BURLINGTON, VT--(Marketwire - April 15, 2010) - Seventh Generation, the nation's leading brand of environmentally responsible household solutions, is looking for real life "Mother Nature" inspirations. Celebrate someone you know who's an inspiration when it comes to caring for our families and the natural world we all depend on by entering the Search for Mother Nature contest on http://www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature.
The contest, which runs from now until May 31, includes a grand prize of a $5000 green home makeover. Both the nominated Mother Nature and the winner will also receive a year's supply of Seventh Generation products and $2,500 donation in our Mother Nature's name to an organization working to make the world a safer place. Six finalists will also receive a year's worth of Seventh Generation products to help them protect planet home.
To enter the contest, visit http://www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature and tell us in 1000 characters or less about the person who's inspired you to protect your own Planet Home. Share their story and tell us how they've led by example and shown you the way to a safer family and healthier planet.
Seventh Generation's own Mother Nature inspiration, Ivette Melendez of Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), will be a judge of the contest. WAGES helps low income women in the San Francisco region establish cleaning service cooperatives whose environmentally-friendly methods protect the health of both co-op members and their clients.
Ivette is living proof of the possibilities inside each of us. She arrived from El Salvador in 1995 with nothing but her 18-month old son and a single suitcase. She found work cleaning houses, but soon after, her health inexplicably declined and she was forced to seek different work.
It wasn't until she met WAGES, a unique nonprofit, that she returned to the business of cleaning -- using products made from safe, natural ingredients.
Today, Ivette is teaching the importance of using only non-toxic products on the job, in the home, and around children and other living things. She's helping us all see how to make a difference in the health of Planet Home and inspiring us to make sure that every day is Earth Day. "Little things can make a big difference when it comes to protecting the planet," said Melendez. "We work with non-toxic cleaning products every day, which protects our own health and also ensures that the homes we clean are safe for the families living there and safe for the environment."
Ivette's Top 3 Cleaning Myths
Myth #1: Cleaning Smells Good.
The Truth: Clean has no scent! Unless a product uses natural essential oils and botanical extracts like Seventh Generation, if you smell something when the work is done, it's most likely artificial fragrances or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) left behind for your family to breathe!
Myth #2: Cleaning is Shiny.
The Truth: Clean means clean and nothing more. That strong fresh scent and blinding shine is often the result of synthetic chemicals in conventional cleaning products. You don't need a strong scent or unnatural shine to do the job.
Myth #3: If a Product Doesn't Make Suds, It's Not Working
The Truth: We often dump extra detergent into our laundry machines thinking it'll make things cleaner. But the truth is that additional suds have little to do with cleaning power and everything to do with the synthetic sudsing additives many formulas use just to make us think they're working harder.
To learn more about Ivette's tips for protecting your own Planet Home, Seventh Generation has compiled videos showcasing her green cleaning methods for hot spots in your home. The videos detail how to clean your oven, microwave, stainless steel and other household areas with non-toxic products and can be seen at http://www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature.
ABOUT SEVENTH GENERATION
Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. Our products are healthy and safe for the air, the surfaces, the fabrics, the pets, and the people within your home -- and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation also offers products for baby that are safe for your children and the planet.
For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the Corporate Consciousness Report at: www.seventhgeneration.com/corporate-responsibility/2008.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Brandi Thomas
Seventh Generation
(802) 658-3773 x 760
bst@seventhgeneration.com
www.seventhgeneration.com
Erin Bobal
Coyne Public Relations
(212) 938-0166
ebobal@coynepr.com