Don’t Miss Ecover’s Celebrate Earth Month Sweepstakes, And Your Chance To Win A Trip To Hotel Mocking Bird Hill In Jamaica

Apr 25, 2012 | By Maureen

Have you entered Ecover’s Earth Month Sweepstakes yet? The April 30 deadline is fast approaching, so make sure to enter in time to win an amazing 5-day/4-night trip for two to Hotel Mocking Bird Hill in Jamaica, an eco-chic hideaway overlooking the enchanting town of Port Antonio, the Caribbean coast and the Blue Mountains!

Your prize includes the following:

• Round-trip coach-class air transportation to Jamaica for the winner and one guest, from a major airport nearest the winner’s home.
• Round-trip ground transportation to/from airport/lodging.
• Four nights lodging at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill, including full daily breakfast (one room, based on double occupancy).
• Hotel Mocking Bird Hill contribution of two trees to be planted in the name of the winner and his/her guest, to honor Earth Month!

Our friends at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill have quite a treat in store for you! This idyllic, off-the-beaten path retreat specializes in sustainable luxury and breathtaking panoramic mountain and ocean vistas, just minutes from sandy beaches. And you’ll be able to explore all there is to do in and around Port Antonio, a well-established Mecca for ecotourism. Check out the breathtaking flora and fauna, hike in the blue mountains, and enjoy a scenic rafting tour along the Rio Grande River – to name just a few of the many activities to choose from…when you’re not relaxing on the beach, of course!

To enter, join us on our Facebook page, click on the trip sweepstakes tab, “like” Ecover and then follow the instructions. The winner will be selected at random on or about May 3, so enter today … and happy Earth Month!

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Kindness To Animals And Living The Eco-Life Makes Alicia Silverstone An Ecover Fave!

Apr 23, 2012 | By Deb

When people love animals, you know they have a good heart … and by that standard Ecover thinks Alicia Silverstone’s heart must be huge! The Clueless actress is a dedicated vegan, a staunch supporter of animal rights and an all-around animal-lover. Alicia has been a vegan since 1998 and is the author of The Kind Diet and The Kind Life website, which she says “is about living your healthiest and happiest life to the fullest, while taking care of mama Earth at the same time!” Sounds pretty great to us!

Plus, Silverstone takes great efforts to live a sustainable lifestyle, living in an eco-friendly house that’s furnished with recycled and upcycled materials, including a table made with the wood from a demolished bowling alley lane! Of course there’s an organic veggie garden out back of her home in Los Angeles that she shares with her husband Christopher Jarecki and a pack of four rescue dogs!

But that’s not all.  Alicia is also a huge supporter of PETA; she even posed nude for them in an ad and video in 2007 in support of promoting a healthier, more natural lifestyle. And she has her own line of cosmetics and accessories to make her (and us!) as beautiful on the outside as we are on the inside.

Healthy beauty, sustainable living and a devotion to animals … using her celebrity to further the common good…what’s not to love about Alicia Silverstone? In our book she’s anything but clueless!

Image via celebs101.com

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Ecover Celebrates Earth Month With The 2012 Mission To Mobilize The Earth!

Apr 20, 2012 | By Deb

If we had to pick our favorite month of the calendar year here at Ecover, we’d have to admit we’re partial to April …. not only is it springtime with that sense of new beginnings and renewal, but it’s also Earth Month! Since it began in 1970, the celebration of Earth Day has commemorated our planet and served as an invitation to all its global residents to help preserve the environment. In the past forty-two years the concept of Earth Day has grown significantly, and now the entire month of April is packed with activities and events where people show their dedication to a sustainable future.

This year Earth Day is on April 22^nd– on that day more than one billion people around the globe, “people of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection.” The theme of Earth Day 2012 is “Mobilize the Earth.”

At Ecover we do our best every day to make the world a better place. From clean-running factories to our commitment to plant-based ingredients, to innovative concepts such as quick and complete biodegradability and PlantPlastic packaging: we take the environment and the earth’s health into account every step of the way.

And we’re not alone. There are so many ways that citizens like you can take action and make every day Earth Day. We can’t help but smile as we celebrate Earth Day and Month, imagining people all over the planet working towards keeping the Earth clean. Yep, it’s official: April is our favorite month!

Image by NASA via fotopedia.com

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Ecover Explores the History of Massage

Apr 18, 2012 | By Deb

The breakfast dishes are in the dishwasher, the last load of laundry is running and the kids are in school … now’s the time to take a moment to relax. Yes, even super-busy moms (and dads!) deserve a rest every once in a while. If you need a break, Ecover recommends treating yourself to one of the world’s oldest forms of relaxation: a massage!

