c'est la vie (but keep it green)

Photograph ©2010 Jill Greenberg

Where have you been, Nathan? What's the deal'e'oh?! You went all out and celebrated your happy fifth anniversary, and then joined the witness protection program! I realize you had a lot of cake during your anniversary celebration! Did you fall into a sugar coma? Was that punch spiked just a touch too much? And you sure did throw down some moves, dancing your legs off to some pumpin' dubstep while confetti streamed down from the sky! Did you break a leg? I mean, it's been five years of method (and going green) lustfulness! Time flies! - And gives us squeaky green floors, and countertops, and sweet smelling sheets! And I'm so glad you've all been along for the eco ride! Because, as I've said in the past, without you lusters, well, I'd be blogging on Mars. Knocking down trees in the forest with no one around to hear them drop. You know, writing to the wind! So I'm really glad that hasn't been the case!

Oh, oh, oh... But alright. Where have I been? I've got some news. It's sniffly wet nose news. method lust is going on sabbatical. I'm sure you've noticed the trend of lighter posts for a bit now, and I just felt on the momentous occasion of our fifth anniversary (though I'm a little behind on this actual post, I realize) now is better than never. (Well, I'm sure we'd all like it to be never, but no, it's now, unfortunately.)

The reasons are vast and varied, so let me focus on the main one. Way back in 2008 there was no method social interaction. - Wha?! For reals. method didn't have a blog, a Twitter account, a Facebook page, nada. Actually I'm not even sure half of that existed back then. But hey, they didn't have a Friendster or Myspace page either. So I felt it was time they did, and so I could also gush and squeal about how amazing they are! And hence, method lust was born! Today, method has taken the reins and they've got a whole slew of social media means! We’re talking Twitter, Facebook, their own website blog, YouTube and television videos/advertisements and I’m pretty sure they even have weekly San Fran smoke signal messages! (Ok, they don’t really have weekly San Fran smoke signal messages. I stretched the truth there just a bit. I’ll admit it, ok?) So therefore, I've decided to take a sabbatical (how long, who knows? But keep reading) and let method shout it personally from their mountaintops! Alright, well more so from their offices! They're definite pros at it now! But never fear, they and you will always know how much I lust method! - Blog posts or not. (And this being the internet and all, just in case there's any "people-jumping-to-conclusions-ness" going on, this was solely my decision to make. I'm sure method would love for me to slather them in lustfulness forever!)

But here's my suggestion to you: don't go deleting ole' method lust from your bookmarks, or your RSS readers, or your feeds, or how the heck ever you read this! Because I'm not going away completely (remember, sabbatical.) When new products pop up on the shelves, or some huge news slaps me in the face, or I stumble upon the greatest eco-green idea on the planet and I want to share it with everyone else, well, you know where it's gonna end up! Here on method lust! So there won't be weekly fixes any longer, but the site will still be up for me to pop into every once in a while, and for everyone else to peruse. Because there is a lot of useful, fun, and wacky information here on this blog and I refuse to let it slowly fade away! I've put a ton of blood, sweat, sugary beverages, and tears into method lust - and I'm ever so grateful you (and method!) have been here with me! In fact, I'd love for you all to leave a comment, and let method lust (and all it's readers) know how long you've been reading this blog! Give yourself a shout out, because you deserve it!

Thank you method (for always supporting method lust, and me, personally. You all rock!) And thank you lusters for reading and sharing your thoughts, opinions and method-y desires! So don't be a stranger, and I'll do the same! And don't forget all these great official method choices for your lusting needs:

+ method Facebook
+ method Twitter
+ method YouTube

And last but not least, let's take a quick trip back in time to a bit of my very first post:

"...welcome to method lust! I'm so excited to have begun this blog. It's been on my mind for some time, and I've finally decided to get to it. My reason for starting this blog is simple, I'm a method addict! I love the stuff, and I can't get enough. From the amazing scents, to the gorgeous packaging, and the great for the environment products and mentality, I just LOVE it!"

happy 5th anniversary, method lust!

One day late, but still celebratin'!

sneak peek - spring goodies

blue poppy foaming and fig + rhubarb gel hand washes

 

 

+ Update! method has just announced the additional Orla Kiely scents will be white nectarine, honeysuckle and cloudburst!

