Letter to request no plastic.
Let Them Know How You Feel!
If there is a product that you really like or you have something shipped to you and are surprised to find plastic packaging or shipping materials, let the company know how you feel! Companies care about what their customers think. Maybe one person making a suggestion will spark a change or maybe it will take 2,000. Either way let them know respectfully and directly (not on a review site or social media) because it will be more affective.
The following is the base for the letter I use when asking companies to stop using plastic. I like to be as specific as possible in my compliments and in my suggestions for alternative materials.
The words in red will need to be changed out for the specific company and product you are dealing with. The words in green let you know that the following sentence or sentence are meant for a specific plastic use.
Feel free to copy and paste this letter and of course to add your own words and suggestions. Our voices are stronger when we use them together!
Earth Company Team,
I love using your skincare products! I appreciate the thought you put into using earth and human safe ingredients! However, I do not appreciate your use of plastic packaging or shipping materials. If they have used plastic packaging for liquids: Glass or aluminum could be used instead and are endlessly recyclable. If they do end up in the environment, they won’t harm the environment the way plastic would! If they have used plastic for a powder: Paper (like the packaging for flour) could be used instead. It is more easily recycled and if it ends up in the environment, it won’t harm the environment the way plastic would! If they have used plastic shipping materials for something fragile: Cardboard dividers are combined with green wrap (an earth friendly bubble wrap alternative – can be purchased at EcoEnclose) or kraft paper fill provide effective protection for fragile materials. If they have used plastic for something that is not fragile: Recycled kraft paper can be used to add cushion or be wrapped around the product to protect it. It is more easily recycled and if it ends up in the environment, it won’t harm the environment the way plastic would!
I really do enjoy your products, especially your face cream and I would like to continue ordering it. I cannot in good conscience continue to do so if you will continue to use packaging that is detrimental to the Earth and to humans. Please consider a change.
Thank you for your time,
Sven Svensson