As many historians, holistic practitioners and massage therapists have noted, massage may be the world’s oldest form of medical therapy. People in Eastern cultures such as the Chinese have practiced massage since ancient times. Likewise, the ancient Greeks and Romans found massage to be beneficial for relieving pain. And Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, wrote the following in the 5^th Century B.C.:  “The physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing … for rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose, and loosen a joint that is too rigid.”

Today, massage therapy is widely available and is practiced with a variety of methods.  Some people prefer the traditional Swedish massage, which involves long smooth strokes, on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil, and others enjoy Shiatsu (Ecover HQ offers a 15 minute shiatsu massage to employees once a month), a form of Japanese bodywork that uses localized finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on acupuncture meridians. Other types of massage include Thai massage, reflexology and deep tissue massage.

Whichever you choose, after a relaxing or invigorating massage, it’s much easier to get on with your day. So close your eyes, relax, don’t worry about the family (or the environment) for just a few minutes … and enjoy! You deserve it.

Image via Wikimedia.org

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Ecover Hears Sustainably Inspirational Lyrics In Bruce Cockburn’s Folk Music

Apr 16, 2012 | By Maureen

It’s been more than 20 years since Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn wrote If a Tree Falls, his classic anthem to environmental angst. The song still rings true for us at Ecover, and seems more relevant than ever. It consistently finds its way onto “best of” lists for songs about sustainability and is also included on the Suzuki Foundation’s Playlist for the Planet.

If a tree falls in the forest does anybody hear?
If a tree falls in the forest does anybody hear?
Anybody hear the forest fall?

Cut and move on
Cut and move on
Take out trees
Take out wildlife at a rate of species every single day
Take out people who’ve lived with this for 100,000 years -
Inject a billion burgers worth of beef -
Grain eaters – methane dispensers.

Bruce Cockburn’s If a Tree Falls (Big Circumstance, 1988)

Reflecting on the searing lyrics of If a Tree Falls, Bruce has said that he drew on his concern about the destruction of forests on the West Coast of Canada and North America, as well as also being aware of deforestation in the Amazon. Bravo to Bruce for helping to raise awareness about both of these environmentally sensitive regions.

Bruce is a case study in career longevity. Although not as well-known in the U.S., he is revered in Canada and ranks alongside such celebrated Canadian artists as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young (also renowned for their environmental activism and their music).  After more than 40 years in the music business and 30+ albums, Bruce continues to write captivating lyrics and agitate for causes.  His 31^st album, for example, features songs inspired by his visit to war-torn Afghanistan in 2009. He maintains his interest in his environment and his world, and we can all take a page from his songbook!

Photo by Bob Doran via Flickr.com

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Ecover Looks At The Benefits Of Sugarcane In Plant Based Packaging

Apr 13, 2012 | By Maureen

Exciting things are happening in the world of packaging! OK, we know what you’re thinking…really, package containers? More mundane than thrill-a-minute, right? But when you consider that scientists have figured out how to use the natural sugarcane plant to make plastic containers, you can see why Ecover is proud to be a part of ushering in this new era of sustainable packaging. As you’ve read here before, our award-winning 100% PlantPlastic packaging made entirely from sugarcane, is 100% renewable, reusable and recyclable.We think it’s pretty cool.

Ecover spent three years working in the development to transition to this alternative packaging solution using sugarcane, bypassing the problematic alternative of corn products. After all, Ecover’s tradition of innovation has always been the intersection of science and nature, beginning over 30 years ago when we started producing phosphate-free dishwashing liquid and laundry detergent. Now today, dramatic changes are again afoot as companies seek more sustainable ways to deliver their products.

We’re excited by the buzz and the interesting debate over what makes the most sense to use – corn or sugar cane. There are both important environmental and economic issues.  While corn is an option, Ecover believes sugarcane is a far better choice. The cultivation of corn requires heavy doses of nitrogen fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides, all which contribute to streams, rivers and ground water pollution. Sugarcane for Ecover’s PlantPlastic is grown in harmony with nature, without harming the nearby Amazonian rainforests. It’s the more sustainable choice. Corn used in packaging is more disruptive, also, to the global food supply as corn products are widely used in literally thousands of food products – as well as heavily used in ethanol production.

It’s no wonder we can’t contain our excitement over the benefits of our 100% PlantPlastic bottles! Look for the logo on most Ecover products soon!

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Get Ecover Deals Through The EcoBonus Rewards Program!

Apr 11, 2012 | By Maureen

Ecover is excited to join EcoBonus, a program that rewards consumers for making sustainable purchases! Not to be confused with an online store, EcoBonus is a one-stop resource for great deals on really cool products that are eco-conscious, natural and responsible. By joining (it’s free!) you gain access to a searchable database of 75,000 qualifying products, as well as coupons and samples tailored toyour individual preferences. We all like that personal touch! Plus, the points rewarded for each purchase can be used for still more savings, donated to a nonprofit group – or pooled among a group like a church or classroom. Very cool!