 

Orla Kiely tomato vine in gel hand wash, dish soap and spray cleaner

 

+ Extra Update! Yay! It looks like (no, it doesn't look like, it is!) the new Orla Kiely tomato vine scent is also available in dish soap and spray cleaner, in the same manner as the pear ginger. I found these at a local Target this weekend (and promptly snatched them up!)

 

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Long time no method dish n' dirt, right? Please forgive me, for I know not what I do. (Oh, if you only knew how true that statement was...) method's been kinda quiet since the holiday 2012 line hit shelves, but look who's waking up just in time for some early spring fun! First up we have blue poppy foaming hand wash (obviously another addition to their floral scented hand washes), as well as what I'm sure will be a new favorite of mine, fig + rhubarb. Whoa, boy! Fig is back, baby! And I can't wait!

pure naked surfside body wash
 

Not wanting to be left out, a new member of the body wash family is also coming along for the ride! And you can call it "surfside". Mostly, because that's what method has called it. So that's kinda it's name, and it's always nice to call things by their actual names, right? Well, unless you wanted to give it a cute nickname, like soapy sally, or the sudsinator, or something like that? But why don't we just stick with surfside, ok? Anywho... (and I've got no actual proof of this, but I'd place a bet this new scent will be replacing magnolia. So just in case, you might want to stock up on some magnolia! And if I'm wrong, well, really, does that ever happen? Shhh, don't ask my boyfriend, he doesn't know nothin'!...)

orla kiely tomato vine gel hand wash

Finally, look what I spied along with the now-on-clearance Orla Kiely fall line? A brand new spring line about to hit shelves! I'm not sure what other scents will obviously follow along, but there were three bottles of a new gel hand wash scent, tomato vine, sitting in front of me! And let me tell you the scent is ah-mazing! It was so fresh, and green and wow! I can't wait to see what other scents are included in the line up!

So there you have it! More items may be tagging along (and if I find out I'll let you know!), but you can purchase most of these online now (and I'm sure they'll be hitting Target stores soon!) Let method lust know if you eye anything new while you're out on a method hunt!

sneaky (holiday) scents

peppermint vanilla (aka) candy cane (aka) sugared mint holiday hand wash

The holidays are officially upon us! And since we're all great method advocates, one of the best and easiest ways to celebrate the season is buy stocking up on method's holiday hand wash and dish soap scents! This year has brought us gingerbread and mistletoe foaming hand wash, along with frosted fir and sugared mint gel hand wash! (Psst - they're out now at your local Target stores, and online! What?! You didn't know! Well, get with it! It's ho ho ho time, after all!)

That last scent caught my eye immediately. Sugared mint? A) Mmm, that could be divine! But wait, B) it could be a ruse. Whatever do you mean, Nathan? Well, I hate to say it, but last year method brought us candy cane. Another scent I had high hopes for, before discovering it was simply peppermint vanilla given a shiny new name. Odd, I thought. Peppermint vanilla sold well on it's own, why the need to get sneaky santa on us?

So this year, I had my reservations. And one whiff of sugared mint did indeed cause my heart to sink. It's peppermint vanilla all over again, except with another shimmery holiday name?! What gives? Apparently method's starting a trend here where peppermint vanilla will be released each holiday, except under a new name. I don't recall them renaming any other scents past or present in this manner, so I have to admit I'm at a loss...

What's your thoughts on this? Is it sneaky? Or simply fun?

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And what are your thoughts on the new gingerbread and mistletoe scents? Let method lust know in the comments!

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PS - the bottle shrinkwrap designs for the frosted fir dish soap and hand wash are ah-mazing, method! Whoever did this design work should get a holiday bonus, pronto! Stylish, streamlined and bright! Exactly what method is all about!

perfection in package design (well, IMHO.) The colors, the patterns... ahh!

sneak peek - ocean plastic dish + hand wash

method is set to debut another new product this fall! Available in both sweet water and sea mineral scents, say hello to their new ocean plastic dish + hand wash! As the New York Times states:

"Method’s ecologically friendly home-cleaning products are recognizable on grocery store shelves as the colorful liquids in clear plastic bottles.

 

But this week Method is introducing a dish and hand soap packaged in an opaque plastic bottle the color of dirty ocean water. The bottles are made from plastic debris that washed up on Hawaiian beaches and recovered by Method employees and volunteers.

      

The company, started in San Francisco in 2001 by Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, already makes its packaging from recycled plastics sourced from curbside recycling programs. But Mr. Lowry said the new bottle is meant to draw attention to the growing problem of plastic pollution in the ocean and its harmful effects on marine wildlife.

