win stuff!

Update Hey lusters! Keep in mind this is NOT a method lust contest. So if you want to submit your entry, you'll need to click the link at the bottom of this post, and comment THERE (not here, unfortunately.) I've just noticed two readers did this, so I wanted to make sure the directions were understood. Good luck!

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From method's people against dirty blog:

"One of the perks of being Method’s co-conspirator is that I get invited to fancy (and fun) events in New York City to help spread the Method gospel cheer. For the first year ever, TheDailyGreen.com held their Heart of Green Awards in the LEED-certified Hearst building in New York City (appropriate, since TheDailyGreen is owned by Hearst) and honored leading movers and shakers in the green space for innovating new ideas, trends and movements.

After grabbing the gift bag, I thought it would be fun to give away the prize-filled tote to a lucky Method blog reader. Inside the recycled tote (made from water bottles), you’ll find:

+ Method grapefruit hand wash. Yum!
+ An Ebay reusable water bottle.
+ Kiss my Face Creamy Face Cleanser
+ A copy of Esquire with Ben Affleck looking annoyed on the cover
+ Physicans Formula organic wear makeup
+ Sula nail polish
+ An organic chocolate bar
+ A 4-pack of Verterra biodegradable trays made from fallen palm leaves
+ An Ecoist recycled wrapper bracelet
+ Blue Q “This Economy Sucks” change purse.

To win, just click here to leave a comment on why you should win the prize filled tote. No need to be super creative: you can just say “I love it” and you’ll be eligible. Good luck!"

more smarty

Do you have hard water? Are you having issues with your method smarty dish cubes getting your dishes squeaky clean? (I haven't, personally; but do hear of some that have, including those with hard water.) If so, give this a try! It was posted on Facebook by a method advocate who uses the dish cubes:

"Try adding a teaspoon of sodium carbonate to your dishwasher each cycle (along with your dish cube.) This will soften the water and it is a natural ingredient. Sodium carbonate cleans clothes, softens water, cuts grease and disinfects. It also increases the cleaning power of soap."

to blow, or not to blow

Alright, I have a question for all you method lusters? In the land of going green, I often times start thinking to myself "how far is too far? Is there a too far? When will my friends think I've completely gone over the edge? When do the men in white come to pick me up? Will they serve hot chocolate? Cause I'd love a cup! Mmm, but wearing all that white, they might not be too eager to be serving hot chocolate. Perhaps a nice white mocha instead, that'd work well also..." Oh, Uhm, my question to you is - hankerchiefs? Lust'em? Hate'em? Wouldn't ever date'em?

You see, I think hankerchiefs are a love/hate kind of thing. My dad has always used a hankerchief, but I was never really attacted to the idea. I mean, blowing your nose on this piece of fabric, then sliding it back into your pants pocket for "next time." I mean, come on now, you know? And I think that's what really grosses most people out.

But a couple years ago, I decided to pick up a pack. I'm a retro sorta guy, and hankerchiefs suddenly took on an "old school sophisticated" style that I'd been missing. And so I'll keep one in my truck, and use it when needed, and you know what, it's not gross at all. I'm surprised! I own about three of them (they usually come in packs of three) and since I live in North Carolina, allergy capital of the world as far as I'm concerned (it's crazy! Seriously!) I use a LOT of tissues. And I started wondering this week "You know, Nathan. If you started using your hankerchiefs around the house, instead of grabbing for a tissue every time you had to blow your nose; just think of all the tissues you'd save! Which would be better for the environment, AND my wallet!" Of course I'd keep a box in the bathroom for guests. I haven't gone THAT crazy! ("You need a tissue? Oh, there's a hankerchief in the bathroom! Just use that! But don't forget to fold it up all nice like, maybe in the shape of a swan or something, for the next guest to use!" Ha ha!)

It's sort of like my "no more paper towels" usage. All cloths to clean now. Use, wash, reuse, no waste. I could just throw the hankerchiefs in with the cleaning cloths once a week! So what do you think of this? Are hankerchiefs just nasty to you? Is it all in our heads? Would this help the environment out if everyone started using them? Or is my white mocha on it's way?

Mmm... white mocha.

we're with b corp.

Word, I'm sorta behind on this post, but what can ya do, ya know? So here ya go! Ya! Ya! Ya! (from method's people against dirty blog.) This is really cool news!

"With the mounting global financial crisis comes great uncertainty for the corporate world. Businesses continue to face troubling days ahead, leading many to rethink more broadly how they fit into society. For us at Method, one bright spot through the clouds is our position as a B-Corporation, and we encourage fellow brands to follow suit.

The brainchild of two successful entrepreneurs, B-Corporation is a group that has built the legal basis for companies to create social and environmental benefit as part of their business models, rather than being focused solely on profitability. In its short history, B-Corp has convened 185 companies with social or environmental mandates. B-Corp has fostered a community centered on its own values by having each company complete a publicly reported survey of their environmental and social practices.