It’s interesting that this cutting-edge program is actually based on the old trading stamp loyalty programs, dating back to the 1890s – created so merchants could reward customers who paid in cash rather than credit. The rewards are easier today: you simply search for qualifying products, purchase them anywhere you choose, and then enter online the EcoBonus code stamped on the product. Convenient, and much more sustainable than pasting stamps into those little books!

The service is a perfect fit for Ecover’s super-effective, plant-based products that do the job for you every day, and without harmful phosphates. “We’re looking forward to working with EcoBonus,” said Kipling Wagner, Marketing Manager of Ecover US. “We think our customers will really appreciate getting rewards for buying Ecover and other eco-friendly products.

The EcoBonus folks are just as enthusiastic about this new partnership. “Protecting our waterways and aquatic life has always been a major priority at Ecover and it aligns perfectly with many of our members’ values,” said Tiger Beaudoin, founder of EcoBonus. So check out all the great features on EcoBonus, and start racking up those points!

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Join Ecover For The Green Rush On April 21st!

Apr 09, 2012 | By David

This spring Ecover is teaming up with Live Green to celebrate Earth Day in great style. Join hundreds of fellow eco-conscious adventurers in Washington DC for an Earth Day scavenger hunt that is unlike any other. On April 21, teams of between two and five people will charge up, compete in challenges and work towards decoding clues for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize!  We invite you to bust out your best green themed costume for all the fun, and for a chance at the Green Spirit Award – and a year of Honest Tea!

The Green Rush is also co-presented by Clean Currents. Live Green and Green Currents are two organizations who make eco-friendly living both accessible and fun. And what better way to show off DC’s fantastic green resources than through our wild and crazy city-wide scavenger hunt? So, grab your friends and get ready to experience DC in a whole new way. Plus, after the race, you can join us in the celebration at our after party at Liv, hosted by Repax. You can enjoy a performance by Tabi Bonney, share tales of your team’s glory, and witness the crowning of the new (and highly coveted!) 2012 Green Rush Champion!

So, what are you waiting for? Get your Green Rush 2012 team together, register here, and go for the green!

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Ecover Helps “Change” The World By Sponsoring The Great Cloth Diaper Change!

Apr 06, 2012 | By Deb

At Ecover we are big supporters of cloth diapers, and our laundry products have been helping to keep them clean and baby soft for years. That’s why we’ve decided to sponsor a super exciting cloth diapering event: The Great Cloth Diaper Change!

On April 21^st eco-parents and caregivers all across the U.S. and in parts of Europe will attempt to break the world record for the most cloth diapers changed at one time.  According to the Real Diaper Association, the event is designed to “to show the world how many people are already choosing and using reusable cloth diapers successfully.” Sounds like a great cause to us … and we’re sure all those freshly changed babies will agree!

The Great Cloth Diaper Change began when a California woman, Judy Aagard, wanted to find a unique way to have families celebrate Earth Day. In 2011, the first event was held and a Guinness World Record was set for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously with 5,026 participants at 127 locations in 5 countries. That’s a whole lot of clean (and happy!) bottoms!

Ecover is looking forward to the big event in April, and we can’t wait to see if a new record is set! Good luck to all the participants … and give all those little kiddies a hug for us!

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Are You Hankering To See The Hunger Games? Ecover Wants To Know!

Apr 04, 2012 | By Maureen

The Hunger Games juggernaut has landed, bringing plenty of food for thought about the future of the human condition. Based on the first book in the popular young-adult trilogy by Suzanne Collins, this action-adventure movie is set in a post-apocalyptic world, a world unleashed by forces evident today: exploitation of our resources, powerlessness, poverty, and our obsession with fame and celebrity.

Collins’s gripping tale is about a futuristic society, split into 12 districts under brutal totalitarian rule. The Hunger Games is an annual rite that pits randomly chosen teens against one another in an immense televised battle for survival. Only one can emerge alive, relying on lethal weapons and their ability to survive in the wild. Collins has said the story was inspired when flipping channels between a reality show and a show featuring footage from the invasion of Iraq. The two “began to blur in this very unsettling way,” she said.

The movie buffs here at Ecover see the film as a cautionary tale, while reviewers and fans alike are buzzing about everything from star Jennifer Lawrence’s archery skills to the story’s disturbing menu of dark themes. There was a frenzied early response to the movie, too: 8-plus million views of the trailer in its first 24 hours, stratospheric trending on Twitter, a spike in book sales, and an amazing worldwide total of over $214 million over its first weekend. It’s well on the way to becoming an even bigger phenomenon than Harry Potter or The Twilight movie sagas.

The movie has generated a lot of conversation! We’d love to know what you think. How do you see our environmental future? Share your take via Facebook and Twitter!

Photo by Murray Close via thehungergamesmovie.com

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