 

Method sent crews to Hawaii because detritus from the so-called Great Pacific garbage patch, a giant swirling pile of floating trash, is constantly washed onto some of its beaches..."

 

You can read the entire article here!

 

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I'm not sure calling it "an opaque plastic bottle the color of dirty ocean water" is really a sales swing, but perhaps they're trying to make a point that "Hey, this is what the ocean looks like! Stop it!" (And also, just between you and me, I can't decide if the bottle is cool, or just ready to head down to the local leather bar tonight? Know what I mean?) What do you think of the bottle?

 

One thing I do totally love is the idea of dish and hand in one bottle! Perhaps this will be the direction they head with their regular (and limited edition) dish soaps! At the very least, why not simply make the lemongrass and clementine (sniff, how we miss you, basil) kitchen hand washes into dish + hand, too!

 

What do you think? Will you be picking the new ocean plastic dish + hand bottles up? They will be available online (possibly), and at Whole Foods stores.

 

sneak peek - holiday 2012

sugared mint dish soap, frosted fir and sugared mint hand wash

 

Fall is here, so it's a perfect time to talk about holiday 2012! Huh? What about pumpkins and ghosties and hot apple cider? Pish! And posh! Who needs that when you have sugared mint and frosted fir! Ho ho ho-no! (Oh, yes!)

 

Though I must admit, as I was purchased a mistletoe candle at my Banana Republic last night (they have great seasonal candles!) I did express to the cashier that it might be a touch too early to be buying Christmas candles, but alas, I have a problem that only gingerbread and snowflakes can fix! So with that said, here's your holiday 2012 method sneak peek! method is calling them the "everything nice" and sugar and spice" collections!

 

 

gingerbread and mistletoe hand wash, frosted fir dish soap

 

This year brings the yay! return of frosted fir hand wash (gel)! I lust this stuff! It smells like Christmas trees and happiness! But along with frosted fir comes three new scents! Well, actually one new scent, but I'll get to that in a moment. We're also going to see sugared mint in hand wash (gel) and dish soap. (method, I have a threat for you. If this smells like candy cane, which smelled like peppermint vanilla, and you've just given it another new name for this holiday season, there's gonna be some black and blue elves. You've been warned.)

 

Next up will be gingerbread and mistletoe scents in foaming hand wash. These are actually two old method scents (though they might have been updated for 2012.) Gingerbread once existed in method's aircare fall edition line (and it was divine), while mistletoe is a hand wash scent from way back in method's heyday! I'm excited to see its return! And there will also be frosted fir dish soap to round out the entire line!

 

Are you excited? I can't wait! I have to say (and I say this every year, so just sigh along with me and get it over with) but I hate the whole foaming hand wash/gel hand wash "war". Ha! I was so excited for these new gingerbread and mistletoe scents, but they're both in foaming. I don't get foaming. Is it for lazy people who want their soap pre-suds-ed for them? Now, now, I'm not picking on you foaming hand wash luster (well, a little) but I just don't get it. So I'm disappointed these scents aren't in gel. We had frosted fir and candy cane in gel last year, so method should have shook it up a bit and given those to the foaming fans this year, and did the new scents in gel. But hey, I don't work there, so I don't know what their thinking is. And you know the old saying, "If you can't please everyone, at least please Nathan!" Oh no no, that's not it! Is it? (wink!)

 

I have to say, my favorite bottle shrinkwrap designs are for both the frosted fir items. They're nice, geometric and classy chic! The others are a bit too cutesy to me, which doesn't feel like method's usual direction. (What do you think?) These will be hitting Target shelves in early November, and you can already purchase them at drugstore.com (and soon on well.ca!)

 

 

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Along with the holiday line, method has also released a new breast cancer awareness line of gel hand washes. These are available in their previous "designed for good" scents of mimosa sun and botanical gardens. And if that wasn't enough, they're relaunching their hand sanitizer line in little cute carry bottles (finally!) featuring their sweet water scent. The hand sanitizers have already been spotted in Targets!

So what will you be picking up for Santa Claus this year? Are you loving the new scents for the holidays? Let method lust know in the comments! (And thanks to anonymous for the holiday/drugstore.com shout out!)

one + two + three = free!

