*I was given compensation to promote this campaign. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1 in 5 (22%) Americans wouldn’t walk across their home to recycle a bath or beauty bottle. In fact, Americans are more likely to go the distance to get a drink when thirsty, charge their phone, or answer a phone call than walk an empty plastic bottle from the bathroom to the recycling bin.
I admit it. I’m totally guilty! In fact, this is an actual, real time, real life, photo of my shower shelf. I did NOT stage this. My shelf actually looks like this as I’m typing…
Ok, I did remove a hairball or two but the rest of the photo is real. See that black bottle in the back? See the small clear bottle in the back? Those bottles are both empty. Both waiting to be taken downstairs to the recycle bin but I’m too lazy to do so. Those two bottles will sit in my shower until Hubby either yells at me for a third (or fourth) time or he takes them downstairs himself.
More men (80%) reported recycling their empty bathroom bottles than women (74%). Only 30% of women reported always recycling their empty bath and beauty bottles, compared to 37% of men.
Guess I’m not the only female who does this…
Recycling empty bath and beauty bottles is obviously a problem. That’s why Unilever (as part of their brightFuture initiative) is launching “Rinse. Recycle. Reimagine.” a new program in partnership with Keep America Beautiful and the Ad Council designed to educate people about recycling in the bathroom, inspire them to reimagine what empty bathroom products could become through recycling, and ultimately make a small change that holds big potential to positively impact the environment. Unilever has set an aggressive goal to increase the recycled material content in it’s packaging to maximize possible levels by the year 2020. However, there is currently not enough recycled plastic resin available to do so, and in order to achieve this goal, Unilever needs Americans to recycle more – the bathroom is an easy place to start.
The average American has 8 recyclable products in their bathroom at any given time, yet only 34% of Americans always recycle them. In comparison, 46% of Americans reported always recycling kitchen recyclables.
Those two empty bottles in my shower right now could become other shampoo/body wash bottles, my next hairbrush, a child’s new toy, or even a paddle board for my family if only I bring them down one flight of stairs to the recycle bin…
You too can help spread the word about bathroom recycling by sharing a photo of your bathroom empties being recycled on Twitter and Instagram using #ReimagineThat. Add #Sweeps to your post to be entered for a chance to win recycled, reimagined prizes. April 29 – June 9. Daily prizes (42 in total) and a grand prize (1 for a $500 gift card). You must include #ReimagineThat and #Sweeps and tag @UnileverUSA in order to qualify.
Visit BrightFuture.Unilever.us to learn how you can help bridge the gap in bathroom recycling.
*All stats from a survey conducted by Unilever
**I am not the one hosting the #ReimagineThat sweepstakes, nor am I the one choosing the winner. I am simply letting you know about it.
