Natural Beauty Powerhouse Aveda Takes on Clean Water for Earth Month, One Soy Candle and One Walk at a Time

Since 1999, natural hair care and beauty powerhouse Aveda has celebrated the entire month of April as Earth Month (just like TDG!), donating more than $11 million to green grassroots organizations around the world. In 2008 Aveda and its customers raised more than $2.8 million for clean water projects.

For 2009 Aveda hopes to to raise $3 million dollars in 30 days, for clean water projects and to promote organic farming (which also helps lead to cleaner water by reducing runoff of pesticides and fertilizers). How do they hope to reach this goal?

The first way is by donating 100% of the proceeds from the sale of a new, limited edition soy candle, "Light the Way," with money going to the Global Greengrants Fund. The stress-relieving aromatherapy candle smells great, and is made with 100% EcoCert certified organic ingredients, including lavender, lavandin and clary sage, sourced from the south of France.

Light the Way comes in 95% post-consumer recycled (PCR) glass, and the outer carton is printed with soy ink on 100% recycled carton stock. Some of the stock was previously used by Aveda, and some is made with 55% post-consumer board. Each candle costs $10, and if all are sold that will raise $1,000,000 for clean water efforts. (The idea is a consumer-company partnership for the Earth, getting both parties involved in the process.) The candle makes a nice gift, or a little pick-me-up for yourself.

Some of Global Greengrants' projects include training 3,000 people in sustainable agriculture, expanding organic farms, helping 100 local fisheries become more responsible and helping 15 communities take legal actions against polluting mines.

The company is also launching The Aveda Walk for Water, which takes aim at the one billion people around the world who lack access to clean water. Carried out locally by Aveda salons and spas over the month of April, the walk will raise funds for local organizations working on water issues. It is expected to be held in more than 50 cities, and employees, customers and guests will each walk six kilometers. That's the average distance women in developing countries walk to collect water every day

Imagine if you had to walk that far too to get water, on top of everything else you have to do! Check with your local Aveda retailer, and gain a little more insight into what that feels like.

Happy Earth Month!