Here's a great deal happening on method products at your local Target store right this very minute! (No really, right now! Not tomorrow, not next week, but now! Now, now! So read, and go! To Target, silly!) Right now (until October 27th!) if you purchase three method items, you can get a fourth one free! F.R.E.E. Wow! All the items must be of $2.99 value. So here's your chance to stock up on those Orla Kiely hand washes, dish soaps, and spray cleaners before they're gone! Or even your favorite other hand wash, dish soap and spray cleaner scents! Supplies are limited (so save me some!)

big stuff: method + ecover merger

Holy cleaning crap, Batman! Big news on the method front. They've just completed a merger with eco-cleaning brand, Ecover! method attempted to sell their brand a few years ago, before deciding against it. Looks like they decided to make the jump.

Update + Here's method's official statement pertaining to the merger:

Method and Ecover Join Forces to Create the World’s Largest Green Cleaning Company

Method, leaders in premium planet-friendly and design-driven home, fabric and personal care products, today announced its acquisition by European-based, eco-pioneers Ecover to create the world’s largest green cleaning company.

Joining forces on a mission to rid the world of dirty, the acquisition will see the two companies benefit from combined scale, skills and knowledge and an extended distribution network spanning Europe, US, Asia and Australia. Collectively delivering sales of $200m and employing around 300 staff, Method and Ecover will continue as separate brands with a shared ambition to bring as many new consumers as possible into the green cleaning and personal care market.

Method and Ecover are both deeply rooted in the use of plant-based and sustainable ingredients as well as innovative packaging. The combined product range and global distribution reach, as a result of Ecover’s comprehensive supply chain in Europe which is matched in the US by Method, will ensure that there is a worldwide platform for both brands. There will also be a combined approach towards innovation and research and development, aspects that both companies feel hugely passionate about as they support the foundations of their brands.

“This is a very exciting milestone in Method’s 11-year history, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Ecover to bring even more consumers into the green cleaning market,” said Drew Fraser, Method CEO. “The marriage of our two brands makes perfect sense, as we are both companies rooted in a deep heritage of sustainability, innovation, and making people’s lives healthier and happier. By coming together, our two brands will only serve to strengthen each other by providing complementary capabilities, an unrivalled opportunity for category-changing product development, and a united effort in building on our combined vision.”

Ecover CEO, Philip Malmberg, added: “With the acquisition of Method, we are acquiring much more than just a brand. This is the start of a fantastic, long-term partnership with a company that has a track record for innovation, an unwavering commitment to green products and a professional team with a real passion for what they do.

“The merger of these two businesses provides us with a strategic position in the US market – the largest and fastest growing market in the green cleaning category – and Method with a European partner with an unrivalled heritage, robust environmental credentials and ecological manufacturing facilities.

“I am personally very excited about this acquisition as it will not only create the world’s most dynamic and visionary green cleaning company, but also establish a great platform for growth for both brands. By leveraging each other’s strengths, this partnership will support the elevation of the green cleaning category as a whole.”

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An article from Inc.com gives a bit more information:

Green Merger: method bought by Ecover | Kathleen Kim, Inc.com

The companies say their union creates the world's largest green cleaning company.

Green cleaning company Method has found a new home: European manufacturer Ecover has purchased the home-care products maker for an undisclosed sum from San Francisco Equity Partners. "This transition marks a new chapter in the evolution of our business," said Method co-founder Eric Ryan in a statement released on Tuesday.

The new union would forge the world’s largest green cleaning company, with a combined $200 million annual revenue, reports by The Financial Times. The outlet also reports that while sharing the same green vision, the two companies will continue to run as separate brands.

With the tagline “people against dirty,” Method first made a splash in the green cleaning market in 2000 with its line of nontoxic and biodegradable cleaners. Inc. reported in 2007 that Method’s 2003 revenue of $11.7 million had catapulted to $71 million within three years.

Currently more than 40,000 retailers throughout the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and France carry Method products, which range from disinfecting wipes to laundry detergent.

Ecover operates in the same environmentally friendly vein, with two manufacturing facilities in Belgium and France that churn out renewable plant-based cleaning products. The company sells 35 different products in 40 countries, according to the U.K.'s The Grocer.

“The marriage of our two brands makes perfect sense, as we are both companies rooted in a deep heritage of sustainability, innovation, and making people’s lives healthier and happier," said Method CEO Drew Fraser in a statement.

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Believe it or not, this is the first I'd heard of this as well. I'm letting it sink in as we speak. What do you think? Do you, or have you in the past, purchased Ecover products? Will this help or hurt the method brand? Leave method lust your thoughts in the comments!