Method’s values define our mode of business. As a founding B-Corporation company, we have taken the B-Corp survey that rates us on our commitment to solving social and environmental issues as part of our business. Survey results are published for all to see. This helps us by keeping our values visible in our path, and by allowing anyone wondering how we’re doing to find out.

Keep an eye out for the B-Corporation logo – there are now 185 certified B Corporations, representing $965 million in market value in a range of sectors. Visit bcorporation.net to see the full list of B-Corp companies and review their survey scores."

packaging a compelling customer experience

Be sure to read this interesting article on package design, from The Dieline! method gets a big ole' mention (and of course they would, rockin' packaging!) Check out this excerpt:

"...How about Method’s packaging? Method’s environmentally-safe home and personal use cleaning products feature beautifully-designed, clear packaging on many of its products. Packaging for the entire Method line has the look and feel of upscale cosmetic packaging. Talk about experiential!

An examination of environmental cleaning products shows that there’s a great deal of similar bill-board-type packaging in the category. Only Method’s packaging is strikingly different. Contemporary, clean, refreshing. As Method’s web site states: “(co-founder) Eric (Ryan) knew people wanted cleaning products they didn't have to hide under their sinks”. Not only does this product claim cleaning effectiveness and safety, it’s meant to be seen. What a concept for commodity products!

While a number of eco-conscious cleaning products are on the market now, why is it that Method has garnered nearly a whopping $100 million in sales in a slow-growth category? Why is it that the brand has also created a community of avid brand loyalists? Products that are made to be seen, are obviously grabbed and used more. More product used, faster repeat sales. Since there are myriad cleaning products on the market, including eco-friendly options, it’s apparent that Method’s experiential packaging accounts for part of the brand’s stunning success."

Be sure to head over to The Dieline to read the complete article!

no more scent

NO no, never fear! method hasn't decided to go and make all their products in only go naked varieties! But rather, I just discovered something. You can actually scrape off the scent name on your hand wash bottles. With a fingernail. Easy as pie (why is that a saying? Pie is so not that easy to make, ya' know?)

The reason for this is, I have a french lavender hand wash bottle, and I ran out of soap. SO, I found some green tea + aloe refill cheap at Big Lots, and decided to give it a try. But all I could do was stare at the words french lavender, while looking at the neon bright green tea hand wash in the bottle. (Yes, I've told you, I need lots of therapy. Lots.) So then, one day I gave this fingernail name scratching thing a try! And it worked! And now I have a nice clean bottle that could be refilled with any scented method soap, and people wouldn't wonder why lavender was green?

Sigh... yes, I am that anal. Would you actually consider doing this? Or do you think I've completely lost my mind? (I believe I know the answer to this...)

clean thoughts

A thought today as I was eating at Subway. When is that chain going to catch on that plastic bags are BAD! I eat there regularly, because it's (basically) healthy, and I ALWAYS say NO PLASTIC BAG when I get to the check out. Because, get this, they are literally making your sandwich, wrapping it up for you; uh, it's good to go at this point, then shoving it in a plastic bag with some napkins, all so you can walk five steps to your table (because to go or not to go, it hits the plastic bag), take your sandwich out, and throw the bag away. It's worse than grocery bags! At least they make trips! How wasteful is this? Imagine the amount of money Subway could save it they'd just stop with the plastic bags? And yes, you CAN carry your drink, chip bag, and wrapped up sandwich to the car, without a plastic bag. YES, you can. In fact, you can do a lot, if you just put your mind to it. So next time you're at Subway, just say NO to the plastic bag.

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Hmm. A friend of mine this weekend opened my eyes to something rather thought provoking! I was (of course) talking about saving the earth, going green, etc. and he said to me "You know, it really has nothing to do with saving the planet. I mean, more than likely, the planet will bounce back. We might take it to the brink, but when mankind is gone, it'll come back, and take over once more. What we're really talking about when we say saving the planet is saving mankind from extinction, because we'll have made the planet uninhabitable. That's what we're really trying to save here."

A very interesting point of view, don't you think? I mean, yeah, we know the reasons we do what we do is to make the planet a better place for man and animal; but I wonder if it'd have more or less impact if we started using "Save Mankind" instead of "Save The Planet." Would we get the same results (which as far as my jadedness is concerned, is fleeting disinterest from most people?) Curious...

same clean, smaller footprint

Smarty dish has changed it's packaging! (Well, actually method changed it, but you say tomato, I say tomahto? Ok?) It's now being packaged in a lightweight pouch, which just happens to use 87% less plastic than the original. Now THAT is crazy! 87%?! Wow! Amazing... so be on the lookout for this new packaging!

And hey, if you liked the old containers you can always save yours and use these as refills, just like the hand wash! Win, win! These should be available at stores near you soon, and can already be purchased at methodhome.com!