today’s seven
continents. ) I was so impressed with the organic
products made by this Boulder, Colorado company. They
won 18 awards in 2007: everything from Best Product
Performance, to Environmental & Social Responsibility,
to innovation in Packaging & Design.
Finally, socially conscious packaging! I love this part!
PLANT THE BOX! Out of the box and into your garden! The
products come in soft grey, molded fiber boxes, made of
100% post-consumer newsprint, no glues or dyes. Soak the
box for a minute, then plant it about an inch deep in
soil. (Imbedded seeds come from collaboration with
organic seed producer, Seeds of Change.) The label
states: “Up should spring medicinal herbs found in our
products.” You’ll soon see green shoots of sweet basil
or flowering amaranth. Owner Joshua Onysko left the
packaging un-patented, in the hope others will copy!
Wow! What a brilliant idea!
The company also urges you to go online for product
info. They choose not to be part of the 17 billion
catalogs produced each year, at the cost of millions of
trees. (I know my mailbox is an unwilling conspirator to
this travesty. Don’t even get me started about junk
mail! Bzzzz.) At the end of 2008, Pangea will conduct an
environmental audit on their carbon production, and show
their abiding love for sustainability, by planting trees
on three continents in 2009, to offset their carbon
usage. To find out about Pangea products and business
practices, go to: pangeaorganics.com.
I know I’m raving a bit now, but I’m excited to have
some good news, and I want to support this company’s
values! So bear with me.
The products practically whisper, “I’m good for you,” as
you put them on. The smell is wonderful—like a fanciful,
fragrant forest. The face mask is an astonishingly real,
vibrant, gooey green! So good, you can eat it! I did
lick some off my lips—non-toxic and yummy. Now, ask
yourself, which would you rather absorb through your
skin and possibly ingest: Ensulizole, Octinoxate,
Oxybenzone & Zinc Oxide (in the oh-so-smart-sounding
face cream, named “IQ Derma”) … or … (in a Pangea facial
mask) Purified water, alcohol, glycerin, green & white
clay, wildcrafted seaweed, green & matcha tea, cane
sugar, jojoba & sunflower seed & basil oils, calendula
flower, lemon peel, cucumber, goji berry & peppermint
extracts?
Next, another thing that bees my bonnet is the usually
higher cost of social responsibility. Seems like
anything with the word organic attached immediately
costs more! Why? Well, in the case of these products,
that doesn’t seem to be true. This anti-oxident facial
mask was $35 for 60ml, in a recycle-able container
exactly sized to fit contents. (I’ve spent double this
price for purportedly magical masks in oversized fancy
jars.) Pangea left my skin glowing and feeling great!
I’m going back to buy the face scrub with the exotic
scent of Egyptian Geranium.
Mark Amoriello, El Monte Spa Director, offers locals 15%
discounts if you sign up for a Locals Card. Full of
surprises, Mark has more special events & specials
coming up! Highly recommended!
Pangea’s motto is a good one for us all to remember:
“What we consume today directly impacts how we—and
future generations—will live tomorrow.”
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Sandra Richardson,
aka fashion designer, “Zandi,” welcomes
comments: call 751-1882 or email: zandi@taosnet.com.
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Zandi Designs
Original Fashions
505-751-1882
P.O. Box 1798
Ranchos de Taos, NM. 87557
www.zandidesigns.com
Motto: Goddesses Don’t Iron (most clothes are wash & wear)
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